Novel Progress # 1

So...it is day five since I decided to try my hand at fiction. This is amazing! I have never had more fun with my writing before. I have written three chapters so far. Working on this novel is almost addictive. Once an idea for the next scene comes to mind, I feel as though I must write it down before I lose it. It is satire, so the direction the plot is going is basically set in stone, but sometimes I feel as though the story is writing itself and I'm just along for the ride. I know this is going to be a rewarding experience. I can't wait to see it in its published form.

At the moment, I am probably acting a tad too big for my britches. I want to stay optimistic and maintain self-confidence (I'll NEED it when I take my baby to the publishers). I can do this, but I'm in it for the long haul. I have two books on writing fiction, The Practical Writer and How to Write a Damn Good Novel, II. From what I've read so far, the latter is particularly useful as a reference on how to create emotion in your reader and build suspense, which is all-important where my book is concerned. It had better help make my novel damn good, because I would like to write my Pulitzer Prize acceptance speech alongside it! ;)

Before I get too carried away with publishing deals and bestseller lists, I have to sit down and write the novel. It's good to have the people I trust most read my first draft, second opinions have led to a ton of much needed changes. My first draft is entirely handwritten, later I'll type it up into a manuscript and continue cutting this part and pasting that part until it is good enough to submit for publishing. I'll cross that unstable bridge when I get there...

I'm sorry, but I can't share chapters or excerpts from my book publicly yet. If you want more information about what I am satirizing with my novel, follow the link here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Fire_of_Smyrna

Meanwhile, I need to get back to work!