Hey, I Wrote a Book!

OK. Most of a book, I'm still writing it

Photo by Andrew Neel on Unsplash

Hello Readers and the Writing Community,

I have to let you in on a little secret and I would like to share parts of it with you.

Some of you may know through the occasional Note or a comment on a post, I have been quietly trying my hand at writing fiction. Usually I write non-fiction travel articles or musings relating to Mid-life experiences.

But now, I feel confident in my writing and I am ready to explore the world of creative writing where I can bring my mental images and stories to life for others to enjoy.

My first fiction book started out as a simple children’s novella, along the lines of a chapter book, but now has transformed into something much larger.

The Inspiration Behind the Story

While researching for an upcoming trip to Scotland, I was reminded of our Scottish heritage. My Father-In-Law often shared stories of his childhood adventures playing on castle grounds in Scotland. Memories of those conversations returned to my mind as I planned my trip.

One night as I was creating the itinerary, I had a strange dream. Though I frequently have lengthy, vivid, and detailed dreams; this one stood out. I became the young boy playing in the castle in the 1930s, just as my FIL described.

Upon waking, I knew I had to write a book based on this dream.

Draft 1 -

Over the following months, I completed the first draft and sent it to several trusted people for review and comments. However, I sensed that something was missing or that some parts were unclear, but I couldn't quite pinpoint what it was. In my mind, everything flowed logically as I envisioned it from my dream, but I needed confirmation that my words would convey that same vision to others. As this is my first attempt at fiction writing, I wasn't sure how my words would be received.

I waited for the reviews.

And waited.

Crickets!

I did not read the draft for several months. Nor did the readers!

It appeared that the people I sent the draft to were too busy to take the time to read it.

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Then, I went on my trip to Scotland.

When I returned, I dusted off the cobwebs and had another look at the first draft.

I read the first chapter and then it hit me. There was no beginning! What I had overlooked was an introduction that would entice the reader to want to read more.

And so I wrote the new first chapter.

And then kept writing.

It seems that once I had a proper beginning, the rest of the story came tumbling out! The details that were missing, the thoughts, the feelings, the sounds, the smells.

My small novella mushroomed into a much larger project and has gone from a modest Children’s Adventure book to a Middle Grade Fantasy novel.

Now, sitting at more than 40,000 words, I am still reviewing/rewriting the remaining two chapters. Will I need to write more to finish the story? I don’t know.

Draft 2 -

When will Draft 2 be complete? - I’m not sure.

But what I can share is that by stepping away, I gained a new perspective that unlocked additional elements of the story.

And, I finally heard back from one of my test readers who gave valuable feedback. I look forward to incorporating this into the second draft.

My test reader is also eager to read the extended version.

Final Thoughts -

Going through this process has helped me to understand the mindset of a fiction writer and the value of fresh eyes. Through the avalanche of additional details of this story, I now have more ideas to explore for subsequent novels.

Am I crazy?

It is sometimes said that a spark of genius can open a Pandora’s box of possibility. Am I ready to walk through this open door? Only time will tell, or, perhaps, the success (or failure) of this book, will decide for me.

But, as I sit from behind this computer screen today, I can’t help but think, “What Have I Got To Lose?”

Thank you for your continued support and stay tuned for more updates!

I can’t wait to share this project with you.