…makes La Shawn a dull girl. All work and no play makes La Shawn a dull girl. All work and no play makes La Shawn a dull girl. All work and no play makes La Shawn a dull girl. All work and no play makes La Shawn a dull girl. All work and no play makes La Shawn a dull girl. All work and no play makes La Shawn a dull girl. All work and no play makes La Shawn a dull girl. All work and no play makes La Shawn a dull girl. All work and no play makes La Shawn a dull girl. All work and no play makes La Shawn a dull girl. All work and no play makes La Shawn a dull girl. All work and no play makes La Shawn a dull girl. All work and no play makes La Shawn a dull girl.
To find out if I had the discipline and stamina, I started outlining, plotting, and writing a story in long-hand in late February. Three months later, I typed it up, then let it “rest.” In mid-July, I started revising. Today, I completed the second draft, 75,000 words and 32 chapters worth. For the next couple of weeks, I’ll let it rest, then I’ll return to it with fresh eyes for draft #3.
What is the novel about? I mentioned it on the blog several months ago. I can tell you it’s written from a Christian worldview with a paranormal twist, in the vein of Christian superstars like Eric Wilson, Ted Dekker, and Frank Peretti.
Will the manuscript see the publishing light of day? I’ll have a better idea once I finish a third draft. It takes as many drafts for a novice like me to turn something of this size into a readable and coherent story.
Why did I write a novel? Partly to see if I could do it, partly because I want to see my books on a shelf in Barnes & Noble some day, but mostly to tell a redemptive, God-glorifying story taut with tension and infused with suspense, and defy negative stereotypes about Christian books…even if my family and friends are the only ones who’ll ever read it.
Can’t believe I did it. 
