WRITING/PODCASTING A NOVEL IN 30 DAYS NOV 25

National Novel Writing and Podcast Posting Month 2021

Welcome friend to Create Art Podcast where I help you tame your inner critic and create more than we consume. I am Timothy Kimo Brien your thankful head instigator with over 20 years in arts and education. How I accomplish this is by providing you with commentary, interviews, discussions, and projects that will inspire you to create art. This month I will be podcasting daily and writing a novel in 30 days. I am participating in NaPodPoMo and NaNoWriMo again this year as I did last year and you can hear those episodes here. You will be able to listen and read along to what I wrote for the day. I like to practice what I preach when it comes to art so I am challenging myself to write and having you come along for the ride. It is my hope this inspires you to accomplish your goals with your art and if you would like to share what you are doing email me at timothy@createartpodcast.com

History of NaNoWriMo and NaPodPoMo

NaNoWriMo: National Novel Writing Month began in 1999 as a daunting but straightforward challenge: to write 50,000 words of a novel in thirty days. Now, each year on November 1, hundreds of thousands of people around the world begin to write, determined to end the month with 50,000 words of a brand new novel. They enter the month as elementary school teachers, mechanics, or stay-at-home parents. They leave novelists.

NaPodPoMo: NaPodPoMo* is a month-long event along the same vein as National Novel Writing Month aka NaNoWriMo. The difference? Well, instead of writing a 50,000-word novel, you podcast every day for 30 days from November 1st-30th. Use any platform you desire. From full production studio to iPhone app and just about anything in between. The goal is to use the challenge of podcasting daily as a form of podcasting boot camp.

The Writing So Far

25 Nov 2021 daily count 1787 cumulative count 37059

Carl helped Cheryl up to her feet and led her to the bedroom where they climbed into bed together. The coffee didn’t affect Carl like everyone said it would, he had a weird constitution where he could drink coffee at any time of day and still fall asleep, although it was not a refreshing sleep. Cheryl almost immediately dozed off and Carl soon followed her into slumber.

There was a light knocking at the bedroom door and Cheryl looked over at the clock which read eight o’clock. The sun was trying to stream through the blinds through the window and it made shadows on the opposite wall. Cheryl whispered, “give us a couple of minutes sweet girl.” Carl was still in a deep and fitful sleep and Cheryl quietly got up and went to the bathroom to get herself ready for the day. She wanted Carl to get some good sleep since he had had a long night. When she was done in the bathroom, she looked over at Carl who was looking at her with almost closed eyes. “Go back to sleep superman,” she said to Carl.

“Never really liked Superman, I am more of a Batman guy, oh and no Beatles just Rolling Stones,” joked Carl as he was stretching.

“You are just full of surprises aren’t you. I bet you plan on getting up and running around today or going to work huh,” asked Cheryl?

“Nope, I already called off work today. I am just waiting to hear from Nate and Carmine. I do need a shower though, mind if I slip into it first,” asked Carl?

“I think you earned it, we can talk about what happened last night after breakfast, what do you want,” asked Cheryl?

“I am not fussy at all, coffee, maybe some oatmeal,” replied Carl.

“Good, I think we can manage that, hop in the shower, although I think you should take a break today,” scolded Cheryl. She left the bedroom and Myra was right outside the door waiting for her.

“Is he okay,” asked Myra?

“He had a long night after we put you back to bed, what would you like to make for breakfast,” asked Cheryl. The girls headed off to the kitchen and Carl slowly got out of bed. He went to the shower and turned it on full blast. Carl liked hot showers where the water almost scalded him. When he disrobed, he felt that funny feeling of confusion as he had in the past, just before he had an episode. Carl didn’t want to pass out in the shower and end up in the hospital. This time he would try to fight the episode as much as he could and have a normal day. He got into the shower and started to grit his teeth and march while the hot water sprayed all over his body. He was feeling invigorated and tired at the same time. Forcing his eyes open by sheer will he finished his shower and stepped out onto the bathroom floor after turning off the facet. Carl felt good that he was able to fight off the episode this time and noted how he was able to do it. Obviously, he wouldn’t be able to do this every time, but at least this time he had won a battle.

When Carl smelled the familiar scent of coffee, that was almost as invigorating as the shower. He finished getting dressed and picked up his phone to check for messages. Nothing had come through yet, so he called over to Nate’s house to check in on the kids. On the third ring Rachel answered.

“Hey Uncle Carl, we are doing fine here,” said Rachel in a cheerful voice.

“Good to hear, have you two had breakfast yet,” asked Carl?

“We just finished up. We haven’t heard anything from Mom and Dad yet, starting to get worried,” replied Rachel.

“Well, we are going to head over there and hang out with you two. I took the day off work and if your dad ends up needing a hand I want to be there to help,” said Carl.

“Thanks, and I remember what we talked about last night, about being Myra’s friend. I am sorry I called her weird. It must be really hard on her,” replied Rachel.

“Yeah, it is but she is holding up like a champ. Give us about an hour and a half and we will be over. Do you guys need me to bring you lunch,” asked Carl?

