Should a Movie Resemble the Book Exactly

Dear Stephen King,

I have been watching what seems like dozens of your books become optioned and scripted for movies, miniseries and tv shows. It is awesome to be able to consume your work in video. I am looking forward to watching the newest adaptations of "The Stand" and "The Dark Tower." These are epic stories that will look amazing with today's special effects and dramatic movie making.

I read your interview with Deadline. It made me wonder how involved I would want to get with filmmakers if one of my stories is ever optioned to be made into a movie. Would I just sit back and let the movie makers do their thing or will I ask to have input on how the movie is made.

I think it would be fun to be involved in making a movie but I don't have the experience in making them. That is why the studio hires talented people to make the movies. I am a writer and the written page is much different than what is scene on the screen. There are so many thoughts and emotions you can describe on the page that is hard to show on the screen.

I do like to write my stories in a way that resembles a tv show. I like to write down the video in my head. I use my words  to describe my visions. Sometimes my words do those visions justice and sometimes they don't. 

How big is your thinking?

Dear Stephen King,

I have been assembling a series of over 300 books that I want to write. It is a giant outline comprised of seven ages throughout our planet's history. Each age has seven moving points that change the course of that age's history. Then each of those moving points has seven novels most likely chronicling the lives of the same characters.

I'm wondering if you write in this way. From what I understand you are a "write by the seat of your pants" author. I can see you taking notes about where you want to go with a sequel or second sequel but I believe you only have an idea of what you want to write when you sit down. You don't have a full outline. You will have to let me know a little more about how you do that.

I personally, have discovered that I need an outline to sit down and write. I have to know how story is going to end before I can start writing that story. I like to have beats to write about. I guess it's because of my short attention span. I write about 100 or 200 words at a time. Then I have to get up and do something around the house and then I come back and write another hundred or 200 words. This means I sit down and write eight or nine times before I can quit for the day.

I am trying to study ways to be a little more focused, to have a more specific place and time to write. The process is something that is ever evolving, and I will continue to make changes to my routine until I find a way to be more consistent about putting words down on paper.

I look forward to hearing more about your writing process. 

Sincerely,
Robert Gasperson

Do you ever have writers block?

Dear Stephen King,

I wonder if someone who writes as much as you do ever has writers block. You always seem to have something to write about. And to tell the truth I always have something to write about.

I figure you have a system kind of like I do. I keep a notebook with me at all times so when an idea does strike me, I write them down. This way when I am trying to write and can't think of something to write about all I have to do is go back to my notebook.

Also I have a series of books that I want to write that number about 340 books. This means I will never run out of ideas for stories because I have an outline of many stories I want to write already.

I know others like Scott Sigler actually has a timeframe laid out in front of him for the next 3 to 7 years of what he's going to be writing. He will always have something to write because he already knows what he is writing in advance.

How do you make sure that you always have something to write?

Sincerely,
Robert Gasperson

Do you write when you're sick?

Dear Stephen King,

I have been fighting a cold for the past week and a half. It's a pretty nasty cold. It makes me tired most of the time, and even with working 10 to 12 hours every 55 days a week I have been exhausted and my body doesn't seem to be healing as fast as I would like it to be.

I'm doing a little bit of writing here and there but nothing extreme. I would like to be writing about 1000 words a day but I seem to be averaging about 200. Mostly I think I'm progress. Some of the reason is because I don't feel good.

I wonder do you write your sick? I know some others probably right because they're sick. It's a good time to eight. It's a good time to get those words on paper. I just know how to do it myself. I only feel like laying down and doing nothing.

Stay healthy my friend,
Robert T Gasperson

Can You Sell Your Soul to the Devil?

"The Stranger" was a basic story about a man who sold his soul to the devil. He killed a guard and stole an unknown amount of money. We believe you stole the money from a bank but you didn't go into too much detail about that. The story was more about the state of his soul.

This is one of those storylines that are used all of the time in books and TV shows like supernatural horror movies dazzled. It's usually a story about how the person who sold his soul finds a way to get it back from the devil. He usually finds a way to cheat the devil or a power higher than himself takes the rights who is the devil.

Being a religious man I don't really believe our souls belong to us to so anyway. our souls belong to our Creator. I have always wondered how religious you are. You bring religion into a lot of your stories. It is one of mankind's biggest struggles in life. Is there a God or is there not.

I have never seen you mentioned God and any interview. I wonder if you believe in God. I believe you do otherwise you would not put so much of it in your stories. Especially because of the ending of "the stand".

