write a mystery novel

I have always wanted to be a novelist. Writing a mystery novel has been my goal since childhood.

But I do have to fold this into some other, as yet unformed, general goal on my writing.

OK, I’ve always thought I’d like to write a mystery novel, though as of yet, I haven’t an idea of the plot.

I’m going to put it on my list of things to do because I want to be reminded of it when there’s nothing else going on…

A publisher to whom I sent one of my earlier books (she apparently hated it from her comments) has contacted me again to see if I’ve revised it. It’s not a novel; it’s an account of a time in my life long past. I’m not sure I want to revisit it as its themes of care-taking and loss have been all too fresh for me lately. I’m more into the novel but novels are much more difficult to sell and getting a non-fiction book published first is helpful. Argh, it would be a ton of work and emotion. What to do, what to do?

I finally finished. Took a week off and went to Florida with my sister. Finished my book in the mornings while she was at class. Now I’m going to look for an agent.

I think I might enjoy this. I know it will be a lot of work but I can work. I’ve got my basic characters and some starting points for the plot. I need to work out connections and find secondary characters. I’ll let this simmer a bit and return with more thoughts. I think I’ll want to outline it. I don’t usually outline when I write but this will be a long, complicated work, and I’ll need to do this. I may chart it even.

I’ve knocked around most of my life. This is the year I do this. Originally, I thought my novel would be a genre-type gumshoe but I’ve decided to make it a mystery wrapped in a family mystery. I’m actually looking forward to doing this now. I’ve been away from any serious writing since 2005 and while I embrace being a potter now, I acknowledge the writer in me.

Well, I have 26 chapters so far and plan to be done by Christmas – hurrah!

It will probably end up as a series of short mysteries that I want to write for my girls to read when they’re a little older – kind of an updated Nancy Drew or Encyclopedia Brown.