On the path to self discovery

All right, for the past 12 days I've been participating in the National Novel Writing Month. Apparently this is something that has been happening for several years but this is the first year that I've heard of it, let alone participated in it. One of my good friends, Josh, got me into it. The goal is to reach 50,000 words by the end of November. In 12 days, I have passed the 30,000 word mark.

This is my first serious attempt at writing a book. I have learned several things so far. First, my imagination is very narrow and I have had to expand my horizons. Talking to people is an excellent way to do that.

Second, I would have never thought that I had the determination to undertake a project like this. I've been able to pull myself away from my various video games and book reading activities and write. There's something very satisfying about putting my mind to forming a coherent plot and then guiding my characters to that point. I've discovered that even with fictional characters, I can't force them to reach a conclusion that I want them to reach. They have to discover it on their own and even then I am surprised in the way that they resolve a situation.

I'm extremely grateful for the support that Dana and the kids have given me throughout this process. I'm home but not mentally present. I can always count on them to provide a pleasant distraction when I am having problems figuring out what is supposed to happen next. They inspire me. When I have problems figuring out how the protagonist, a protector, would handle a situation, I can always imagine how I would feel and react if my family were threatened in a similar fashion.

Will I make it to 50,000 words before the end of the month? Only time will tell but I only have 8 days to do complete it. Even if I don't meet the goal by the appointed time, I am going to try to finish it just to say that I have written a book. It may never see a printer and become a hard copy that someone can hold and read but at least I will have completed the task.