Back at It

Wow. A lot happens in five years. Five years! We moved houses, had a baby, took some vacations, lost our dog to cancer, and basically life took over.
Honestly, since our daughter was born two years ago, I had not worked on anything new. I did scrutinize my first manuscript, and scrutinize it again. Still it feels incomplete, like I am missing a key piece of motivation (perhaps on the page and off.) I am still passionate about that original project, but as it is the first in a planned series, I have to get it right. So, I set it aside, while I stretch my atrophied writing muscles.
I came across a Facebook memory from five years ago announcing I was going to participate in NaNoWriMo 2011, and it brought me back here. After reading my posts about that experience, it got me excited to take on the challenge once again, but this time with a standalone project.
The story seedling came on August 24th, 2015, while I read a passage in the Old Testament about God's covenant faithfulness, in the face of rebellion and spiritual adultery.
I know the date because I recorded the barest details of the concept, including a working first line, in Simplenote. (A free app, available for both Apple devices and Android, and also accessible online at Simplenote.com) Simplenote has been such an awesome tool for me because it keeps my files synced across all my devices. This is great for on the go notetaking. I love it.
So, I'm taking a lot of my own advice and I brainstormed for the last week of October and at midnight on the morning of November 1st, I sat at my computer and began to type. Here is where I began...

" 

Today they will change her name.
She can barely hold herself up, and several times she has been supported by the maids in the room- how many are there- three? She can barely think. Her head is weak. She presses a palm against her eye, where a throbbing ache is blooming. The image of her hand covered in his blood flashes into her mind and she pulls it away. She shudders at what she is responsible for. 

"

Two hours later-- I was shocked to see the time-- I had three chapters and 1,694 words. An on-target beginning to the challenge.
Here were a few personal tricks I applied to the night's writing:
>>>  I set a timer a few times just to keep my fingers moving.
>>>  I worked out point of view over a few scenes. This time I am not doing first person, but multiple POV in third person, separated, so far, by chapters as to keep from feeling like we're head-hopping.
>>>  I delved into my characters senses to give a true feel for what was happening internally and externally in a scene.
>>> I tried to surprise myself as often as possible with better story advancement than what I went into the scene anticipating.
>>>  And, I stopped in the middle of a clear moment so that I can pick up again, easily, tonight.

Keep watch for updates on my progress and additional snippets.

Now, I am off to slide back into the remainder of that suspended scene.