First Lesson
Dreams can be made real when the dream is writing a fictional novel. Not just any novel but an Epic Fantasy. It is a huge undertaking. In my case, I was blessed by my own ignorance. I did not know how much it took to create a world within a world and a story within a story. I have attempted both as my first novel. So, you may ask what did I learn? It takes a lot of dedication to the story. It takes a leap of faith in yourself. Dedication and faith leads to bravery and courage. But as in anything you are learning to do you wobble and stumble. I told someone the other day something a friend, one of my Scribe Hive sisters said, if I knew before I wrote this story how much work is involved, I probably would have passed. When I started, I thought I knew how to write. But fiction and world building is complex. I guess for now I am glad I went into it with my naivety intact. It served me well so that I did not question what I was doing. I am still learning daily as I edit a huge part of the book that faltered in its storytelling. The whole world in a world part.
Second Lesson
Solitary. Hard. When you find the right flow of words it’s magical. Balance. Creative flow is a tricky beast. Worth looking for and finding. Flow provides joy and you often read what you wrote and don’t recognize it. My writer friend and sister of Scribe Hive Publishing LLC told me when that happens flow is strong. When flow leaves–often due to insecurities within–it’s called Writers Block. I am pleased I have a book so close to its final form. One dream almost completed. Now it’s time to adjust the dream and my goals. Another lesson learned is to celebrate your progress as it happens. Keeps the creative flow happy.
Third Lesson
Hardest part for me was not the overall arc of the plot, rather the subplots. The smaller pieces that add build up to the excitement of the overall conflict. All stories need conflict, a little more added until the reader demands it to be resolved. Cliff hangers are often tools all writers use but I like to wrap up the major conflict of the story and the rest of the smaller ones may become larger arcs in the next story.
Fourth Lesson
My dream was to write a novel. Not to publish. With the novel going through final edits, I am looking at what’s next. The goal I never knew I needed is the publishing part. It is hard. To let go of a baby you have nurtured for a loooonnnng time, (5 years or more) is difficult. Your mind and soul both wanted it read and be received well and also want it to remain private. So, faith is the next lesson I have learned and continue to struggle with. Faith and trust in my story and my ability to tell it. This is hard. You often, as a writer, struggle with the imposter syndrome. I named mine Miss Prissy Pants. She is real and visits more than she is invited. Another lesson is how to deal with her insecurities, actually mine, and keep writing; it is an ongoing task.
Fifth Lesson
Gulp. A hard ass lesson I learned—you don’t know what you don’t know. And as a writer, especially a first time author, the stories you conceive are for you. I wrote this first fictional novel for me. An audience of one. Learning how to reshape this story into a novel others want to pick up and read is the trickier part. It involved more re-writes than expected and many types of editors. You can choose between a writing coach/developmental editor. Some are both. I think they should be separate. Then you need possibly a developmental, content editor, copy editor, and proofreading. All require payment which adds up fast. I learned this all backwards unfortunately so, for now my book is going through another round. I learned how NOT to be too stubborn to ask for help. A huge problem. Any good or great book is a final product created by many talented, skilled hands not by one person. The author needs all hands on deck to deliver a superb product for the ages. Book 2 is in development while Book 1 is being edited. No problem is unsolvable. Miss Prissy Pants remains unimpressed with all I’ve done, but that’s okay. I am grateful for the learning. ~B. R. Maryse