When I moved home from San Diego in 1998 I was 27. I worked with this woman who was 30 and who I thought was TOTALLY cool. She had a bookclub so I wanted to have a bookclub. Truthfully I wanted to be in HER bookclub but it was exclusively for her college friends so I decided to start my own.
I called 6 of my friends and invited them to join - and I invited each of them to invite a friend or two and on the first night there were a dozen women in my livingroom - half of whom I'd never met before.
Some of them were not stellar - like the woman who confessed that she had accidentally killed her own cat with rat poison - and some of them were BEYOND stellar - like my friend Serena.
My, at the time, NEW friend, Serena who is my NOW 14 year OLD friend Serena.
The thing I love about her is that she doesn't take anything I say personally. Like if I say, "I don't know if I could be a stay at home mom." She doesn't think, "Wow, Kit thinks I'm lame for staying home." Because I totally don't. I think she's brave and awesome and lucky.
Which means it's REALLY easy to talk to her because I don't have to worry that what I'm going to say is going to offend her. Because that happens sometimes.
So one day we were talking about writing a novel - which she totally does and I totally think I could do but can't commit to and she said to me that she had recently seen an author speak and someone in the audience had asked, "Don't you think that everyone has a story in them?" and the author had said, "No. I don't."
And I thought that was interesting because I think that I do - and I don't think the fact that I haven't been able to commit to putting it down on paper means that the story isn't there.
Except that it MAY AS WELL.
Right?
And so, FUCK ME, I've decided to put it down.
This year I am going to participate in National Novel Writing Month - NANOWRIMO - the month of November - where you commit to writing a novel - 50 thousand words - by the end of the month.
Since I have zero free time, I'm not sure where this is effort is going to fit in but I think that if I don't do it, I need to shut up about doing it. And we all know that shutting up is not my strong suit.
So bear with me. If my posting is a bit thin, or it totally sucks you'll know I'm writing the great American novel. And if I start posting 2 or 3 times a day, you'll know I'm totally procrastinating!
What about you? Do YOU have a story in you?
I do! I've been at it for about a year now and I'm still working on it. We had a lovely honeymoon phase but now...oh well! I have to get back to it and finish it.
Posted by: Helena | November 01, 2011 at 08:03 AM
I most of the time feel like I am the definition of mediocrity... so no. I don't think I have a story beyond being pretty average. That doesn't mean I don't find plenty of things to blog about! I just won't be publishing any novels anytime soon.
Posted by: Mrs. MidAtlantic | November 01, 2011 at 08:21 AM
No story in here.
Posted by: Tara | November 01, 2011 at 08:34 AM
Uh, NO -- that's why I read yours -- you keep me entertained. Good luck! I know you'll do great.
Posted by: Kathy | November 01, 2011 at 10:01 AM
The story of my boyfriend and I is When Harry Met Sally. :( It's already been done!
Posted by: Stephanie | November 01, 2011 at 10:58 AM
I do. I have several. I just never take the time to put them down. Which is why NaNoWriMo is great. I'm doing it this year too. WOO!
Posted by: LovelyLici | November 01, 2011 at 11:08 AM
I'm doing nano this year. I think.
Posted by: Emily | November 01, 2011 at 11:26 AM
Here's wishing you the very best of luck! Can't wait to see the result. I can't even keep a blog going. :-(
Posted by: Ken | November 01, 2011 at 12:08 PM
I do...everyone has a story or even a soap opera of a life..Good Luck!!!
Posted by: DHARZA | November 01, 2011 at 01:00 PM
I have quite a few stories in me. Back in high school/college, I wrote science fiction stories. I even tried to get one published, but didn't succeed. There's this one story that's been rattling through my brain for over 15 years now. I've been sketching out the characters and world over the past year, but haven't sat down to write it out yet. I probably won't get to it for NaNoWriMo, but maybe by this time next year I'll have the story written out.
Posted by: TechyDad | November 01, 2011 at 01:02 PM
I've done NaNoWriMo the past two years and I finished last year. While the "nobel" I wrote last year is still gathering dust in a folder on my desktop, it gave me the boost I needed to convince myself I could actually WRITE something. I'm not formally participating this year, but I have a new project I'm working on and just now decided my goal will be to have an extremely rough draft finished by December 1st.
Posted by: Katrina | November 01, 2011 at 02:17 PM
I am participating this year as well. And totally procrastinating right now by reading and commenting on blogs...
Posted by: Sarah | November 01, 2011 at 02:18 PM
i completely agree that not everyone has a story in them. it sounds harsh, but it's true.
and I have no idea about myself. and I am too tired and pregnant to go looking for said story.
