I was all set up to create a 30 page graphic novel during the month of NaNo instead of writing a novel, as in, I had all my supplies at the ready: pencils, pens, bristol board, ruler, etc. But as I started practicing my drawing, I was not happy. Not at all. I was prepared to not have the drawings be perfect, but I didn’t realize just how unprepared I was to do this sort of project. I’m pretty good as drawing from life or a photo, but drawing something straight out of my head is completely different. I realized that I need to do much more drawing, and not just from photos, in order to get to the level I need to be to take on a project like this.

So, as I’ve already said, I’ve decided to once again attempt to write a novel for NaNo this coming month.

I plan to take my idea for the graphic novel and expand on it:

To make a long story short, it will be about a woman struggling with poor self-esteem, trapped in an abusive relationship, and her attempt to get out of the relationship and gain a healthier perspective on life.  It will have a hopeful ending, but she ultimately goes back to her husband.  It will also feature an affair and most likely a pregnancy.  At least I think this is what it will be/contain.  I’m not too sure of all the details right now, because as I write it, my perspective on the story will change as I get to know my characters better.  It’s a bit crazy to say (though I know other writers will understand), but my characters will tell me where the story should go.  I can’t force something to happen that they, my characters, don’t approve of.

Only ~3 and half days to go.  I’m so excited!

It’s my first attempt at a pen and ink drawing. I think it turned out pretty well, considering. There are a couple obvious (to me at least) mistakes, but I can’t expect my first drawing to be perfect (Something I’ve been struggling to accept for a long time). And I’m not sure that pelicans ever hold fish this way, but it was a last minute addition that I didn’t really think about beforehand. My idea with this was to draw something that used multiple techniques in one, in this case: contour lines, crosshatching, and stippling.

In case you’re curious, I used a .20 mm Sakura Pigma Micron pen. I had planned to use a .25 mm pen too, but I got too caught up in the process and forgot about it until I was more than half finished. In the future I’d like to try a Crow Quill pen, but I’m not that brave yet. I have one though. I forget what kind it is though. Probably a #102.

He tried to tell me in the kindest way possible that writing is just not my thing. He didn’t need to be gentle. I agreed with him right away. Whenever I sit down to write a novel I can’t ever seem to get the words to flow. When I do write, it’s generally flat and stilted. I do pretty good with non-fiction, but writing “literature” just does not seem to be my thing. I did complete NaNoWriMo last year, but the novel was horrible. Probably the worst thing I’ve ever written. Plot holes, one dimensional characters with multiple personalities (as in they changed their one-dimension qualities throughout the novel), etc.

However, I still have a very strong urge to tell stories, and I don’t think that will ever stop. We figured out that since I am such a visual person, I probably need to use a visual format, like a graphic novel or a screenplay, instead of a novel.

If you remember, I started a screenplay when Script Frenzy was going on. I was very happy with what I wrote in that case because it was a good way to translate what I see in my head onto paper. I just haven’t done much with it since then. I think I’ll dig it back out to see what I can do with it.

I think the idea of creating a graphic novel is a wonderful idea too, since I used to love to draw and paint. I just don’t see any of my current ideas fitting into that format. My husband, however, has written two stories that I would love to turn into graphic novels. One is about zombies and the other is a children’s story.

The only problem I see with getting back into writing/drawing is that I’ve not done either for at least a few months and I’ve started projects or developed interests in the mean time that already have me stretched a bit thin. I just have too many interests!

I also agreed to edit my husband’s 2007 NaNoWriMo novel for him, so I just don’t know how much more I’ll take on at the moment.

I’ll get the stuff out, but probably wont do much on any of it for another month, when I’m no longer consumed with my genealogy book or busy editing my husband’s novel.

I want what I do to be fun and not feel like something else I have to do.