The 15-Month Journey
My Personal Path to FINALLY FINISHING My Novel
After nearly 14 years of abandoned drafts and unfulfilled aspirations, I finally completed my first novel.
This 15-month journey wasn't just about putting words on paper; it was a deep dive into self-discovery and developing a process that worked for me.
In this post, I want to share the personal insights and strategies that helped me achieve this long-held dream.
The Early Struggles
My initial attempts at novel writing were marked by haste and impatience.
I was seduced by the allure of guides promising a completed novel in 90 days or the frenzied pace of NaNoWriMo. However, these methods often led to sprawling, unmanageable drafts. The biggest revelation came when I realized the importance of understanding story fundamentals.
As a discovery writer, I found that without a solid grasp of story structure, my drafts turned into mountains too daunting to climb.
The 100-Story Challenge
The turning point was my self-imposed 100-Story Challenge.
This exercise involved writing and publishing a 100-word story every day. It wasn't just about overcoming the fear of sharing my work; it was a crash course in concise storytelling. This challenge taught me to distill my ideas into their essence, a skill invaluable for a novelist.
Feedback from readers during this challenge was crucial.
Their reactions helped me identify which stories resonated and deserved expansion. This process led to data-driven fiction – using audience feedback to guide my writing. It was an approach borrowed from my day job in product and service design, where user feedback is key.
I recommend this approach to all new writers.
The Role of Accountability
Another crucial element in my novel-writing journey was the role of accountability.
Early in the process, I set up a Patreon account and connected it with a community of writers I was already part of. To my surprise, some members joined to support me, including a real-life friend who subscribed to my highest tier. His support was particularly meaningful, as it stemmed from his enjoyment of the short story I had tested during the 100-Story Challenge.
This accountability became a driving force in my writing.
Knowing that there were people, both friends and fellow writers, eagerly awaiting each new chapter added a sense of responsibility and urgency to my work. Unlike some writers who might produce multiple chapters a week, my pace was more deliberate. Slow and steady, with an audience waiting, was the rhythm that worked for me.
This added pressure was not about speed; it was about consistency and commitment.
Each week, as I released a new chapter, I was not just fulfilling a promise to my readers, but also to myself. This sense of accountability was not just a motivator; it was a pillar of support that kept me going, ensuring that I reached the end of my 15-month journey.
Redefining My Routine
Balancing writing with a busy job and family life required a strategic overhaul of my daily routine.
I made hard choices, like cutting down on TV and adjusting my sleep schedule. Waking up at 5:30 am and dedicating that first quiet hour to writing became my new norm. This discipline was crucial in maintaining a consistent writing schedule.
Using my creative energy on my own work first.
I also learned the art of batching – focusing on one aspect of the writing process at a time, whether it was outlining, drafting, or refining. This method brought a certain efficiency and prevented the overwhelm that comes with multitasking. Or the efficiency of changing task in a linear process.
Embracing Storyboarding and Dictation
For complex scenes, particularly in the final chapters, I employed storyboarding.
This visual tool, another crossover from my professional life, helped me clarify action sequences and character movements. It ensured that my scenes were coherent and that my characters' actions were driven by skill rather than luck. I also experimented with dictation while walking, using storyboards as visual cues.
This method allowed me to use different parts of my brain simultaneously, aiding in a smoother creative process. All while getting out of my office and staying healthier. Taking care of my physical self, getting into the best shape of my life, is a major reason I developed the discipline I needed to finish.
You are the well all great stories come from. Take care of yourself.
Looking Ahead
As I embark on writing my second book, I plan to refine these techniques further. I'll focus on clarifying the theme from the start and creating a functional outline that aligns with classic storytelling archetypes. These steps will give me the confidence to continue as a discovery writer, knowing that the foundation of my story is solid.
Takeaways
My journey to completing a novel was not just about writing.
It was about finding a process that resonated with my lifestyle and creative instincts. It taught me the value of discipline, feedback, and adaptive strategies.
To my fellow writers, I say:
Understand your process, embrace your unique voice, and find the methods that work for you.
Remember, it's not about rushing to the finish line; it's about enjoying the journey and growing with every word you write.
And persistence over everything. Just keep going, find your pace and finish your marathon. The end time doesn’t matter.
And now without any further ado…
My Completed Novel: Slave to Memory
For a Limited Time Only
If you’d like to read the Early Access Edition, which is the serialised chapters collated with a initial front matter only. No polish edits. To see what an end result could look like for you, here you go.
Any feedback would be cherished — even if it’s just “I stopped here.” And I’m of course happy to be Beta Reader for anyone in our community.
Once that process is completed, I’ll remove this.
*Oh and yes, I designed my cover. But that’s another story for another day. And maybe even a service or magic scroll Marris sells in the Night Market.
Congratulations, Zane. And great cover. Lovin' the post-modern art deco type.