Mein Roman

I expected to spend the eight hour car ride to my grandparent's house in verbal repartee with MRF:

"Have you written your novel yet?"
"No, have you?"
"Have you started your novel yet?"
"Yes, have you?"
"Um, I started a blog about starting my novel..."
"I decided to write my novel in German."
"German!"
"I think it will be easier."
"Am I insane or does that sort of make sense?"

I'll leave it up to you to decided who said what in that unexpected turn of events. But, here is the thing, I don't read German.

There is a twisted sort of logic going on here. It is a monumental task to write a novel. Even more monumental to write a novel that someone else wants to read! However, all of the little inconsistencies, trite and predictable plot devices, and cliches will be forgiven when you write under unusual circumstances. Let's say I write an essay for a teacher. Under normal circumstances I will be marked down a grade because of my spelling and grammar. But if I wrote the same essay despite (or in spite of, you choose) a disability, misspellings and errors are forgotten because it was amazing I was able to write at all. Thus writing in German excuses her from the expectation that she will write a best seller and/or be included in high school curriculum across the globe. We will all be suitably amazed that she could write it at all.

Lucky. Wish I'd thought of that.