I’ve reached the end of week one of National Novel Writing Month with the first four parts of my “short” story completed. I thought it was going to be a little short story and it’s turning into a novella — a process which is taking me back to my teenage years when novels tended to span hundreds of typed, single-spaced pages with no end in sight. I was aided and abetted by an inadvertent seven-hour wait in the Grand Rapids airport on my return to Boston . . . I doubt I’ll have the luxury of dashing off quite so much silliness in the weeks to come!

I’m still not sharing this story with anyone but Hanna (maybe I should put: “For British Eyes Only” on the top of every page?) but I’ll give you a feel random details to make of what you will.

1) I’m setting the story in Chicago, and a crucial scene takes place at the Field Museum; I chalk this up to early childhood readings of From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.

2) I’ve appropriated a plot element from “The Stackhouse Filibuster” from Season 2 of The West Wing; those of you who are devotees can have fun guessing which one. (And can I say one more time that I miss that show so damn much?!)

3) So far, I’ve figured out how to get in references to Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back and Dr. Who . . . I’m undecided as to whether having opened the door I’ll need to work in specific episodes of DW, Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures just to be clear I’m not playing favorites.

Until next week — wish me continued verbosity. And for those of you who are also participating, hope you’re having loads of fun!