Week one of National Novel Writing Month is officially underway! We're just getting into the swing of things. Our writers, still (for the most part) bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, have been diligently working on their books. One of the challenges often cited during the first week (besides finding the time to write, of course) is silencing your inner editor, and focusing instead on just getting your novel—imperfections and all—into writing. Read below to see how our writers have fared during their first official week of noveling without editing!

Novelist: Alexis C.

Working Book Title: Woman In White

What’s your novel about? A vengeful spirit is spotted wandering Brooklyn causing mysterious disturbances. She is hunting down the boyfriend that drove her to suicide.

Current word count: 6719

How did week one go? Amazingly well so far. I surpassed my goal word count almost every day so far. Attending the write-in on Monday was very helpful.

Were there any unexpected surprises in your writing process as you began writing? I was surprised at how much I could write and how quickly when I just focus on getting the words out. I've managed to almost completely quiet my inner editor. I just keep going even if it doesn’t make sense.

Novelist:  Carol Z.

Working Book Title: Investigations

What’s your novel about? After college graduation, an almost-broke Jane Pardy take off west, across Canada, on a train with a female friend.  From the start, they are mistakenly assumed to be lesbians. They’re invited to crash, for free, with Women’s Lib organizations almost all the way across the continent—only to find themselves at a cult house on the west coast. It explores the value of undercover observations and why people give up their free will.

Current word count: 5622

How did week one go?  Week one is still underway, but as of Wednesday morning, so far so... okay! It takes me longer than two hours to generate the minimum daily output—not sure that’s going to be sustainable on busy days.  It’s hard to resist editing!  No way is my work going to be publishable without a major massage, but at least I’m getting it down!

Were there any unexpected surprises in your writing process as you began writing?  My work has a first person narrator, which feels very “right,” but it’s been tricky introducing other fully-developed characters.

Novelist: Genee  B.

Working Book Title: The Amethyst

What’s your novel about? A sci-fi fantasy story about a distant planet that is ruled by a tyrannical king. He has cemented his rule by eliminating the entirety of the royal bloodline… but there have long been whispers of a prophecy about an off-worlder who can end the mad king's rule.

Current word count: 547

How did week one go?  Honestly, not that good. I'm disappointed with my word count so far.

Were there any unexpected surprises in your writing process as you began writing? I just don't know what should happen to get this story started, but I don't want to give up either, so I may have to rethink the direction of my novel.

Novelist: Rhonda E.

Working Book Title: Untitled

What’s your novel about? My novel is historical fiction, a bildungsroman set during World War I.

Current word count: 1670

How did week one go? Week one is going well. I am not able to write every day during the week, but I am going to make up for lost time during the weekend.

Were there any unexpected surprises in your writing process as you began writing? It was a nice change to write in a group setting instead of writing in a solitary atmosphere. Working around other busy writers can be very motivating.

Novelist: Alma C.

Working Book Title: Untitled Memoir

What’s your novel about? My piece chronicles events that I feel have shaped me into the person that I am. I want to highlight that even though I am only 23 years old, the people and experiences that I have had throughout the years make a profound collection.

Current Word Count: 12500

How did week one go? Week one went well. I typed without stopping for an at least 45 minutes straight every day. It was cathartic and I loved it.

Were there any unexpected surprises in your writing process as you began writing? I was surprised at my ability to be able to remember certain nuances that happened over several years ago.

Novelist: Alethea B.

Working Book Title: Dreaming Havana

What’s your novel about? A woman's life as a child in Cuba of the early '50s to her journey to becoming a singer in USA.

Current word count: 2006

How did week one go? It’s going very well. I have actually woke up with the work in my thoughts, so I'm actually "dreaming Havana."

Were there any unexpected surprises in your writing process as you began writing? I wanted to start my novel with the character at age five. It is loosely based on a Cuban American Jazz performer who is 80. So for my novel I had to imagine an affluent and vibrant Cuba before Castro. I had to then gather images of the country in the 1930-50s; before the ravishes of civil war, before the poverty that came with economic and political sanctions and embargoes. In particular, I've learned a lot about sugar and the role it played.

Novelist: Nancy A.

Working Book Title: Blue Magic

What’s your novel about? A cursed island in the South Pacific. It’s a murder mystery unfixed in time that touches on everything from ancient stories of ritual human sacrifice handed down in oral tradition to career suicide in the time of gossip via email and social media.

Current word count: 11208

How did week one go? I spent the better part of the week piecing together what I had planned coming into the month. It’s really rewarding seeing everything compiled in one place.

Were there any unexpected surprises in your writing process as you began writing? I am actually a much faster writer that I thought I was! That, and as I write, new possibilities for my characters are opening up left and right.

Interested in joining us for a write-in session? We meet at the following dates in the PC lab on the 4th floor:

• Saturday, November 7, 2:30 pm
• Monday, November 9, 6:30 pm
• Saturday, November 14, 2:30 pm
• Monday, November 16, 6:30 pm
• Saturday, November 21, 2:30 pm
• Monday, November 23, 6:30 pm
• Saturday, November 28, 2:30 pm

Space at these write-ins is sure to fill up fast, so make sure you reserve your seat by registering for each session by clicking the links above.