• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Bio
  • Bookshelf
    • Audio
    • Complete List of Chautona’s Books
    • The Rockland Chronicles
      • The Vintage Wren
      • The Aggie Series
      • The Hartfield Mysteries
      • Sight Unseen Series
        • Sight Unseen Series Archives
      • The Agency Files
      • Christmas Fiction
    • Legacy of the Vines
    • Meddlin’ Madeline
      • Madeline Blog Archive
    • Ballads from the Hearth
      • Ballads from the Hearth Blog Archive
    • Legends of the Vengeance
    • Journey of Dreams
    • Wynnewood
    • Webster’s Bakery
    • The Not-So-Fairy Tales
    • Heart of Warwickshire
  • Start HERE
    • Characters
    • Suggested Reading Order
    • Free Books
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Podcast
    • Advertising
    • Podcast Guest Information
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • Bonus
  • Speaking
  • New & Coming
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!”

Share559
Pin
Tweet
Email
563Shares
Share
Pin
Tweet
Email
563Shares

Related

Filed Under: Short Stories, Writing Tagged With: NaNoWriMo

Previous Post: « The Super-Secret Confessions of a Vulneraphobe
Next Post: An Amish Buggy Ride Giveaway! »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You have to agree to the comment policy.

Or, you can subscribe without commenting.

Primary Sidebar

The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 145: A Chat with Debut Women's Fiction Author, Sara Brunsvold
byChautona Havig

Debut Author, Sara Brunsvold, is bursting on the Christian Women’s fiction scene with an amazing book, The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip. With characters who have captivated my heart from page one (and enough quirkiness to keep my attention to the last), Sara Brunsvold is sure to become a favorite author, and this book is already on my top five of the year before it’s even released!

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

This Novel Isn’t Even Available Yet, and It’s in My Top 5!

If you’d told me that I’d fall so in love with two chapters of a book that it would push that book into my top five of the year so far, well… I’d have laughed.

The joke’s on me because it happened with Sara Brunsvold’s The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip. This debut women’s fiction novel has a bit of a split-time element and is set in Kansas City. Trust me when I say that meeting Clara was one of the most fun introductions to a character I’ve ever had. I just love this woman, and I’m drumming my fingers to get to read more about her.  Not surprising considering it won the ACFW Genesis’s award a couple of years back. 😀

Sara says her passion is intergenerational stories, and you definitely get this with Aidyn and her “assignment,” Mrs. Kipp.  But you also get inter-cultural and ideological influences in this book as well.

And then there’s that next book she has coming out.  You know, the one about a gal cooking her way through her grandma’s German cookbook?  Yeah.  The one we have to wait until early 2024 for?  Yeah. That one.  Sigh.

When Sara told us about her favorite authors, a lot of things made sense.  Just sayin’. Find out which of Katherine Reay’s books are her favorites and how she fangirled over Reay’s response to an email (and why you should email your favorite author!).

The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip by Sara Brunsvold

Aidyn Kelley is talented, ambitious, and ready for a more serious assignment than the fluff pieces she’s been getting as a cub reporter for the Kansas City Star. In her eagerness, she pushes too hard, earning herself the menial task of writing an obituary for an unremarkable woman who’s just entered hospice care.

But there’s more to Clara Kip than meets the eye. The spirited septuagenarian may be dying, but she’s not quite ready to cash it in yet. Never one to shy away from an assignment herself, she can see that God brought the young reporter into her life for a reason. And if it’s a story Aidyn Kelley wants, that’s just what Mrs. Kip will give her–but she’s going to have to work for it.

Debut author Sara Brunsvold delights with this emotional multigenerational story that shows that the very best life is made up of thousands of little deaths to self. You’ll want to be just like Mrs. Kip when you grow up!

This book is 40% off with free shipping from Baker Book House. That’s less than the Kindle version if you like paper!

You can learn more about Sara at her WEBSITE (and sign up for that newsletter so you can get Mrs.Kip’s 8 Rules to Live By). Oh, and if she does those videos of her cooking through that book, you’ll want to know when/where to find them.

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

  • Apple 
  • Castbox 
  • Google Play
  • Libsyn 
  • RSS
  • Spotify
  • Stitcher
  • Amazon
  • and more!
Episode 145: A Chat with Debut Women's Fiction Author, Sara Brunsvold
Episode 145: A Chat with Debut Women's Fiction Author, Sara Brunsvold
May 20, 2022
Chautona Havig
Episode 144: Chatting about Restored Grace with Kathleen J. Robison
May 17, 2022
Chautona Havig
Episode 143: A Chat with Romantic Suspense Author, Mary Alford
May 13, 2022
Chautona Havig
Episode 142: A Chat about A Promise Engraved by Liz Tolsma
May 10, 2022
Chautona Havig
Episode 141: A Chat with Elizabeth Goddard about Critical Alliance
May 3, 2022
Chautona Havig
Episode 140: A Chat about When the Meadow Blooms by Ann H. Gabhart
April 29, 2022
Chautona Havig
Episode 139: A Chat with Middle-Grade Author, RM Ruiz
April 26, 2022
Chautona Havig
Episode 138: A Gush about a Good (more like GREAT) Read & GoodReads
April 22, 2022
Chautona Havig
Episode 137: A Chat with Contemporary Romance Author, Mandi Blake
April 19, 2022
Chautona Havig
Episode 136: A Chat with Middle-Grade Historical Author, Marie Sontag
April 15, 2022
Chautona Havig
Search Results placeholder

