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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

Night Before NaNo: A parody

by Chautona Havig · Leave a Comment

It’s that time!  Time for this year’s NaNoWriMo poem!

Night before NaNo

T’was the Night before NaNo

T’was the eve before NaNo
And all through the house
We were frantically cleaning–
Even my spouse.

The blue bowl was filled
With candy to spare
In hopes that costumed darlings
Soon would be there.

The family went rushing
The festival so fair
With visions of funness
And friends to meet there.

My son brought me Chinese
So I with my plate,
Just sat down to eat
And write ’til it’s late.

When out on the porch
There rose such a clamor
I sprang to the door
To give loot and see glamor (bear with me, it’s not easy).

Then back to my recliner
And laptop I came
Opened my Scrivener
And typed in my name.

The bright virgin “page”
On the screen looked so fresh.
It taunted and beckoned
Put restraint to the test.

When what to my wandering
Thoughts should appear.
But a new plot idea
the best of the year!

And a lively new hero
So handsome and fun.
I knew in a moment
He must be the one.

Get Cracking! Start Writing!
Not yet it’s not midnight!
Oh c’mon, Just do it!
No! No cheating tonight!

To the first chapter line
To the end of them all.
Just write away
NaNo friends.
Write away all!

And dull plots that bore
Just delete e’re they come.
When meeting an obstacle,
Don’t ever be glum.

The first plot twist appears
The notes they do fly
On the wings of my fingers
While time marches by.

But soon in a twinkling
I’ll hear on my clock
The ticking of the seconds
And the minutes will tock.

I’ll stare at the screen
And start counting down
For the coming of midnight
And with it some nouns.

All dressed in adjectives
From their heads to their feet.
The verbs full of actions
Both evil and sweet

A few prepositions
An article or two
Mix with capitals
And punctuation to boot.

The sentences lengthen!
The paragraphs vary!
The chapters come quickly.
The jokes make me merry!

Descriptions are added
With care not to bore.
Don’t want to make reading
It to be a chore.

The ink in my pen
Soon dries on the page
How long has it been now?
It feels like an age.

It’s only eleven.
Hey, what’s on the telly?
To keep me distracted
From Machiavelli.

Give me funny or sad
A jolly good tale,
‘Else I scream from frustration.
And drown me in ale.

A book on structure
And another on plot
Will help me bide time
And is not all for naught.

I won’t waste a word!
I’ll go straight to my work
And fill all my pages.
I won’t be a jerk.

And I’ll keep my finger
Away from my nose.
I’ll work at dialogue
And perfect all my prose.

I’ll work all the night.
I won’t waste a second.
And write all the words.
I planned in reflection

The town heard me exclaim
‘Ere clock struck midnight.
“Happy NaNo to all!
And to all, a GOOD WRITE!”

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Filed Under: Short Stories, Writing Tagged With: NaNoWriMo

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 594: A Chat with Joy Crain
byChautona Havig

If you love a good royal romance, you won’t want to miss the third Royals of Andelar book, The Promise of a Princess. Listen in as Joy and I chat about this third book (and wait’ll you hear about the second half! EEEP!).

note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

Don’t know about you, but I’m pretty sure I’d never want to be royalty. The stuff they go through. That said… I sure do like watching authors torture them on the page. All the drama, none of the real strain.

The Promise of a Princess by Joy Crain

The Royals of Andelar, Book 3

Princess Genevieve’s life seems like a dream. She has a loving family, a devoted fiancé, and a future set in stone. But beneath the perfection lies a secret she has guarded for years, one that could shatter everything if it were ever revealed. When an ancient doctrine resurfaces and threatens the very foundation of the monarchy, Genevieve is forced to face a choice that will cost her more than she ever imagined.

Learn more about Joy on White Crown’s WEBSITE and follow on Goodreads.

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Episode 594: A Chat with Joy Crain
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Meet Mitchell Bogaert (yes, that was a bit on the Meet Mitchell Bogaert (yes, that was a bit on the nose, but come on! I had to!). He's a great guy, if a bit of a drifter. But he has a storytelling degree, and an inheritance--under one condition. He must participate in the New Cheltenham Annual Christmas
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Meet Mitchell Bogaert (yes, that was a bit on the Meet Mitchell Bogaert (yes, that was a bit on the nose, but come on! I had to!). He's a great guy, if a bit of a drifter. But he has a storytelling degree, and an inheritance--under one condition. He must participate in the New Cheltenham Annual Christmas
Storytelling Contest to receive said inheritance. What could go wrong? Get it FREE through Wednesday, October 21st HERE: https://amzn.to/3WfPj22 #Affiliate
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