What’s it like to write your first novel?
I’m asking myself this question. Over two years ago, with a
nudge from God, I put pen to paper and interviewed the characters who danced in
my mind. I found out where they lived, why they lived there, the books they
like to read, and what they looked like. As I dug deeper, they told me their
story. Just like real people, they each have a story to tell. My fictional
characters shared heartache and joy. They told me secrets and made me guess at
a few. One personality learned to forgive, another finds her family. A man
loves and a mother shares.
Over the last couple of years, I’ve learned great lessons
from them and from writing a novel. In carving out the story, I’ve learned to
let go of the phrases I thought were so perfect. The journey’s taught me to
listen to others who provide feedback and not take personally the critiquing
the words need. I’m working on the proposal that I plan to send to an agent.
That takes as much care as the novel itself.
Until next time—
What part of novel writing do you enjoy the most? If you are
not a writer, what part do you enjoy reading the most?