Day 2
Create a character. Write a brief scene of them in a setting. Also use this paragraph to introduce the character to the reader by how they react to their setting.
Sometimes I don’t remember why I don’t eat. It becomes such a habit that I forget that food is actually needed to keep living. Because while I like being in control of something in my life, I don’t want to die. I have things to live for.Other times though, I know exactly why I don’t eat. Like now, walking with Dad down a hallway in the hospital to check out, all of the reason ring through my head. The doctor gave me an apple before leaving his office and it sits in my hand; red, ripe, and ridiculous. I know I should’ve eaten something since I had been riding on empty for two days, but I get it into my head that I can go just a little bit longer without eating. I can be in control for a few more hours. I can.
I’d ridden motorcycles with my dad when I was younger, years and years before he passed away. It was fun as I recall, nice and relaxing. I didn’t think riding on the back of Daniel’s bike would be quite as exciting since there were so many stop lights in the city that we couldn’t possibly get up to an exhilarating speed for very long.
I still agreed to go for a ride with him anyways. He dropped Whitney off at a friends house before coming to my apartment—an extra helmet in hand. He grinned widely and I couldn’t help but smile too. He looked so excited to go out for a ride. We took the elevator down without anyone accompanying us. I didn’t know what to say since we had all but worn out the question game. It was a nice silence that filled the gaps between us on the elevator though, not tense or in need to pointless chatter.
Day 1
Write a biography your life. Only use a seven word sentence.
When will I finally stop losing control.
Steps to re-writing my nano’10 novel:
- re-read the novel. Which, is kind of painful since it’s so terribly written.
- Create the characters. They’re so hollow and plain right now that I almost want to claw my eyes out when I read it.
- Make a plot line. Where the hell is this novel even going anymore?
- Set up realistic scenarios and not the perfect world one’s going in there right now.
- REWRITE THE NOVEL.
excerpt:
“My Rents. They’ve pretty much lost their mind.” I slump down in the seat as we pass by tree after tree. “They’ve apparently decided to help this Nate kid out and have hired him temporarily.”
“What?” Evan looks over at me, his brown eyes wide with shock. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“Nope.”
Evan hits his hand on the steering wheel. “That’s freaking ridiculous. Seriously, after all the times I’ve tried to talk your dad into hiring me and he just takes on a complete stranger? They make movies like this, you know. They’re usually filed under the genre: HORROR.”
1: Map of Campe Ground.
2: Map of town.
3: Family tree.
Lot’s of camp nano planning done today.
Day 15:
Your character is upset. What about? How does it affect them? Does anyone come to comfort them? Write a scene where your character is distraught.
It’s raining outside. The windows outside the store are gray, making everything past them ghosts floating in their designated place. I don’t like it. I’m bleeding heavier today. I’m too terrified to call Mom. She can’t know. Dad can’t either until we’re ready. Evan’s at work and I know he doesn’t keep his phone on him while he’s there.
Day 14:
FREE DAY! Write any scene you want!
Family dinners are like board meetings. We don’t discuss how our days went or what new things in life make us happy. We talk about what we can do to make the camp more presentable and how many people are camping right at that moment and when fishing season really kicks into gear and if there are more spots we can open up and what needs to be fixed and who needs to switch shifts this week.It’s so down right annoying that most of us try to avoid it, even Mom. The only ones here tonight are Dad, Kevin, and I. I’m mentally cursing Evan for having to work a swing shift.
Day 13:
Your character has a whole day off to do whatever they want. Write a scene of them enjoying this free day.
“Wow, I can’t believe your dad is actually working the entire day so you can all go somewhere!” Evan is driving slowly, the traffic backed up since the parade is going to start soon. “The 4th of July, all to ourselves.”I keep looking at the backed up traffic. I could probably guess each and every float that will present itself and be correct. It’s the same every year. I reach over and put a hand on his knee. “Let’s go to the city. Let’s do something different today.”
“Now? Really?” I can hear the excitement in his voice. He’d much rather spend a day out than a day cooped up in our own home town. “Where?”
He starts turning around the truck in someones driveway as I lay out my idea. “Neither of us have been to the mall since middle school field trips and there’s supposedly a great firework display there. Ten times better than ours.”
“Yes!” He does a little dance in his seat, making me laugh at how cute he is. He hits the gas, driving just barely in the speed limit to the freeway. It’s at least an hour drive to the city, but the entire time we are content with listening to music and not talking. There doesn’t have to be awkward chit chatting between us.
Day 12:
What does your character do when their day isnt a normal day? Write a scene where something goes amiss in your characters day to day life.
I prop open the door to the store, letting the breeze ruffle the papers on the desk slightly. It’s such a beautiful day outside! As soon as I’m off work, Evan and I are going down to the lake (where seemingly everybody and their dog is today). Mom is late to work, claiming she had a meeting with Dad this morning about the camp site. I don’t even want to think about what kind of meeting it really was.One hour until Jer comes to replace me, and there’s not much to do. I pull out a blank piece of paper and start doodling. I’m terrible at art. My stick figures often resemble more closely to sticks than to people. But I’m in such a good mood that I really don’t care.
When Mom finally walks in, she’s flustered; her hair has more flyaway’s than a bird observatory and her cheeks are red as if she’s been running. She points at me with a finger that’s bent and crooked from the few times it’s been broken. “Your brother!”
No. Not Jer. Panic fills me like ice cold water. If she’s found out about Jer, we’re all in trouble. I try to stay calm. “Which? You know you birthed several.”
“Kevin! That idiot has gone and knocked a girl up! Out of wedlock! I can’t believe this! He doesn’t even know this girl hardly! He’s not ready for a child! He’s going to put all of the bills and responsibility on us and we can’t afford it! Your fathers kicking him out this week if they don’t get that thing taken care of! Absolutely absurd! Wrong! Disgusting! You know as well as I do that God does not tolerate those kinds of mistakes!” She slams her hands down on the table. I’m so thankful it’s not Jer because that would be a bigger mess. Though I don’t know how to respond. I’m a few days late on my period.
“What mistakes?” Jer asks from the doorway. He’s still tugging on his work shirt over his bare torso.
Mom turns to him, explaining the whole situation again with even more anger and frustration. Jer glances at me when she’s looking away and we share a moment of twin-telekinesis: Mom and Dad can never know about Jer. Not here. Not while he’s still in the town, or even in the country probably.
“I need to go pick up Evan, I’ll talk to you guys later. I just have a date.” I say, making my way around them and out the door. Behind the shed and covered by trees, I change out of my work shirt and into a blue tank top. In the car, I undo my braids and let my wavy hair fall around me shoulders, determining how I’m going to ask Evan to help me take a pee test to see if I’m indeed pregnant.