Things in Wells Feed Karma

Dear Stephen King,

I was trying to not laugh at the choice of the name Oglethorpe when I found myself intrigued by the story of a kid who found his own fate became that of the animals he had himself mistreated. 

Karma is one of those things we learn in life. We're not necessarily confident in the existence of karma, but when something happens to us not long after we have done the same thing to others, we begin to wonder if the phrase "what goes around comes around" can really be justified as something this world really supports.

You packed a big story into a one page short about a kid who tortured animals and tried to kill his nanny by tripping her as she went down the stairs, before he himself was lowered to the bottom of the well to be tortured and mutilated by some unknown creature.

Karma can go both ways. If you do good things then many times good things will happen to you. When I came to Maine back in 2003 to see your house and the city you grew up in, I ran into a lady at the laundry mat who told the story of the pool and rec center that you funded just because you could. She said you knew that the kids of the neighborhood needed a place to hang out to keep their minds and hands entertained. 

There are many things like this I have seen you do over the many years I've been a fan. I appreciate everything you've done. Thank you for being able to help those in need, help those who are sick and help those who can't help themselves.

I am curious. What kind of charity is close to your heart? Some people help those charities that will benefit their loved ones. Our family tries to help the charities that look for a cure for anaphylaxis because there are people in our family who are highly allergic to nuts. If we can help others who have the same condition as our loved ones, maybe our loved ones will be lucky enough to find a cure.

Stephen King's Ice Bucket Challenge for ALS

Dear Stephen King,

Yesterday I watched you do the ice bucket challenge to support ALS research for a cure. It was refreshing to watch someone as famous and as successful as you are to step back and do something that was not only fun, being soaked by a bucket of ice water by a friend, but also doing something so serious as helping those who are fighting a debilitating disease like ALS.

I have a coworker who was diagnosed a few months ago with ALS. I did not know it at the time and was wondering why he was only working with one arm. I mentioned the fact in a coaching manner. Luckily he did not become offended by my remark. He just let me know what was causing the issue. Sometimes there are comments we make that we wish we could take back after learning what these people are going through.

I hope that one day they will be able to find a cure for ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease. There are so many people who suffer, who cannot move like you when I can. And not everyone can afford the care that it takes to live with this kind of disease.

Thank you again for giving to this much-needed cause, and challenging your peers to give as well. If we all gave a little bit, whether it be money or time or just a simple prayer, maybe one day they will find a way to give these people their lives back.

People, Places and Things Part 1

Dear Stephen King,

I have become almost obsessed with the 18 page anthology you and your buddy Chris Chelsey put together called “People, Places and Things.” The info I found said you had your own publishing company called “Triad & Gaslight Books”. This was a publishing company created by two 13 year olds. That name is rather impressive. It almost sounds like you each had your own ideas for the publishing company, then you put them together to make one.

As I read through this short collection of one page stories, I see the beginnings of some of the things that would later grow into novels like The Shining. “The Hotel at the End of the Road” reminds me of what you wrote about Overlook Hotel where Jack looses his grip on reality while trying to write his next novel.

There are a few stories I have not been able to find in any way, shape or form. “The Dimension Warp” makes me wonder what is being describe. Is it a hole in the fabric of time that leads to another time or another dimension? Maybe it is one of the first ideas about a pocket universe, a universe between universes.

Then there is the story “I’m Falling” which, according to everything I have read, has been long lost in the depths of the darkest corners of time. I wonder how it was lost. It was ripped out of your personal copy, or maybe it is in your copy, but you want to keep it to yourself, keeping your fans feeling like there is something of yours they have not read. That would be an ingenious move to keep us in your deep dark pockets.
   
“I’ve Got to Get Away!” is a great testament of the repetitive nature of our assembly line society. We go to work everyday, help make some boss really rich, collect our measly paycheck and dream of getting away. I don’t know if a 13 year old you was thinking about that at the time, but that is how I read it.
   
I have a few more stories I am looking forward to reading. The stories “The Thing at the Bottom of the Well”, “The Stranger”,    “The Cursed Expedition”, “The Other Side of the Fog” and “Never Look Behind You” I still have to find and read.

Thank you for your childhood creations,
Robert T Gasperson

Finding Stephen’s Writings

Dear Stephen King,

For years I have followed your work. At one time I had a pretty impressive collection of your books. I had all the hardbacks, most of the anthologies and many of the old magazines that I could find on ebay. When I got married, I had to give up a lot of my collections, and My books shelf was one of them. I am not entirely sure I am over that sale. I did make the guy happy I sold the books to.

