On the first of November, I started Nanowrimo for the 11th year. I had an outline for a story, which is most unusual for me as I am a ‘pantser.’ I found having an outline hindered my creativity as I knew how my story would end. So I wrote every day, and every now and then my story would veer from my plan and go off down a side track. I enjoyed that spontaneity and the not knowing where the story was going. Yesterday, at about 4 pm, I completed the 50 000 words required to ‘win’ Nano.
For the 11th year in a row, I have completed 50 000 words or more, over November. I have written 624 834 words in that time. Not bad, hey!
I have decided to read my way through the entire Stephen King collection, as I love his novels and want to read the sets together, like The Shining and its sequel, Doctor Sleep. I am surprised though, as I read his work, how many mistakes there actually are in some of his stories. He uses the incorrect name sometimes, or the person changes from a stepmother to a step-grandmother. It stuns me, but it shouldn’t. It also gives me hope that when I make mistakes, people will be forgiving. Well, hopefully.
I wrote a lot through school and had stories published here and there. I guess I was writing “Silver Brumby” fan fiction, as I was obsessed with horses. But my first negative review came when I wrote a story about chickens. I think I was in grade 4. The teacher asked us to write about an experience we had had on our weekend.
Now my weekend had been weird. There had been terrible storms, and after they passed, we went to visit an old lady who lived alone. She had chickens. Lots of them. During the storms, she brought them inside as their pen was wrecked.
She allowed them to wander the house. However, her son had been painting, and some paint was spilled by the chickens.
They walked in it. Little white chicken footprints everywhere. On the couch, on the table, on the bench. It was chaotic. And the most amazing, fun thing I had ever seen. Those chickens had fun!
So, I wrote about the chickens and the paint. I gave it to my teacher. She read it and tore it up, telling me I wasn’t supposed to make the story up and to go and write another story.
There was no way I could make that stuff up, Lady!
I have written all my life, I guess. I earned my first cheque for writing, when I was about 8. A whole $1.50. If I had spent it on lollies, I would have been sick, and my parents would have cracked, so I guess I didn’t do that. I have no idea what I spent it on. But it was probably well spent. I have written over the years, as time allowed me to, and I have always enjoyed the act of writing. It was a time to explore different worlds, to break free of the constraints my parents, teachers and society put on me, and to be all I dreamed I could be.
I became a teacher, and was blessed to be able to work with young adults, drawing inspiration from them, loving their spontaneity, their exuberance and their way of seeing the world around them. It is about them I write.
Now, I want to push myself to see what I can do. To see where my stories can take me. It is a frightening step, I see myself swimming desperately in an ocean of knowledge, trying to find the island I know is somewhere near. Currently I am attempting to create this website, to use Instagram and to edit the first story I want to share with the world.
This story is aimed at the Young Adult reader. It is an ugly little story, one that explores life of a teenager who is not popular, not accepted and not wanted. It is currently running under the name of ‘Konsikwenses’. It is also known as ‘Kons’ by those who hate the name but love the story. If you jump across to characters, you can meet Rylee there. Enjoy!
Mickey Stuart Writer- Young Adult Fantasy Writer 