New Beginnings

It's a day for new beginnings. It's the first day of September 2005. It's the start of the MW Novel Challenge. I'm committed to marathon writing this month, as well as returning to the discussion for Donald Maass' book and workbook, Writing the Breakout Novel.

It's also a new start for me as all of my children have grown to adulthood now. No children returned to public school this year for the first time in my life in 31 years of motherhood. One child is now enrolled at Kent State University, a college freshman. Where did the years go? Well, I was advised that I would come to appreciate my newfound independence. It's time to get started on it...with all of the above-listed new beginnings.

I will be working on my romance novel, Debt of Gratitude (title will probably change later). The first assignment is to summarize the plot in 50 words or less:

Responsibility defines Rachel's life...managing the household: mother deceased, father gravely ill, developmentally disabled sister at home; managing editor of a local daily newspaper on the career front. Devin is a handyman with a secret past who wants to help ease Rachel's burdens.

For the market I want to submit this novel to, the emphasis must be on Rachel. It's her story. The hero must be strong, intelligent, and supportive. But the emphasis is on the heroine...her story.

As of noon I have revised the first four chapters of the novel. I've worked on it long enough that the natural chapter breaks are happening.