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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 480: A Chat with Tracie Peterson
byChautona Havig

 A chat with Tracie Peterson is always a treat, and this was no exception. Listen in as we talk about A Moment to Love, the last in the Hope of Cheyenne series. 

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

I’ve been loving what Tracie is doing in this Cheyene series, but something about this book really hit home. I think the themes of revenge for heinous crimes and the indignity of our work being stolen are things we relate to whether it’s the 19th or the 21st century.

Also, don’t miss out on her Christmas novella collection with Karen Witemeyer and Misty M. Beller, On a Midnight Clear. 

A Moment to Love  by Tracie Peterson

A shared heart for justice pulls them together, but is their love strong enough to survive their trials? Dr. Carrie Vogel’s heart is shattered when her groundbreaking medical research is stolen and falsely credited to her ex-fiancé. With years of diligent work lost, she grapples with the disastrous turn of her career and leans on her faith for strength. When she learns that her Pinkerton friend Spencer Duval is on a justice-driven mission to her hometown of Cheyenne, she agrees to an arranged marriage to provide him with a cover story. But merely pretending to be in love with Spencer becomes increasingly difficult the more time she spends with him. Spencer is determined to apprehend the ruthless murderer who killed his father years ago, but his quest ignites unexpected emotions–both for Carrie and about the desire for revenge that has dominated his life. As the web of suspects tightens, their futures hang in the balance, and they must learn to trust God’s plan as unexpected love takes flight. Return to Cheyenne, Wyoming, with bestselling author Tracie Peterson for a journey of healing and forgiveness in this exquisite western frontier romance that will appeal to readers of faith-filled stories and When Calls the Heart.

Don’t forget that you can get this and her other books at 30-40% off with FREE US shipping from Bakerbookhouse.com

Learn more about Tracie Peterson on her WEBSITE. Follow her on BookBub and GoodReads.

Like to listen on the go? You can find Because Fiction Podcast at:

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Episode 480: A Chat with Tracie Peterson
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Part of the Westward Home & Hearts Mail-Order Brid Part of the Westward Home & Hearts Mail-Order Brides series, Penelope's Pursuit is on sale for $0.99 to celebrate six years of mail-order bride novels and novellas. Penelope is a bit different from most stories. It shows the potentially dangerous side without being too heavy. Check out the Facebook group for more books on sale by the series' authors!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0921KHWBV
#ChristianHistoricalFiction
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Sometimes, I fall in love with a character in my b Sometimes, I fall in love with a character in my books. Someone like Lewis in The Lights of New Cheltenham or Rory in Not a Word. But... in Twice Sold Tales, I fell in love with a cast of characters.  Harper the store owner, Noah the single-dad just learning how to be one, Bennie, the adorable ballet-loving little boy... and Mrs. Klair. Oh, how I loved Mrs. Klair.
I also love the town of Red Wing, Minnesota.  I infused as much of it as I could into the book--places to eat and explore, people I love dearly (family!), and the feel of a small town inside a modest city along Lake Pepin (of Laura Ingalls fame). I also learned that there is actually a lake monster there!  Pepi!  You wont want to miss him!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BLKCDYKR
#BookishBooks
#Bookstrings
#ChristFic
#KindleUnlimited
Part of the Westward Home & Hearts Mail-Order Brid Part of the Westward Home & Hearts Mail-Order Brides series, Penelope's Pursuit is on sale for $0.99 to celebrate six years of mail-order bride novels and novellas. Penelope is a bit different from most stories. It shows the potentially dangerous side without being too heavy. Check out the Facebook group for more books on sale by the series' authors!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0921KHWBV
#ChristianHistoricalFiction
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