I have made it a challenge to find every piece of writing you have allowed into the open market. I started by looking at the complete list of written works on your website. It is a great list. It helps me find the stories that are not in my collection.

The next part of my search are the few works that were available before you sold “Carrie”. In “On Writing” you described a series of newsletters you and your brother Dave wrote called “Dave’s Rag” That led me to a story called, “I was a Teenage Grave Robber” which was published in Comics Review in 1967. This story led me to Horrorking.com and their list of Rare Works by Stephen King. This was the motherload. I was so excited about finding this.

I soon discovered an anthology you and your childhood friend Chris Chelsey wrote together. It contained 18 single page stories, of which you wrote 8 and 1 you co-authored with Chelsey. I have found synopsis of several of these stories, but I have not been able to find the stories themselves.

After a little more research, it turns out there are a number of books about rare works you have either not released or have not been republished in an anthology. "The Lost Works of Stephen King", by Steve Spignesi and "Stephen King: Uncollected, Unpublished" by Rocky Wood with David Rawsthorne & Norma Blackburn are two of those books. The first I can get pretty easily. The second I might have to settle for the kindle version. It is out of print and the copies available are $50-200. I look forward to the hunt though?

Thanks for the rare stories
Robert T Gasperson

PS. Do you enjoy hiding stories or leaving easter eggs inside stories for your true fans to hunt for?

Watching a Documentary of H. P. Lovecraft

Dear Stephen King,

The children hogged the two available Netflix channels this afternoon, so I could not get my fix of Fringe. Yes I realize I am way behind. I had not given it enough of a chance when it was airing live on the television. I tried it again a few weeks ago and now I cannot stop watching it now... except when the kids have control of Netflix.

While I was hiding away on my day off inside the house and looking for any excuse not to write my own work, I started surfing some of the other movie providers, and that is where I found a documentary on H. P. Lovecraft. I got drawn in and could not stop watching. This man was a wonderment and led a sad, exciting and expressive life. I knew about him, but I never knew his life story.

I don't really want to talk about Lovecraft himself though. I want to say something about the inspiration to go write when I watched this film. There is something to be said about seeing the success someone else has and using that excitement as fuel to get yourself writing again. I find myself tired and not really wanting to write after a long days work.When I sit down to write my own story, I will sometime only get a couple of paragraphs down before my mind is exhausted and I move to the couch in front of the TV. I should really get rid of that thing.

I am wondering what other documentaries are out there, whose biography can I look into and become inspired by. I have been inspired by the autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. He has a lot of great experience that we can use in our own lives; things like his notebook stating the points he tries to avoid in his daily life. If he breaks one of the rules he set for himself, he would mark his notebook and at the end of the three month period, he would see how he was progressing by observing how many marks were in his notebook. He would wipe the notebook clean and start again.

I have also enjoyed your writing memoir, "On Writing." Even though you are giving advice about how you personally made it in the business and what you learned along the way, I find your personal success story inspiring. It makes me want to sit down and BE you. It makes me wonder, Who were the inspirations for you? Who made you want to sit your butt in the chair and keep writing?

Here's to making today memorable history for tomorrow.
Robert T Gasperson

Writing on Holidays

Dear Stephen King,

Yesterday was the 4th of July, a national holiday that requires family fun and bar-be-Que and lots of fireworks. I found after getting home from work and having fun with the family, I did not have the time to get my butt into a seat to churn out any words. I thought about it. Are holidays supposed to be free from writing?

I have met authors who refuse to write on holidays because they want to spend their day with their family. They don't want to have a story hanging over their heads, guilt about not sitting down and writing when they are busy entertaining or playing with the kids. They want to set that time aside for their family and friends.

I have met other authors who refuse to miss a day of writing no matter what. It could be thanksgiving or Christmas, they still want to write, even if it is only a hundred words or so. If they don't write, then they feel like they have dropped the ball somewhere. They feel the fear of not picking up where they left off. If they miss one day, that day might lead to a week or a month without writing. Then their story will never get told.

What do I think? I think I should have a specified time to write on holidays. This time does not have to be long. Even if I can get on the computer and knock out 20 minutes of writing, then I feel like I have done something towards finishing my book. Usually holidays are spent sitting around either talking or sleeping or watching the kids play. There has to be a few moments that can be made to write. I try to find them early in the morning before anyone else in the house is up and moving about, this way it is already done when things start happening.

