Learning About Love

I tried. I really did. My sister had given me "The 5 Love Languages" by Gary Chapman and reading the back piqued my interest. I wanted to learn what type of language I spoke in my relationships and so when I started reading it today, I figured the timing (less than a week before Valentine's Day) was perfect.

But as soon as I started reading it, I knew I wasn't going to be able to get through it. The author's intentions were good. Through his research and extensive time as a therapist, he had come to the conclusion that there are five different languages, or ways, that people show affection; words of affirmation, quality time, receiving gifts, acts of service and physical touch. His first chapter heading was "What happens to love after the wedding?" I was immediately turned off - what if I wasn't married (which I'm not)? Did I not show love the way married people do?

After making an effort to get through the first few chapters, I was disgruntled by the author's generic examples and, as I later texted my sister to tell her I couldn't read the book, the writing just wasn't good. It wasn't engaging and didn't inspire confidence that love was possible. It had a negative vibe - the examples he cited were all about couples who had fallen out of love because the woman asked the man to take out the trash in a "snarling tone." I was expecting a positive primer on how to communicate with your loved ones and was sorely disappointed.

I used to try and read through all books that I started. If I started it, I had to finish it. But those days are long gone and I don't spend wasted time on books that I don't enjoy. I'm sorry Mr. Chapman, but I just couldn't do it.

NaNoWriMo Success!

Whew. Just in the nick of time, as the clock counted down til the beginning of December, I finished my novel. Well, I got to 50,000 words and made it end there. 

I can't believe that I actually wrote that many words in 30 days. I am ridiculously proud of myself. It's been a few days since the end of NaNoWriMo, but I still haven't gone back to read my whole story from the beginning. I think I need a little breathing room to let it all sink in - I'll go back when my eyes are fresh and I'll wear my editing hat at that point.

In the meantime, here's a little excerpt from the story - I would love to hear what you think.

As he comes upon the factory, it feels out of place among the kitchy tourist shops, the dim sum restaurants and the high-end jewelers that seem to sell everything from jade to diamonds to rubies.  The nondescript front is made even more nondescript by one-way glass windows, like the ones in Jeremy's office.  When Mr. Sung first bought the building in 1979, he had all of the window panes replaced with the one-way glass.  It's not as if he had any secrets; the business of fortune cookie making had only changed a few times, like when a machine had replaced the workers who had once folded the cookies by hand as they came out of the oven.  And even that machine had been standardized and purchased by all of the companies that manufactured the cookies.  He had no secrets.

The only thing that gives a hint as to what goes on inside the factory is the small, handwritten sign next to the door buzzer that, if translated from Chinese to English says, "For Mr. Sung, fortune cookie master, ring bell."  Fortune cookie master.  He should write that on his business cards, Jeremy once joked with Min Li, a short, stocky, emasculate baker.  His joke fell flat, and her accusing eyes made him feel like a child again, caught drawing a mustache on the yearbook picture of a teacher.

Mid-NaNoWriMo

I'm 17 days in to National Novel Writing Month, more than halfway to the finish line of 50,000 words.

I can't believe how quickly this month has flown by. I wanted to post a short bit to let everyone know how the writing has been going.

The story is moving along really well, actually. I was a bit nervous that I wouldn't be able to sustain the (very) vague storyline that I started with, but with each passing evening, I find more ways to describe the situation, develop and get to know the characters and slowly build on the basic plot. Let's get things clear - by no means is this a Pulitzer-winner. But honestly, just sitting down at the dining room table every night and willing myself to 1,600 words is making me a better writer.

Thanks to all of those who have been understanding of my lack of phone calls and other general keep-in-touch methods. My story thanks you, too.

NaNoWriMo

It officially starts tonight at midnight - National Novel Writing Month. I've signed up to write a 50,000 word novel in the month of November. Fiction is not really my forte and although I have a glimmer of a concept of the novel's storyline, I have no idea how I am going to flesh it out for that many words.

To get to 50k words in 30 days, I have to write about 1,600 words every night (I'll most likely write at night during the week and tackle the weekends however they may come). I've never had to do a sustained, daily writing project like this. I am a bit nervous that I'm going to have writer's block or not have enough to sustain the novel til the very end.

But I think having a set goal, with a place to log my words in at the end of each night, will be a motivating factor. It's now or never, right?

I'm letting you all know this as my blog postings will probably be sporadic, if not non-existent, during the month of November. I really want to focus my energy and attention to this book (crazy).

So here goes nothin'...