Getting it Right
In March of 2020 I wrote the first words to the novel that is sitting on my counter today. Five years is a long time to commit to a project, but like many endeavors in life, you have to push through a lot of trial and error, be humbled, and open to more learning. As I try to get an agent interested in my story, I know I still probably haven't gotten in right just yet. They will likely ask me to change or improve something about my story, and I'm willing to do that.
As I take a look back on getting to this point, I though it might be interesting to share with all of you. There have been several new subscribers who didn't see the earliest editions of this newsletter, so here it goes! I get asked all the time if it was hard to write a book. It's daunting to put all of it into words. It challenged me in so many ways, but I truly loved it!
I could never have gotten to where I am today without the following stages.
Stage 1: Toying with the idea of writing a novel
Beginning to think I had the skills to do it
Formatting a Word Doc, writing a few thousand words
Sending each chapter to my mom and sister to see if they "liked it" (my writing was very novice and quite bland at this time, but I thought it was good :)
Getting too busy with regular life to actually commit, lots of self-doubt, thinking maybe I'll "do it later"
Stage 2: Deciding to commit
Telling more people about my desire/dream to write a novel, but keeping the details quiet because I started to realize how fluid this project was ---it was changing a lot very quickly and I stopped sending version to my sister and mom
Ordered some books on how to write a novel, following several authors/instagrammers in this niche, compiling resources, beginning an outline of my story, choosing main characters etc.
Plotting my exit from my day job
Stage 3: My studying and implementing phase
Leaving teaching, starting this newsletter, developing my author website
Taking free webinars/seminars on writing while my kids were at school
Reading websites/blogs/author newsletters
Reading novels as a writer, noticing details on plot and structure, and good dialogue
Sketching out scenes, learning about how to create tension and conflict within my story
My breakthrough = learning about the 7 point plot structure and more importantly, character arcs!
Stage 4: Feeling more confident
After ~9 months of writing I had a completed first draft
Several months of self-editing
3 beta-readers giving me feedback that I could implement
Revising for many months to get it to a second and then third draft
Revising my author website
Stage 5: Hiring an editor
Taking more action to refine and tighten my prose, making cuts
Sending it to a professional editor, implementing her feedback
Learning how to format a query letter, synopsis and author bio, along with making more reels and posts on Instagram to promote my book
Stage 6: Trying to find an agent/publisher
Researching agents who may be a fit for me/my genre (contemporary women's fiction)
Sending out my book's information (sent to 17 agents so far, 6 no responses, waiting on the rest)
Continuing to learn about the industry/what happens next if I do get an offer
Continuing to learn about self-publishing if I need to go that route
Letting my book club friends read my book (meeting in July to discuss) *I am so excited, but so nervous for this!
I sincerely appreciate your patience and support in following my work. The road to publishing a book is long, and in a society that seems to value quick rewards, I am so honored that you've been willing to keep waiting with me through this whole process!
