(2016 NaNoWriMo) Captain's Log, Day 5

(Author's Note: The plan for November is to update my readers on my daily NaNoWriMo progress. It's a way to connect with you, of course, but it helps keep me accountable, too. Please also note that I've added the date that NaNoWriMo predicts I will be done, assuming I keep my pace.)

The tally:

1. How many words I wrote on November 5, 2016. 2853
2. Did I make the word count goal for the day (1667 words)? Yes
3. Am I on track to finish by November 30, 2016? Yes
4. I will finish by: November 20, 2016

Distracting thought of my day: I must confess to being a bad mom with this thought. I must also confess that cuss words are used. So if you're letting your little one read this over your shoulder, place a gentle hand alongside his or her cheek and turn it away from the screen. NOW.

Okay then. Like most authors, I try to make my dialogue authentic. Which means if I'm writing about a 25-year-old man, then I will try to speak like a 25-year-old man. (Yes, I'm sure you know where this is going.) And I don't know about you, but the 25-year-old men I used to know (and listen to now at school) often use a few unsavory words, especially when they're with friends. So, I had no trouble writing out the words "Fuck off!"

The problem arose when I neglected to minimize my window after I'd paused in writing. Melina stopped next to me and piped up from over my shoulder, "What does FUCK mean?"

Yeah. I taught my kid a cuss word. Bad mom moment for sure.


Update: As several of you pointed out, I should have relayed what I said to Melina. Well, here's the transcript:

Me: That's a word we don't say, EVER and you don't really need to know what it means yet.
Melina: Okay! I don't really know what any of those bad words mean, anyway. [She skipped away, a smile on her face.]

Most other words I would have explained. But not that one--I just didn't have the time or energy to delve into it.

Comments

T said…
Omg. I would pay money to have heard that.
Mama-Nana-Ruthi said…
And your NEXT book is a collection of parenting moments.... a @#$ing Vignette, if you will...
Christina said…
See the updated post. Thanks for reading, peeps!