So GO YOU! I'll just cheer you on.
Posted by: Katie | November 01, 2011 at 03:15 PM
I'm doing nano for the second time. Honestly, I think everyone has a story in them. Its not necessarily a good story. But it doesn't have to be.
Last year, mine was a adventure story that turned into a rather trashy bodice ripper. Was it great? Nope. Will I ever share it openly? Nope.
But it was a lot of fun to write. And it's still an accomplishment. And I'm proud that I did it.
Posted by: Kitty Hawkins | November 01, 2011 at 04:56 PM
Oh, I've got a story in me...several, I hope. I'm doing NaNoWriMo this year too. It's my first time, and I am beyond excited. I'm glad to know you're doing it too.
Posted by: republicofwrite | November 01, 2011 at 05:39 PM
Kit, you're the best. I guess I'd say I think everyone has a story in them, but not everyone has (yet) acquired a) the insight to recognize the value of the story or b) the persistence, willpower, desire, skill, or knowledge necessary to put the story on paper. However, I think pretty much all of those things--insight, desire, willpower, knowledge, skill, and persistence--can be acquired or refined or borrowed or faked. So I guess what it boils down to is: Everyone has a story in them, and if for whatever reason you feel compelled to tell your story, doing so is within your grasp if you're willing to thoroughly dedicate yourself to it.
How's THAT for a short answer?
Posted by: Serena Bell | November 01, 2011 at 08:29 PM
If it turns out that I don't have a story in me, then I'm going to feel like a miserable failure at the end of the month.
Posted by: Stephanie Harsh | November 01, 2011 at 10:38 PM
I think I might have one. Not sure if it's ready to be writen. I might give it a try and see where it goes.
Posted by: Carla (chickmae) | November 02, 2011 at 12:43 AM
I do think everyone has a story to tell, I'm just not sure if everyone knows HOW to tell it, I think that's where the skill lies. I am doing NaNoWriMo, however, I have also stupidly signed up to NaBloPoMo as well, so now I have to do a blog post every day in November as well as write 2,000 words for my novel challenge. What insanity is this!
Posted by: Janine Fitzpatrick | November 02, 2011 at 03:06 AM
I had never heard of this before! Perhaps I will try it next year, because my daughter has "kidnapped" me to make slipcovers for her during November...
I DO believe everyone has a story in them...not sure what mine might be yet. I used to love that tv program "Everybody Has A Story." I would love to travel around the country a la "Travels with Charlie" and hear what everyone has to say.
Good luck on your venture. Having been a reader of your blog for several months now, I know you have the talent to turn out something wonderful.
Posted by: Old_gal | November 02, 2011 at 09:06 AM
I do.
The e-book comes out next week.
It's called Divorce: a Love Story.
And I'm writing a totally different one now.
I WILL do this for a living. I'm not there yet, but it's coming.
Posted by: Jessie Powell | November 02, 2011 at 09:49 AM
I believe EVERYONE has a story to tell; and I have several books I'd absolutely love to write. I've always been such an avid reader and once went to a book club with a friend. Suffice it to say; as much as I love her, many were judgmental and I sensed I wouldn't be welcomed back.
So my procrastination? READING!! Reading books, as well as blogs I love!
A friend of mine convinced me over just over a year and a half I could blog. I wasn't so certain; and every time I blog, I am more certain. Yet? I am screaming at that monster to get up and over the mountain, sucking it in and blowing it out. I have stared him in the eye. I have challenged him. Every time I blog; and trust me when I say I have overcome larger fears than blogging.
Laughter works pretty well for fighting them as well. If laughter is considered the best medicine? Hey! Why not laugh joy at the monster?!
As for me? I am considering giving up blogging at the end of the year to start writing one of six books within; and have one of my friends who is a published author/editor do the edits!
Go for your dreams! EACH and all of you!!
Posted by: Brenda | November 02, 2011 at 11:19 AM
I DO have a story - oh GOD what a story. Where do I start, though, BIRTH?
Posted by: Kim Pugliano | November 02, 2011 at 02:44 PM
My writer friend says she thinks that one trait that separates writers from the rest of the world is the ability to see bits of story in just about everything that happens. I just always assumed everyone did that. :-)
Posted by: Serena Bell | November 03, 2011 at 11:41 AM
@Serena: I thought that, too. :)
I just found out about NaNoWriMo and NaBloPoMo today.
Maybe next year.
Loving your blog!
Posted by: About100percent | November 06, 2011 at 10:32 PM