For the 18th straight day, I got up early and sat down at my computer. I’ve been hacking away at the draft of a novel (a “middle grades” book for kids), and the process has been surprisingly enjoyable. I decided from the outset that I wouldn’t worry about quality. Which is good, since there is little to be found in the pages I’m accumulating. What I have been able to gather in droves is ideas. Whether they are good ones will only be evident in time, but they feel good to me right now. I am energized by them.

At present, the document weighs in  at 57 pages 21,395 words. I have a protagonist, two supporting characters with complicated problems, a story arc, a remarkable happening, a high-stakes struggle with major implications, and dark forces that threaten to ruin all.

What I hope to have by the end of the month is a pile of raw material that can be shaped into something more pleasing in months to come.

And now the children are stirring and the dog is whining for her breakfast, and so I’ll leave my draft for another day. Only 22 hours and 10 minutes until it’s time to start again.