Join a Reading Challenge

2022 Write Reading Challenge

Love Audio Books?

audio book ad

Check out the Sparrow Island novels. A tiny island with a lot of heart

independence islands series

Featured Books

Finding a Memory

Finding a Memory
Buy This Book Online
Purchase with Paypal
Buy from Amazon Kindle
Buy from Amazon
Finding a Memory
Buy now!

Penelope’s Pursuit

Penelope’s Pursuit
Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon Kindle
Buy from Amazon
Purchase with Paypal
Penelope’s Pursuit
Buy now!

The Last Gasp

The Last Gasp
Buy This Book Online
Purchase with Paypal
Buy from Audible.com
Buy from Amazon
Buy from Amazon Kindle
The Last Gasp
Buy now!

Upcoming Posts

  • Now, Did You Hear about That Time I Ended up in High Water? (June 2, 2022)

Or just subscribe to the newsletter

Recent Blog Posts

  • What Happens When the Past Rears Its Ugly Head and Murder Ensues?
  • This Novel Isn’t Even Available Yet, and It’s in My Top 5!
  • What Wonderful Author Combines Romantic Suspense and Women’s Fiction Elements?

I buy my stickers here! (affiliate)

Custom Stickers, Die Cut Stickers, Bumper Stickers - Sticker Mule

Footer

What Am I Working On?

Book, Chapter & Vows
Book, Chapter, & Vows
Phase:Week 3
Due:6 months ago
53.1%
Get Book Updates

Featured

Finding a Memory

Finding a Memory
Buy This Book Online
Purchase with Paypal
Buy from Amazon Kindle
Buy from Amazon
Finding a Memory
Buy now!

Dial W for Wrangler

Dial W for Wrangler

Disclosure:

Disclosure: Links on this website may or may not be affiliate links and as such, I may receive compensation from the retailer indicated for linking to their product. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Note: I DO NOT link to products that I do not recommend.

Privacy & Cookies. This website uses cookies (not the delicious kinds that make life grand) to do stuff it needs to do. By staying on the site, you agree to this evil substitution of yummy cookies for internet calorie-free substitutes. For more info, click here and read the boring stuff. Cookie Policy
How does this author celebrate a finished book? By How does this author celebrate a finished book? By reading someone else's finished book. 😀 
#amending
#needicecream 
#onthemenu
#freakshakes
"Murder, mayhem, and milkshakes. Who'd a thunk "Murder,  mayhem,  and milkshakes.  Who'd a thunk it?"
@dana_mentink 
#shimmyandshakeshop
#cozymystery 
#needicecream
Love it when publishers use plays on words. #amend Love it when publishers use plays on words.
#amending
#cozymysterybooks 
@dana_mentink
Reposted from @karitrumbo Repost from @sweetandswo Reposted from @karitrumbo Repost from @sweetandswoonyromance
•
Have you read this month’s featured free reads? Check the link in bio to find out more!

#sweetandswoonyreads #ayearofsweetandswoony #romancelandia #romancereads #romancereadersofinstagram #romancerecs #freebooks #booksbooksbooks #freereads
Reposted from @mwardwellwrites “Heart Pressed” Reposted from @mwardwellwrites “Heart Pressed” is a heart looking for that lasting love. Never give up 

Available on Kindle Unlimited 
#books #christfic #romance #independenceislandsseries #womensfiction
When the deadline looms, you call in reinforcement When the deadline looms, you call in reinforcements. 
#amwriting 
#amhungry 
@mcdonalds for the win
Guys! I found a simpler, delicious way to do a qu Guys! I found a simpler,  delicious way to do a quick and easy mock grilled cheese! I tossed sourdough bread and buttered one side. Added a tiy bit of Dijon mustard.  Sprinkled rough grated parmesan from a tub (needed to use it up) and tossed it in the microwave for 20 seconds.  Still crispy, half the butter, half the mess and time. Twice the flavor.
Back to work. 
#amwriting
#middleofthenightsnack#authorfuel
  • Home
  • Bookshelf
  • New & Coming
  • Blog
  • News!
  • Disclosure & Policies
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2022 · Chautona Havig · All Rights Reserved · Coding by Gretchen Louise

Don't go before you grab your FREE short story collection!