How it feels to write a book

I’ve written a book.

The emotion it evokes to say those words is incomparable to anything I’ve personally achieved – including my uni degree. 

Why? Maybe because it’s something I’ve done for me instead of what’s expected.

Of course, we have to do what we must to live and ‘achieve at life’, nor is anyone expected to write a book. Because often, no one asks. 

But for those that get it, for those that know, we do it because we have to. Because we are writers.

We are daring, creative, crafty thinkers who somehow manage to balance discipline with prolonged solitude, resulting in writing a however-many-page novel. Something that not a lot of people can say they’ve done.

How long has it taken?

This novel has taken me 3 years to complete around a full-time job. It started in January 2022 during my final year of university, having pondered the idea since 2017, where I took the shot to invest in some Scrivener software (a must for writers, imo!); frantically wrote in my notes app; and then on any scrap bit of paper I could find or in several notebooks.

There was always that ‘what if I tried’ moment, which never went away.

And for someone who likes to do things a bit differently in life, I decided to write a book. As many writers will know, it’s a struggle.

We do it when we have the energy, as inspiration so rarely comes when we want it to. We do it because there is a story within us waiting to be told. We do it even when we hate what we writing, wondering why we’re writing at all. We do it because the words eventually come together, somehow.

But we do it because we love it: it’s who we are.

Before embarking on this completed novel, I shelved a book with 20,000 words. But even that is an achievement. We learn from our mistakes (in my case, misdirection and prejudice). Besides dissertations, who else do you know that’s written a whole book?!

Answer: not a lot.

What happens now?

So, now it’s written, what’s next?

Even if it doesn’t make publication, I’ve still completed it. Quite frankly, I never thought I would get to this point, having been lax with a non-existent deadline, whilst also battling burnout. (Another post on this coming soon)

I’ve so many ideas on the go, ranging from thriller to fantasy to romance. Next, it’s about choosing which one I want to focus on, as I’m keen to avoid another lengthy 3-year journey. 

This time, instead of going it alone, I intend to do it through a course. With a kind contribution from my boyfriend’s family, I’ll be signing up for a course to help ease me into this writing process.

But with my completed novel, I intend to revise it some more before showing it to friends/family as Beta readers! I’m both excited and terrified with what they have to say.

Pending that goes well after incorporating feedback… onto agents!

Overall, how am I feeling?

Relieved isn’t the right word, as it was never a chore. I’m proud but also itching to work on my next one! I’m toying around with the characters, plot, subplots, arcs and outlines, so we’ll see where they take me. It turns out I’m not completely in control as the characters come to life…

Stay tuned!

Writers: what are you currently working on?