Day Four

This was a hard one to start, but it actually was really good.  My story is starting to develop.  I wasn't really sure where these exercises were going to take me, and yet the path is unfurling.  Very cool.  I wrote for about an hour.  I think I am supposed to be writing for two hours a day, but there is no way I can do that right now.  I am thinking about my story, though, so spending time with my character must count for something!

Here are the prompts, again writing from the perspective of the protagonist:

1. The answer to my problem I've been avoiding is . . . (this one really stumped me, even in how it was worded, but once I got going, that's when the story started to unfold.
2. If I could do one thing differently from my past, it would be . . .
3. I wouldn't be surprised if one day I . . .
4. I tend to present the illusion that I . . .
5. The most defiant moment of my life was when I . . .
6. The thing that I try to keep hidden from people is . . .

So I wrote another theee pages in my notebook.  I hope you got some writing done, too!

Day Three

Okay, so still writing from the perspective of the protagonist, on the following prompts:

1. One thing you still need to know about me is . . .
2. I am beginning to question why I . . .
3. My parents think that I am . . .
4. The thing that people most admire in me is . . .
5. The characteristic I am least proud of in myself is . . .
6. I pretend to have forgotten about the time that . . .

I've written another three pages on my character.  I am afraid I'm putting a lot of myself into the character, but I guess that's okay.

Day Two

Keep writing from the perspective of the protagonist and answer the following questions:

1. You would never know this by looking at me, but . . .
2. Every time I think I'm going to get what I want, it seems that . . .
3. I need to be forgiven for . . .
4. The worst day of my life was the day that . . .
5. I struggle with . . .
6. I cannot tolerate . . .

I got another three pages written.  I feel like most of what I am writing is drawn from my own life/self, but I guess that's okay.  I can really "relate" to my protagonist!  :-)

This day focuses on self doubt.  Watt says, "we may need to hack our way through some old ideas before we hit the truth."  I am reminded of those wonderful days of The Artist's Way with Carol and Lynne, and I think even just the act of writing is so important.  It's hard to do, but once done, it's like going to the gym.  You are so glad after you've finished.

Day One

Okay, Jordana, I'm starting a blog on writing a novel in 90 days, based on The 90 Day Novel by Alan Watt.  I'm going to do my writing in a spiral notebook, but I will post the prompts here for you to do what you will with them.  :-) 

Here is the challenge:

Write for at least five minutes on each of the following prompts.  Don't worry about having your novel plotted out at this point.  But I think you do need to have an idea in mind here.

My story is about . . .

What I want to express through my story is . . .

Writing as your hero/protagonist answer the following prompts:

If I were to describe myself, I would say that I am . . .

The most incredible think I ever did was . . .

The turning point in my life was . . .

Everything will make sense when . . .

I actually have a story in mind, and I was able to fill three pages of my spiral notebook writing on the prompts above.  I hope you find this helpful, friend.  If not now, when?