Well, it’s November 30, and I have finished my children’s mystery. It is not the 50,000 words that NaNoWriMo tries to get its authors to write (closer to 30,000), but I never really thought it would be that big. It’s a children’s story, so perhaps shorter is better.

I still have a lot of editing to do, but I think we will have it clean and ready to be self-published by spring break. We are hoping to start selling it this summer. It is exciting. And, really, it’s amazing what a person can do when she puts her mind to it. A month ago, this story was just in my head; now it is all on paper.

I read the story to my collaborators (my family) over Thanksgiving and they gave good feedback and suggestions. My youngest son sat down and immediately wrote a couple of new scenes. They are so well written! I look forward to putting them in the story.

It’s November, and I’m writing. It feels great. I’m hardly sleeping at all.

Even as a a child I had a hard time falling asleep at night. Then, about eighteen months ago, I started falling asleep right away every night. I attributed it to the small glass of red wine I sometimes had before bed. I’m beginning to realize that it actually coincided with the completion of Syncopation. After finishing that novel, I decided not to write anything until I had spent time working on agents and editors to get it published. Wow! I slept like the dead during those months. Now, I’m writing again and not sleeping. I guess it is a sacrifice I’m willing to make.

What do you give up when you’re writing?