What about you Steve? Do you write on holidays?

Have a great week.
Robert T Gasperson

Why Do People Ask, "Where Do You Get Your Ideas?"

Dear Stephen King

I think, "Where do you get your ideas?" is probably the most asked question people ask authors. I am not sure why. It is one of those questions that can't be answered easily. The answer, in my own mind, has to be: "It Depends."

Every writer has a different way of developing ideas for stories. Some get their ideas while in the shower, a time in their day when they have complete alone time and their mind can spend time thinking about stories. Some people keep a dream journal next to their bed where they write their ideas down when they awake with strange and ingenious dreams.

Most writers jot down ideas that are inspired by the experience of their days. If something happens to them or to someone around them, they will sometimes think, "What would happen if a different person were in this same situation, or if these people made a different choice, what would the consequences be? This is why most prolific writers carry a pocket journal with them. You never know when inspiration is going to strike.

I have started a universe bible for a series of more than 300 novels. I think that will keep me busy for most of my life. I have an overarching idea that connects all the stories, but as I have other ideas throughout my experience, the timeline is loose enough that I can insert new storylines. Because I have this set of rules for my universe, I can sit down and write more ideas as they come to me. I don't ever have a time when I don't have something to write about.

For those people who feel they need to ask the question, "Where do you get your ideas?" I think they should ponder why they are asking that question. Writers are writers because they always have a story to tell. Their idea stream never drys up. In fact there should be more ideas than they have time to write. I know I am going to be busy for the next 100 years, and that is only if I can churn out three novels per year, otherwise I might have to live to be several centuries old.

If you have a hard time coming up with a story idea, then maybe you are not a writer. Don't let that stop you from writing when you have the occasional idea though. If your having to search hard for the ideas, then just step back and look at other hobbies that you are more suited to do. It is not a bad thing. You just write when you have something to write about.

Here is to all those stories we have outlined in our pocket journals. May they all find a way to be written.
Robert T Gasperson

A Man of Decision Cannot be Stopped

Dear Stephen King,

I have been re-listening to my copy of "The Law of Success" by Napoleon Hill. One of the first points in this series of books is "The Man of Decision Cannot be Stopped, the Man of Indecision Cannot be Started." I have been thinking about this quote and I am trying to find ways to apply it to my own life.

Writing is one of those things that many people think about, but never do. I have met several people who say they are planning their "All American Novel". They have been planning it for decades. Some of them have binders of information about the world they are writing in and sketches about their characters, but they have yet to start writing the novel itself.

Two days ago I decided to take the initiative and publish a short story on the kindle store. I had been putting it off because I was afraid. I made three editing passes over it and believe it is as good as it is going to be without a proper editor, then I uploaded it and pressed the publish button. What I like about the kindle store is I can make changes to the story as people make comments about it, or I can just ignore them and leave it story alone.

I have also made a definite decision about this blog. I really enjoy writing to you. I know you are not reading this as of yet. Maybe as I write more and get better with my commentary, you might take notice and feel the inspiration to respond. That would be awesome. The point of this blog is to use you as a Mentor to bounce my writing thoughts and ideas off of. I am able to use you as someone to speak to.

The idea of this blog came from my goal on 43things.com to one day meet you. I didn't want to just stand in a line and wait to have you sign my copy of your latest book. I wanted to earn your respect and develop some sort of relationship that would lead to a meeting of meaning. What I decided to do to make that happen is to become an author (another goal I intend to achieve), someone you might be able to relate to. To help me become that author, I started this blog to focus myself on the craft, to give me a way to see all the things that might make my writing great.  

Needless to say, you are an inspiration to me, as to millions of other people all over the world. Now all I have to do is make myself stand out from the crowd. Until then you can always find me here writing to you.

Take care my friend,
Robert T Gasperson

Writing for Money or Pleasure

Dear Stephen King,

This week in my own time of writing, I thought about what it really means to write. Is writing something you do just for the fun of it, or am I only writing because I think I will make money or even a living from it?

I am beginning to believe that most people write because they expect to make money from it. Writing is one of those things you don't have to invest a lot of money into to make a return. All you really need is a computer and some time. Most people these days, at least in America, own a computer already, whether it be a desktop, laptop, a tablet or even a smartphone. Most people have something they can write on. Even if they don't have a computer, a sheet of paper and a pen are easy enough to come by. You don't even need to buy them. Companies will give you paper and a pen from only an inquiry.

