I'm Writing a Novel for #NaNoWriMo2019

Dear Friend, 

For the past couple of years I have been having a hard time adjusting to my new life in Colorado. Without friends and family near by I felt lost, especially after being hit with so many tragedies in my life in such quick succession. My father is sentenced to 45 years in prison, I’m diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis after an intense 12 weeks of symptoms and no answers, I nursed my grandmother to the relief of death who ultimately passed away from complications from said disease. Then I was let go from my job, because well it was hard to hold it together and work suffered.  This is just some of obstacles I faced. My mom, my rock for my entire life, had a stroke!!!!  But truly I’m not here to complain or burden. I just want you to know that I’m okay. Therapy is THE REAL MANNA and I’m happy to say I’m happy. 

Now that I’ve dropped that at your feet, I’m here to let you know that I’m writing a novel. Also everything above has happened while Trump was either president-elect or just shitting in the White House. So I’m writing a novel. Is the novel going to be about said drama? Probably in some conscious and definitely unconscious way over the course of the writing process, yes. When it comes to the plot, no. Which is all the more exciting; I’m not pimping my own trauma! 

So Brie, what is this “novel” going to be about anyway? First, I apologize for making you scare quote my attempt at writing a novel.  If you are reading this you are probably a really supportive friend and I love you for that. Second, this first draft of my novel is going to be about Maxima and August Zuckerberg and how they destroy each other, while tearing down  Facebook for humanity. 

I’m for real. That’s the idea. And yes, really, those are the names of Mark Zuckerberg’s children. If this new billionaire class doesn’t have the courage to destroy their parents’ empires for the sake of humanity? Will we ever have a deviant rich savior?!? Isn’t that the damn American Dream? Don’t I have the right to just dream?

Also, and I can’t emphasize this enough, I’m obsessed with the news and I’ve been obsessed with MSNBC since before Rachel Maddow was the official mouthpiece of the Democratic establishment. I love MSNBC so much I was placed on the AARP mailing list. I’m 32. 

But really, back during the financial crisis I devised a comedic 1-Act with my college friends about how student loan debt, coupled with the crashed economy of 2008, was dooming us to be financial dependents for longer than we ever anticipated.  That little gem was the result of senior year hangovers with the TV on MSNBC and a lost remote. The shenanigans that was the Tea Party and their racist conspiracy theory response to Obama and the Affordable Care Act was the jumping off point for my first piece out of college while attending HPI. My last play for the Philly Fringe was a corporate museum called Branded. There is a history. A trajectory. Layers to my creative tiramisu. 

SO BABIES, I’m back to write some dystopian YA.

For the month of November I’m challenging myself to the writers marathon known as, National Novel Writing Month or #NaNoWriMo. This month writers across the globe will be trying to write 50,000 words before December and I’m joining them, because why not. I have an obsession and an idea, so why not go for it, am I right?

I need your help as I march down this path. I’m writing this alone, but I doubt that I can finish it alone, so I’m going to need your encouragement while I’m committing to to writing 1,667 words a day for 30 days.  I need you to text me and ask me if I hit my word count today. I’m going to try to periodically put updates in my Instagram story, a blog post here and there, and tweet about it with the rest of the #WritingCommunity. I probably won’t be on Facebook about it. If you don’t hear from me at me, please. I really want to do this, but it can be so easy to let yourself down. 

So here are the ways you can help: 

1. Tweet me. 

2. Check my story.

3. If we real cool, call me, text me, stop by my crib. 

The next month is just about getting down a draft, so I mainly need encouragement. I will need readers and confidants, soon but later. Let me know if you want to a future BetaReader!  

If you are planning to do #NaNoWriMo, too, please let me know. My username is briehines and I would love to be your buddy and cheer you on.