“Well, we have plenty of food here, but if you want to bring us lunch that’s fine. Seth it’s Uncle Carl, he is coming over in about two hours go get your room cleaned up. Sorry Seth is acting like I am a substitute teacher and doesn’t want to do our normal chores,” said Rachel perturbed.

“Let me talk to Seth,” said Carl. “Hey Seth, your sister is in charge until I get there and if I see that your room is not made up and your chores aren’t done then young man you will be in trouble with me and we won’t go driving, understand?”

“Yes, Uncle Carl, sheesh, you are as bad as dad,” said Seth sheepishly.

“Hey Seth, I understand, I am the youngest in my family and there were times when my brothers had to look after me while my parents were out of the house doing something. It can be frustrating and it may seem like your sister is being bossy, but remember she is trying her best to make sure nothing happens to you and she is under a lot of stress. Try to help her out as much as possible okay. I know you can alright big guy,” asked Carl?

“Okay Uncle Carl. Are you bringing Cheryl and Myra over too,” asked Seth?

“Yup, the whole crew, and Cheryl is a stickler for getting chores done so do us both a favor,” said Carl.

“Can do Uncle Carl, see you in a few hours,” said Seth.

“Okay, see you then put your sister back on the phone,” asked Carl.

“Thanks for the help with Seth Uncle Carl. You know Mom doesn’t want him to go driving with you in that Suzuki Samurai,” said Rachel.

“And I didn’t tell him I would take him driving in that car, I am going to call your mom now and see what is going on. You call me if there are any issues okay,” said Carl.

“Gotcha big boss man,” said Rachel. That was her special name for her uncle.

“See you soon my cuddly kazoo,” said Carl as he ended the call. He walked out to the kitchen and there was coffee and oatmeal already set up for him as Cheryl and Myra were finishing up making their breakfast of cheese omelets and chocolate milk for Myra and tea for Cheryl.

“I need to make one call before I sit down to eat, do you mind,” asked Carl?

“Handle your business, we are just sitting down to eat,” replied Cheryl.

“Anyone interested in a trip to Uncle Nate’s house and hanging out with Seth and Rachel,” asked Carl?

“Oooo I’d like that a lot,” squealed Myra.

“I wouldn’t mind going out there again is Nate is up to it,” said Cheryl.

“That’s what I am going to look into. I need to drop off lunch for Seth and Rachel and make sure they are okay, and I figured I could use some help from two of the best people I know,” said Carl. “He dialed up Carmine’s number on his phone, after three rings she answered.

“Hey Carl, I just got off the phone with Rachel and she said you all were heading over to drop off lunch and hang out,” said Carmine.

“Yeah, I didn’t get in until about four this morning, but I wanted to make sure the kids were all right and I have the best people in the world to give me a hand with that, how’s Nate holding up this morning,” asked Carl?

“We had a quiet night, they looked at the MRI’s and didn’t find anything out of the ordinary, you could probably read the scans better than anyone else and understand what all this stuff means. We should be getting out of here in about two hours. Nate is more upset because he has lost some time on this project of yours. Also, did you know Vince was admitted to the same hospital last night in the evening and is being released with no issues,” asked Carmine?

“I heard about it from a clerk at the gas station on the way to your house. I also talked with the cop that was on the call for Vince,” said Carl.

“Talked to a cop, what happened,” asked Carmine?

“I pulled to the side of the road to get some fresh air and the cop pulled up behind me, we started talking and well, luckily he knew about Vince so that mystery was solved. Have you heard from Angela,” asked Carl?

“Well, she lives in the next county over, but I did check the hospital here and she wasn’t admitted last night,” replied Carmine.

“I’ll check the hospital over there, so Nate is doing okay,” asked Carl?

“Yes, little brother he is doing fine, like I said he is just ornery as usual. Other people controlling his choices, you know how much he loves that,” replied Carmine.

“About as much as I enjoy it. Okay we will see you in a few hours, we are just eating breakfast now and we will head out and grab lunch for everyone,” said Carl.

“Thanks for checking in on he kids last night. Rachel said she really appreciated it and Seth looks up to you. Just get this project done quickly, I don’t want to have another night like this again,” said Carmine.

“Neither do I, neither do I,” replied Carl. He sat down after he ended the call an ate his oatmeal and drank the black coffee.

“What’s on your mind,” asked Cheryl?

“Angela hasn’t checked in yet,” replied Carl.

Cheryl looked at her phone after he said that “Wait, I got a text from Angela, let me read it. Must have just came in. Says she is getting out of the hospital now, was admitted yesterday, docs found nothing wrong, wants to meet with us as soon as possible, hasn’t been able to reach Nate. I’ll message her back and let her know. This is very strange that all three of them were in the hospital last …,” Cheryl said trailing off.

Cheryl and Carl looked at Myra and then looked at each other.

Reaching Out

To reach out to me, email timothy@createartpodcast.com I would love to hear about your journey and what you are working on. If you would like to be on the show or have me discuss a topic that is giving you trouble write in and lets start that conversation.