Here are six things I've learnt during the course of writing my first book, The Legend of Arianna:
1. Writing is hard work.
I knew that before I started, of course, but in a vague, misty way, where it didn't interfere with my reality. It only hit me after I became serious about it - that was about seven chapters in.
2. Editing and querying is even harder
Editing is nitpicky work, especially if you do it by yourself, and preparing submission packages is tiresome, since each publisher requests a specific one according to their requirements. No effort goes waste, however, since at the end of it, you are left with a brand new baby book.
3. It scares you, and that's a good thing.
Managing a story that's any longer than 55k words with multiple plotlines is like changing a diaper for a 20-foot tall wriggling baby. You know you'll get kicked in the face at least twice, but if you want to finish your job, you buckle up and do it, no matter how terrified you are.
4. There's a lot of guilt involved.
There are days when you slack off when you know you shouldn't. It's okay to rest up in between, you know that, but there is a niggling feeling of being too self-indulgent, especially when you're behind on your writing schedule. You know you can produce more. Somewhere deep down, you know you can write better.
5. Anxiety, anxiety, anxiety!
Does this word go here? Have I spelled it right? What am I thinking? I don't know how to write a book! What am I even doing? They're going to hate it. Nobody would want to read this stuff. What if my friends are just being nice not to hurt my feelings?
It's okay to feel these once in a while. Just don't get bogged down by them, so much so you develop a mental block, and never sit down to write again.
6. Writing is beautiful
When you write, you breathe through your words. You create. You destroy. You get to live a whole new life, go on a new adventure, and better yet, share it with your readers. Only creating a work of art can make you feel things you never thought possible.
In the end, writing becomes a habit, a familiar face you see everyday. If a day goes by without it, it feels like something is missing. Being a writer is hard, but not being one is harder.
1. Writing is hard work.
I knew that before I started, of course, but in a vague, misty way, where it didn't interfere with my reality. It only hit me after I became serious about it - that was about seven chapters in.
2. Editing and querying is even harder
Editing is nitpicky work, especially if you do it by yourself, and preparing submission packages is tiresome, since each publisher requests a specific one according to their requirements. No effort goes waste, however, since at the end of it, you are left with a brand new baby book.
3. It scares you, and that's a good thing.
Managing a story that's any longer than 55k words with multiple plotlines is like changing a diaper for a 20-foot tall wriggling baby. You know you'll get kicked in the face at least twice, but if you want to finish your job, you buckle up and do it, no matter how terrified you are.
4. There's a lot of guilt involved.
There are days when you slack off when you know you shouldn't. It's okay to rest up in between, you know that, but there is a niggling feeling of being too self-indulgent, especially when you're behind on your writing schedule. You know you can produce more. Somewhere deep down, you know you can write better.
5. Anxiety, anxiety, anxiety!
Does this word go here? Have I spelled it right? What am I thinking? I don't know how to write a book! What am I even doing? They're going to hate it. Nobody would want to read this stuff. What if my friends are just being nice not to hurt my feelings?
It's okay to feel these once in a while. Just don't get bogged down by them, so much so you develop a mental block, and never sit down to write again.
6. Writing is beautiful
When you write, you breathe through your words. You create. You destroy. You get to live a whole new life, go on a new adventure, and better yet, share it with your readers. Only creating a work of art can make you feel things you never thought possible.
In the end, writing becomes a habit, a familiar face you see everyday. If a day goes by without it, it feels like something is missing. Being a writer is hard, but not being one is harder.
