The Challenge

So I've decided to challenge myself. Seven years ago I came up with an idea for a novel, I was looking for a job and needed something to fill my days between sending out resumes and twiddling my thumbs waiting for the phone to ring. The story just came to me, I was reading a paranormal mystery and thinking, "I can do this", so I did.

It started out as a vague idea of a story, then it just kept flowing out of me and I just kept writing it down. Before I knew it I had a very basic twenty-one chapter outline for a book. I started doing research online of locations and history, character names and murder plots. It slowly started coming together and I felt like I was accomplishing something in my mundane existence. Then I got the call, an interview at last. Then I got the job offer and snatched it up faster than a cat pouncing on your head at 5am on a Saturday morning (I had five cats at the time). And the book just stopped. Life just got in my way, and my idea was left unrealized.

I thought about it over the years, but never put in any time or effort to really work on it. I had a job with a real income, my marriage fell apart, then we reconciled (or so I thought), broke up, bought a house that required a complete gutting and overhaul, reconciled again, got pregnant with my son, threw my husband out, had my son...and so and and so on. Life just sort of does that.

Fast forward to the present. My son is turning three, I'm almost done with the projects in my house, I'm in a job that is okay and basically pays the bills, but I'm not doing what I really want. Don't get me wrong, I have it a lot better than most. I have a great supervisor and I genuinely like the majority of my co-workers, and I get to be creative with my job. I started out doing student support, then started helping out with graphic design (which is what my degree is in), and now I'm working on the events/media committee. I handle all the visual communications for the school I work in, help coordinate our events and I've just sent off a book cover design for a custom text that is being published. I have a lot going for me and I have a lot of good ideas to make my job and the procedures in the school more effective. I'm also working on my second degree in anthropology and religious studies (one of the perks of working at a university). But it's still not my passion. I want more.

So why a book? Why not? It lets me be creative and create my own world. But do I actually have any "real" writing experience? Not really, just a few short stories I've written in my English classes (all of which received A's I might add and the praise of my professors for their originality). But I really think I can do this, just look at J.K. Rowling and Stephanie Meyer. If they could do it, why can't I?

It's a new project that I'm excited about, and I'm actually working on it. So far I've taken my sketchy outline and started summarizing my chapters. I've added a lot and changed around some of the scenes to fit what is currently selling in the market. I've snatched up books by authors on the bestsellers list in my genre to see how they're doing it. I've joined a couple of writer's associations with good recommendations and offer assistance with finding agents and editing my manuscript. I've looked at all sorts of "tips and tricks" for new authors. I've set up a Facebook page so my friends can see what I'm writing and give me pointers and comments. And yes, I realize that one must have a thick skin when taking the criticism of others, but I'm ready for it. If I can handle people telling me that my designs suck, I suppose I can handle the same with my writing. But I know that the criticism's will only help me make my novel great and eventually get it published. And I have some English major friends who are more than happy to help me with the initial edits before I actually send anything to an agent for review. I know I can do this, and I will.

So now I've given myself a deadline. The unedited version of chapter one must be online and ready for friendly (or not so friendly) review in July. I only plan on posting my first three chapters though, these are the most important because agents typically ask for the first three chapters of your book when they review your proposal, that is if you get past the initial query review. If my adoring friends and fans want to read the rest, they'll just have to buy my book :-)

So to all of the newbie and wanna be authors out there, just start writing, and keep writing, and don't listen to anyone who says you can't do it; they're probably just jealous that they didn't come up with the idea themselves.