I began Day 18 of National Novel Writing Month having a Skype call with my 3.5 year-old granddaughter, Ofelia. She wanted to show Ralph and me two things.

First, her substantial collection of bird feathers, which she would be taking for “Show and Tell” to preschool on Monday.

The second was what she called, “My sculpture.” Her brightly-colored work of art reminded me of how my writing process has been going: lots of ups and downs, twists and turns, with some bright spots emerging here and there. I was quite sure that Ofelia made her sculpture in much the same way as I write, not with an outline, but more organically, feeling her way through a multitude of creative choices. In other words, playing. Playing with form, texture, sensations, color.

Later I recalled what Jane Resh Thomas always urged those of us who attended her Children’s Writer’s Workshops, held bimonthly in her home, to do much more of: “When you’re writing, play!” Play with words, let your imaginations run wild.
I tried to remember to be more childlike when I was writing today, and I did end up with a few surprises. Bringing to mind another novel-writing adage: No surprise for the writer, no surprise for the reader.

Today’s word count: 1451.

Eighteen days down, 12 to go.

#NaNoWriMo18