May I Write a Novel...Month
It's a thing now and I'm doing it!
Once upon a time I did this thing in November: I tried to write a novel, 50,000 words at least. I only managed to get through it once, but each time I made serious progress on my stories. That thing ceased to exist for me in 2023 when the organization badly handled a situation (you can google it if you want, I don’t want to get into here) and then they actually ceased to exist officially just about a month ago. The whole thing made me sad as it was a good excuse to make progress and create comradery among those of us who choose to pursue this solitary passion.
Well, as they say, when one door closes another door opens. Enter Successful Indie Author and May I Write a Novel Month. It’s the brain child of Craig Martelle, of 20Booksto50k fame as well as publishing more books than I have yet dare to dream of publishing. Right now the event is being hosted in the Facebook group, but there will be a way to follow this YouTube channel if you avoid Facebook. If you write, you’re welcome to join us!
The way it works is you set your own writing goal for the month, then there is a post/spreadsheet where we can share our progress. On day one, the group wrote over 120,000 words! I only had a mere 640 words, but that was more than I would have if I didn’t have any excuse to do so. It was my birthday and I got busy baking a cake, cleaning and doing all sorts of things one isn’t expected to do on their birthday. But I managed to squeak in some writing time between all that.
So, what am I working on for this new, hopefully annual and ever more popular event?
The answer is I’ll be working on my deepest shame: The Butcher of Porwia series. It should have been finished a long time ago, but I got distracted along the way by starting serials and life, mostly life.
If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s a character focused space opera series of novellas that takes place in the fourth era of the Myriadu. The Core has been in power a thousand years yet stands on the brink of collapse. There are rebels, nobles, a princess, a psychopath—or two—and a dash of mystery and misdirection.
Books one and two are out, three is more than halfway done meaning I still have three more to go. For those who struggle with math (me, often) that makes a six book series. I’ve got them planned out. I know what happens (mostly) yet for some reason I’ve been resistant to focus on it. But that ended yesterday when I sat got those words in.
I’m re-energized to pound the words out, let these characters have their say and hope they follow my plan. If they don’t, well, I’m sure the story will be better for it.
You can start the series with book one, On the Outward Edge, available at your favorite ebook retailer.
Wow that’s really big! I left it that way just because it’s time to make dinner.
More May updates coming soon, but for now, it’s time to eat and get those words in.
Like my stories? Consider buying me a coffee so I can write some more!