I wrote a novel
Three lessons learned to encourage you on your writing journey
Writing a full manuscript was, without a doubt, one of the most difficult, exhilarating, and humbling growth experiences of my life. And I have 4 children! That says something.
Next year, my novel enters the world. I thought writing it was difficult. Getting read to publish and launch reaches a whole new realm. We’ve just gotten started and I feel a strange and intoxicating mixture of unmitigated joy and panic-inducing terror. I’ll save those stories for other posts.
Below are three lessons I experienced that I hope encourage you in your writing adventure; The Idea, Learning to Write, and Creating a Writing Habit.
The Idea
Since I was a little girl, I wrote stories and poems. Sometimes the stories danced in my head, but never made it to the page.
While doing dishes, a vibrant tangible image and distinctive voice interrupted me. The “vision” was so strong and intrusive, I stopped what I was doing and raced to my laptop. That was 2018-ish. Yes, five years ago. More on that later. Here’s an excerpt…
Laris stood at the cliff’s edge scanning the horizon. The moon crested the mountains and cast eerie shadows across the tundra below. On any other night the snow would sparkle in the silver light. Tonight, a thin layer of ash blotted out the cold beauty and reminded Laris of her burning hatred. She pulled her fur collar tighter around her neck to block out the cold and kicked the dying embers of the fire at her feet. So far, she had not seen any patrols. For that she was grateful. “They’ll be back,” she muttered to herself.
These words, none of which made it into the novel, started me down a path I didn’t plan, but an adventure I have loved.
Now, I write down all my ideas — an opening line, a title, a character description. These writing prompts go in a folder on Google Drive for me to retrieve when I’m ready for a new project. This one tiny habit has generated a treasure trove of future stories.
Lesson 1: Keep track of your ideas, and when a voice in your head tells you a story — you’re not crazy — write it down!
Learning to Write
I commonly hear or read that writing a novel is a lot more challenging that people imagine. That was certainly my experience.
As a voracious reader, especially fantasy fiction, the story that eventually became my novel, The Lamp Still Burns, flowed out of me. Laris, the protagonist, started talking to me at odd times of the day, and I’d find myself tapping out a paragraph or a scene. I was what some writing circles call a pantser. I wrote by the seat of my pants — no structure, outline, or plan. This method became a huge contributing factor to taking five years on this book. Never again. But I digress…
These scenes became chapters, but they came to me in such a random order. What I thought was the start of the story, became the middle. It expanded like spilled juice on the counter, going every direction. I realized I didn’t know how to wrangle these scenes into a coherent manuscript.
I discovered a new world of writing craft, or among full-time writers just craft. I found people who had survived the messiness of novel writing, and lived to teach others their skills.
First, I experienced Scribophile, which was good, but not the best place for a novice writer to start.
Then, I discovered an online course about plot structure and an active writing group. The course and the group unlocked a new level of writing for me. My scenes fit into a sequence that made sense. It was magical. (I would recommend it if the group still existed but their format has changed.)
Finally, I invested in Gateless Academy (an online writing academy based on neuroscience) that changed my writing in ways I cannot fully explain or comprehend. But, it was fantastic and it was what I needed at exactly the right time. (Google Gateless writing and find a free session to try it for yourself.)
I also bought and read several craft books. I recommend Writing Fiction by Janet Burroway, and anything by James Scott Bell, though Writing from the Middle is the best place to start.
Lesson 2: Let your unbridled creativity run wild. Write without editing and keep writing. And, learn your craft. Not everything that lands on the page, needs to stay on the page. Know what to cut and how to mold your creativity into a story your readers will love.
Creating a Writing Habit
This one was — and is — tough for me. I am not a structured person, in general, and making a specific time every day to write didn’t work for me.
Plus, I tend to be the kind of person who does things when I “feel like it.” Needless to say, lots of projects and chores in my life get put off until desperation sets in and whatever it is must get done.
You could say I’m the kind of person that keeps success self-help and how-to book authors employed. I do all the things they tell us not to do.
Eventually, I come to my senses and act like the grown-up I’m supposed to be and get the work done.
What finally clicked for me came from either Walter Mosely or James Scott Bell. I can’t remember. I listen to a lot of Audible books.
Anyway, most authors and writing teachers say that being a writer requires writing every day. But, it’s not only about getting the words on the page. It’s about creating cohesion and consistency and not losing track of the story.
One of those brilliant guys said that by writing every day, I can review what I wrote the day before and keep up with the story. Cue the angels singing.
I truly believe the main reason my novel took five stinking years to complete is because I didn’t write every day. Sometimes, I didn’t write every month. And every time I stepped away from my novel for a day or three, or a month or four, I had to re-read big chunks of my story. I wasted who knows how much time unlocking the vault of my imagination to retrieve the storyline, to get reacquainted with my characters — who, by the way, behaved like abandoned children when I left them alone too long.
Lesson 3: Write every day. Even if it’s just for 5 minutes. Seriously. If you have time to sit down and watch TV, you have time to write. Do the writing first. And by you, I mean my future self. Though, the advice is good for any writer.
Happy writing!
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