April Writing Challenge

So a week ago I wrapped up my March writing challenge, a blog post a day. I made it for all thirty-one days, even though there were many days that I really want to skip. I wondered why I had made the challenge in the first place. I wondered if anyone would even notice if I didn't write. 

I knew I'd notice.

I can't stick to a diet for anything, yet give me a writing challenge and I become a woman on a mission. Whatever.

At any rate, as I wrote last weekend, I talked to my friend Cindy last Saturday and said I was trying to figure out what to write for April. I confided that I wondered about trying fiction, maybe even something like a romance book since she and I were constantly reading new ones and discussing them. It wouldn't be that hard, right? 

Cut to Cindy looking up the average length of a romance novel...80,000-90,000 words. 

Holy crap.

But I decided to dive in. I put up some photos on a bulletin board in my bedroom, inspiration for my novel. My husband raised his eyebrow at me. I asked him who wouldn't want to look at Jason Momoa on a daily basis. 

I cleared a desk off, organized the reading nook in my bedroom, lamented that I couldn't buy an overstuffed chair that would be perfect to sit in to write. Glanced down at my yoga mat, reflected on the last time I'd actually been to a yoga class, and realized I was already off track. At that point I made a plan to check in with Cindy each day and share if I wrote for at least thirty minutes and what my current word count was.

On Sunday, I sat down to write.

Holy hell, it was hard. 

I had an idea for my male protagonist, inspired by Jason Momoa. I named him Max. The female was a struggle, but then Stana Katic popped in my brain. I think she's gorgeous, so I christened her Emma. Where did they live? How did they know each other? I started typing.

Seven days in, I haven't missed a day. I've roughly averaged a thousand words a day. I'm completely out of my element, have to tell my inner editor to shut up on a regular basis, and having a blast. Today I decided that maybe my inner editor's name is Helga and she truly is evil. 

Tonight's writing required a Fat Tire.

Writing a romance book is a trip. I tend to curse a lot in real life and in this? I let it fly. Haven't written any "romance" scenes yet. I might have to have several glasses of wine to get that accomplished, but I don't think I've laughed more when I've written than I have on this project. I love Max, I love Emma. I love Emma's friend Maggie even more, I wish she was real. I'd absolutely want to hang out with her.

As I write I'm falling more in love with writing, which is unexpected. I don't think I'm good at it necessarily  but I enjoy doing it. I like trying something that feels like a challenge, like I'm working my brain in a new way. My students know that I'm trying this challenge in April, and that they won't be able to read it, but they ask how it's going each day. They are certainly good cheerleaders and I can't wait to see where I am at the end of the month, if only so I can share with them that I did it. 

Seven days in, twenty-three to go. I can't wait to see where Max and Emma take me next. 

Day seven, done.