Over the years I’ve talked about writing the Great American Novel. It began in 2002, when I started writing something only to quit. I tried again in 2007, and then again in 2014 I attempted NaNoWriMo and eventually quit.
Lesson seemingly learned?
But I don’t have to be! And I’m not going to be. This time, I will not be deterred! It’s 2019, so I’m on track for trying to write The Great American Novel again – but this time, I’ve figured out my niche.
I love Hallmark movies. I KNOW Hallmark movies. I’m obsessed with Hallmark movies. So why not write a novel in the very-specific Hallmark genre?
Turns out, twice a year Hallmark Publishing encourages fledgling writers to submit their work for consideration. No agent needed. They are actually taking submissions right now, with a February 28 deadline, but I only just found about this, and I know there’s no way I could provide anything of quality by then (that’s even shorter than the NaNoWriMo timeframe to produce anything).
But two nights ago I put my Hallmark knowledge to the test and spent 3+ hours on the computer coming up with an elevator pitch, as well as a three-page (1300-word) outline of how that plot might play out. It takes place at Christmas (of course) and I feel like it hits the major tropes and formulas that Hallmarkies love. There’s a reason why Hallmark OWNS the tv market from October to December – their audience (see: me) knows what they like and they are extremely loyal. Yesterday I let three of my co-workers read my outline and the Hallmarkie in the group loved it, the one who likes Hallmark (but doesn’t have cable) liked it a lot, and the one that hates Hallmark felt it needed a lot more angst. When I explained that this is not how Hallmark works and that I’m not writing a Lifetime movie, she dismissed it and said she would write her own novel.
So clearly I won’t have her read any future drafts.
Last night I spent several hours fleshing out the outline with additional details (including specific scenes I want to include), figuring out where each chapter may begin and end. I even added in bits of dialogue I thought of that I definitely hope to use in some capacity). I ended up with almost 4,500 words in that detailed chapter outline. And y’all. In the past, when I’ve thought, “I’ll write a book!” I never really saw how the story would completely play out. I never really had a true roadmap of who the characters would become, and where they’d end up on the last page. And I think that’s why I quit all those other times.  But this time? I already feel kinship with these characters. I’ve think I’ve come up with a plot that is 100% Hallmark and something that I’d want to read or see on TV. And while this extended chapter outline still needs some work and continued fine-tuning, I truly believe the reason I feel good about this book idea thus far is that I’m writing in a genre I love and for which I have a great affection.
Hallmark Publishing asks that the manuscripts be 65,000 – 85,000 words. If my goal is to turn it in by mid-September, then this means I need to write AT LEAST 3,200 words a week in order to get it done by early June and then spending the next three months editing and fine-tuning it to get it ready for submission in September. Time to get crackin’!