Sure, most people will say they love to write. They would continue to write even if they never got paid for it. I think that is true for a while, but I think the prospect of being able to sell something is a driving force behind anyone who writes on a regular basis. Most want to be able to show off a properly bound hardcover book with their name on the front.

I want to know if there is a way to switch my thinking about my own writing. Can I turn off the thought that I want to publish something to I just want to write for other people's enjoyment. I want to share what I create and then maybe I can create just to create.

I guess right now I am worried about publishing a short story, selling it on the Kindle store without a proper publisher. I am worried that people will not like it and everyone will want their money back. I know in my head that it is decent work, and I will be able to grow an audience from it, but the fear is still there. Maybe if I can give it away for free and just let people enjoy it, then maybe I will not be so worried about the content.

Did you ever just write because you loved to write? Did you ever just want to share your stories with the world? It is hard to believe you were where I am now early in your career. You are a superstar author, someone I strive so much to be like. I remember reading somewhere that you had a homemade magazine that you published on your own. It make me smile when I picture you going about sharing those creations with your family, friends and neighbors. If only we could go back to those simple times, simple thoughts and simple writing.

Take care Steve, and keep writing.
Robert T Gasperson

Turning Short Stories into Novels

Dear Stephen King,

I am excited about the work I have been doing. I have been working on a series of short stories that will eventually come together to form a full length novel. There are several reasons I am doing this. First; I can't seem to finish writing a novel.

I have been able to get 40-50,000 words into a story and either get bored, or jump to another idea. These short stories will allow my short attention span to hang on long enough to get done with a short story before moving on to the next one.

The second reason I am doing this is to have something finished so I can post it on the amazon kindle store. I am writing each of the stories so they can stand alone if the need to. Then if the reader wants to know more about the story or the world, they can go read my other short stories. Also, If for some reason I decide to abandon the novel, the short stories can stand on their own.

I was wondering if you have done anything like this. I remember when you released "The Green Mile" as a 6 part serial. I loved it. I had a coworker who was reading it at the same time. Since we had to wait for each episode to come out, we could discuss the part we had just finished. Then we could talk about what we thought was going to happen next. I kept those paperbacks for a while, then when you released it as a Hardback, I bought it to go with my collection.

Sometimes I wonder if some of the Dark Tower series was written as short stories. Then assembled at a later date. Maybe you can let me know about that one day.

Have a great day,
Robert T Gasperson 

Stephen King's Writer's Workflow

Dear Stephen,

I searched and searched and searched for my copy of your book "On Writing." I bought it back in 2000, when you first had it published. I've read it a couple of times. Then after I got married and life got filled with all the other things that happen, I believe that book along with most of the other books I had got sold or donated to make way for cribs and toys and all the other things that come with having a family.

The reason I was looking for the book was because I am curious about your processes for writing everyday. I want to know how you are able to sit down and get so many words out, allowing you to publish 2 or more books per year. Researching the information online things I found a blurb from "On Writing" where you say you write 10 pages a day without fail, even on holidays. That’s a lot of writing. If I work out the math that would be 250 words per paperback book page which means you have to write about 2,500 words per day. If you write 10 pages single spaced in an 8.5x11 page format, then you will have almost twice that at about 5,000 words per day. I suppose that is what you can do when your career is writing.

Lisa Rogak wrote in her book about you, "Haunted Heart: The Life and Times of Stephen King" a statement you made, “There are certain things I do if I sit down to write, I have a glass of water or a cup of tea. There’s a certain time I sit down, from 8:00 to 8:30, somewhere within that half hour every morning, I have my vitamin pill and my music, sit in the same seat, and the papers are all arranged in the same places. The cumulative purpose of doing these things the same way every day seems to be a way of saying to the mind, you’re going to be dreaming soon."

This makes me want to find a routine in my own life where I can sit down everyday and write. My schedule is so unpredictable. I am working all kinds of hours. The kids always have something going on that needs my attention. I just have to find that hour everyday where I can sit down and write. I would love to find the consistent time, the time that happens each day where I am not doing anything, where I can place that block of writing time. At this moment, I believe that perfect time would be right when I get home from work and before I start making dinner for the family. That is usually the time I sit or lay down on the couch and rest for a while. Maybe this is the time I should be writing.

