First fallen flakes of snow!
Into Frosty woods I go—
Verses, lovely, dark and deep:
Promises I’ve yet to keep.

***

Late night snow
In harmony with Crosby and Clooney
Recommends a little shut-eye.
The rest will fall in dreams.

You asked for it; you got it. Here’s another excerpt from my story. There are some character names you won’t recognize from the previous excerpts, but that’s okay. It’s more suspenseful this way.

Again, this is unedited and unrevised prose. Expect flaws.

Tonight I had a scene rolling around in my head that I had to get down on paper. It falls out of sequence with what I’ve written already, so I’m not quite sure where it fits. Regardless, I know it will be crucial to the story. I thought I’d post it here, as it provides some interesting follow-up to chapter one. I warn you, it’s dark by necessity. There is no humor here.

Since the spirit of NaNoWriMo is all writing, no editing, don’t expect polished prose. This is the raw, unedited stuff.

I’m off and running! I started writing my novel just after the clock struck midnight on November 1. Two-and-a-half hours later, I finished chapter one. Submitted for your approval is the unedited, unproofread, unworkshopped, unrevised first chapter of my novel. At 2:45 AM on November 1, it reads to me like literary gold. Let’s see how it reads after I get some sleep.

Tales of Contraction, October 19—29

October 21

Taking notice of being noticed,
I give this notice:
Feel free to look my way.

October 24

First time inside a gym since…
Since…

Time to enter again.

October 25

Eyes on skinny jeans.
Mind says no—
Waist says yes.

For once, matter is triumphant.

October 26

Around the table
Are round reminders
Of why I’m drinking
Diet Coke.

October 27 (The day on which I began transitioning off of the program.)

Put away the cake.
Tonight, potatoes sweeten
My celebration.

“Tales of Contraction” is a collection of short form poems that chronicle my adventures in weight loss. For information about the program I’m on, visit my Take Shape for Life website at www.shrinkmybody.tsfl.com.

Below is the working synopsis for my NaNoWriMo story, “Unchanging.”

As the world’s only known shapeshifter, Scott Schumacher is often accused of being un-human. Fearing these accusations to be true, he avoids discovering the truth about who, or what, he is. When a popular disk jockey lands himself in trouble, Scott is called up to save him. To do so, Scott must bring to light his true nature and live with consequences.

With the exception of my weekly “Tales of Contraction” updates, I’ve been pretty quiet here on the old blog. Now that school is back in session (I teach editing classes at Portland State University), I don’t have nearly enough time to devote to creative writing endeavors. But that’s not going to stop me! In less than two weeks, I’m taking the plunge and participating in the granddaddy of all psychotic writing challenges—National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo).

“What’s NaNoWriMo all about?” you ask. Well, let me tell you. Or, better yet, let me let the folks at NaNoWriMo.org tell you:

National Novel Writing Month is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to novel writing. Participants begin writing November 1. The goal is to write a 175-page (50,000-word) novel by midnight, November 30.

Yes, that’s right, I’m going to try and write an entire novel in thirty days. Oh, the insanity!

Will I make it? Probably not. Will I try my hardest? You bet your sweet bippy!

Now, you’re probably wondering why I’m telling you all this. I have two reasons: 1. I’m offering an advanced apology for all the NaNoWriMo content you’re going to have to put up with during the next few weeks. 2. I want as many people as possible to know what I’m doing (You know, to motivate me to keep going and stuff).

I promise to keep you informed of my progress and even throw a few excerpts your way. This is your chance to sit back and watch a novel come to life. So, stay tuned.

P.S. For those of you who are going to ask “What’s your novel going to be about,” I’ll tell you this much: My story involves a shapeshifter who finds work as a screen actor. That’s all you’ll get for now. I’m not allowed to actually write the story before November.

Tales of Contraction, October 9–18

October 12

He in shorts.
I in stocking hat, gloves, and scarf.
Cold fits me better than fat.

October 14

Endurance tastes like one more health shake,
One more day.

October 16

I remember this walk from last year;
I just don’t recall it being so easy.

October 18

One woman lingers.
One woman smiles.
One flat out tells me I’m cute.
Is this how the pretty boys live?

“Tales of Contraction” is a collection of short form poems that chronicle my adventures in weight loss. For information about the program I’m on, visit my Take Shape for Life website at www.shrinkmybody.tsfl.com.

Tales of Contraction, October 2–8

October 3

Calling me obese is crossing a line
I crossed over
Two pounds ago.

October 4 (A)

Moguls of fashion
Fashion solid-color illusions
For slimming effects.

Today I wear stripes (for reality).

October 4 (B)

I stand center stage
To receive forgiveness
For burying talents
Beneath hefty shame.

October 7

Stretching, yawning,
Shirtless before the mirror.
Ribs in the reflection show,
Free of their fleshy cage.

“Tales of Contraction” is a collection of short form poems that chronicle my adventures in weight loss. For information about the program I’m on, visit my Take Shape for Life website at www.shrinkmybody.tsfl.com.

Tales of Contraction, September 26–October 1

September 27

She orders a mocha,
White with whip.
I consider  intervention.

September 28 (A)

First meeting in half a year;
I’m a quarter-hour late.
Gasp!
A third of me is gone.

September 28 (B)

New term. New students. New me.
Someone else can be the fat teacher this year.

October 1

Adam’s
Apple
Appears
At last.

© Vinnie Kinsella

“Tales of Contraction” is a collection of short form poems that chronicle my adventures in weight loss. For information about the program I’m on, visit my Take Shape for Life website at www.shrinkmybody.tsfl.com.