My Novels

Sunday, March 30, 2014

Starting Out


It’s been a very busy few months continuing the work on my novel.  I got a little behind due to a nasty cold that zapped my energy and just couldn’t focus well enough to write, but I am finally getting close to completing the story.  It’s exciting and definitely very scary, since once I’m done, I’ll actually have to publish this book and let people know about it. 



I have seen many websites about how to write a novel in 30 days or 90 days or whatever.  My sister even got me a book explaining how you can get your story done in 90 days.  I’m no expert writer, so I don’t know all the ins and outs of being a writer.  I’m still learning as I go on this journey, but I do feel you have to do what’s right for you (no pun intended either).  I first mentioned this novel idea to my family about a year ago.  I wanted to be sure they would be okay with my writing a novel based on my mom’s life.  Even though it is fictionalized, family and friends will more than likely be able to figure out who is who in this book and will also know that most of the story is real. 



I started out very slowly with the writing of this book.  I wasn’t  sure where to even begin, so I spent quite a bit of time just jotting down chapter ideas.  Right around the time I was going to begin writing is when I was laid off from my job.  If you have been reading my blog, then you know the story behind that, and I won’t repeat it here.  My point is that I was so upset and depressed from that experience that I could not think much about writing an entire novel.  Then, of course, I had to go through the process of signing up for unemployment and researching schools to apply to, since I did want to remain in education. 



Along with getting through that, I had decided that I wanted to also complete my MT book, The Practical MT.  That took a lot of work because it needed much in the way of updating, rewrites, and organization of chapters.  So with all of that going on, the novel definitely took a back seat for quite a while. 



Now that my MT book is published, I have been devoting more time to this novel.  I learned a few things along the way. First of all, as I said, I am fictionalizing the book, but as I’m writing the draft, I am using everyone’s real name, as it’s easier to write it that way.  I don’t have to remember any made up names.  But then I found myself spending way too much time trying to figure out what new names I should give everyone.  I would think about one character and try to figure out a good name.  It wasted so much time, so I decided instead to make a list of names.  Every time I mentioned someone in the book for the first time, I would jot down their name so I wouldn’t forget they are in the book.  But one afternoon, I sat down and made a long list of names.  I have no idea who will get which names, but it has made it so much easier to have that list.  Now I can just go back and plug in names where ever I need to.  That still may take some thought, but now it  will go much faster. 




As far as getting this novel done in 90 days, that is simply not the kind of writer I am.  Maybe as I get more used to the writing process, my second or third novel will go more quickly.  Actually, it probably will, but because this story is so special to me, I have been taking my time on it.  I have even gone back into completed chapters to add something I had forgotten. For example, in describing my mom, I had forgotten to mention that she had green eyes.  That’s important to me because the rest of her family had blue or brown eyes, so it is an unusual feature.  I also had forgotten a particular incident when my parents get married that I not only included, but it also added humor to that chapter. 



I guess my whole point here is that, if you plan to give writing a try, do what works for you.  Maybe I am completely going about this wrong in taking so long to get this novel done, but it’s  not a process that I feel comfortable rushing.  I did honestly think it would be done by the end of March, but I’m not going to fret because I didn’t meet that deadline.  It probably will be done some time in April, but then again, maybe it will be May or even June.  I don’t think so, but I have learned that you can’t always plan these things.  That is the beauty of self‑publishing. You can set your own deadlines.  The main thing is—doing it right, not necessarily fast. 


Thanks for reading.  Enjoy your day.

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