I think I am going to hunt down another copy of "On Writing." I really want to read it again. The thing is I want my first edition back and it seems it is a little difficult to find. Even on Amazon, there are only 2 used editions available. I am also going to see if I can find a copy of that book club release called, "Secret Windows: Essays and Fiction on the Craft of Writing". I am sure there is a lot of great information in that book I could use to become a better writer.

I hope you have a great week. Here is to being productive.
Thank you for allowing me to carry on as I do.

Your Buddy,
Robert T Gasperson

Not Your Ordinary Stephen King Fanboy

Dear Stephen King

I was thinking about what it would be like to meet you in person. I'm not talking about just meeting you in a line of other fans or outside a venue trying to get you to sign my book. I was wondering what it might be like to sit down at a table and speak to you as a human being. I'm thinking more than just an interview, more like a talk between friends or colleagues.

I wonder how I would react. I know that you say you are just another guy who happened to sell a few books and become recognized world wide. There is no reason to put you on a pedestal. Many of your fans do that. I'd like to think I would treat you more like a friend, that I would be able to sit down with you and have a real conversation, a conversation that would not restate all the things everyone else talks with you about.

I am sure that you talk about your books on a regular basis, or how you find ideas for what you write. I can find that information anywhere online. I want to sit down and hear more about you. I want to hear about your Red Sox and some of the stories you might be able about meeting some of your favorite Rock and Roll superstars. It would be fun to hear about your fanboy moments.

Would I try to get you to Sign my stuff? I have tried to get your autograph in the past. I have sent you letters to see if you might send me an autograph. I received a letter from your assistant stating that you were uncomfortable sending autographs through the mail. I can understand that. It is more meaningful to the fans who get to meet you in person and have you autograph their book.

I think I have decided that it is more important for me to have the experience of meeting you, to have a meaningful conversation with you. Your autograph is just a pen mark on paper.  Nothing more, nothing less. An autograph would be nice but it would not change me as a person, a conversation with you would.

Thank you for taking the time to read my humble words, and I hope one day we will get to meet each other. Until that day, take care and keep writing.

Your Friend,
Robert T. Gasperson

Brainstorming a Short Story

I have been trying a new way of outlining short stories. I wanted to see if it would make the process of writing any more efficient. The idea is simple. I find 7 points in the story I want to tell to get from the hook to the resolution. Each of these points are the beats and the movement of the story.

I then come up with seven points between each of those major beats. The idea is to decide how each of those beats will unfold. I try to keep the ideas to 7, but if need be, I can go longer.

So 7 beats times 7 points per beat means I will have 49 Steps in my story. If each of those steps are about 100-200 words each, then I will have a short story that is 5,000-10,000 words long. Not too shabby.

If You Don't Have Time, Write Poetry

This week has been extremely busy at work. I have been staying late to get the store ready for opening. What does this mean for my writing. I have been finding it difficult finding the time to invest in my fictional writing. This is going to have to change if I am to write a 50,000 word novel next year. 

One of the things I do when I am not sitting in front of a computer is write haiku. I might be waiting for one of my kids or sitting in the car on my lunch break. I will pull out my notebook and write a haiku or two. I use whatever is going on in my life at the time as inspiration for my haiku. It is amazing what you can fit into 17 syllables.

You don't have to write haiku in these short spans of time. You can write lyrics or sonnets or even a few lines of free-verse. It doesn't really matter what you write as long as you are forcing your mind to be creative. If you can do this, maybe you can reset your creativity so when you do go back to the longer piece of fiction, there will be something there to write.

Getting Ready for NaNoWriMo 2012

This year will be my 8th or 9th year participating in National Novel Writing Month. I have a blast every year attempting to write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days. I find that it is nearly impossible for me to complete the challenge. I think the furthest I have ever gotten was about 30,000 words. This year I intend to go all the way. In fact I am planing to go to 80,000 words. I want a full novels length.

I have a simple plan to get to the number of words that I want to get to. I am going to write a daily journal of my main character. You are going to get to see the life of this man through his eyes and through his thoughts.

What I like about this format is that I can write the book in really short sections. I figure if I can write about 220 words for each day for the whole year, I will have an 80,000 novel (220 words x 365 days = 80,300 words). 

To get the story across, I will probably write more than 220 words per day. It will be more like 300-500 words average per day. If I can do that I might even end up with a 120,000 word novel. That will be great.

I am trying to plan out an arc that will work itself out over the course of the year. I want the main character to meet a woman and find her fastening and worth taking the time to include her in his year long project. I guess this is going to make this story a romance. We will see how it comes out.