Tag: author

Lessons I Learned Writing My First Book, Part 1

My first book was quite the educational experience. There’s nothing quite like diving into a new challenge and learning as you go. It’s sink or swim, sometimes, and not knowing quite what you’re doing is as exhilarating as it is terrifying!

So, I’ve made it through, and looking back on the years-long trek, I realize that I actually may have learned a thing or two. Not just the technical aspects of writing, but general takeaways, as well. So, for all you fellow authors out there, and those of you who are thinking of entering the wonderful world of writing, here are my lessons learned from writing my first book.

First and foremost: Discipline. Writing takes effort. More than that, it takes the willingness to sit down and just do the work. It takes a willingness to push yourself beyond your boundaries, to organize a time that’s best for writing, and just do it. Dedication is a big part of being an author, because writing takes time, and time is precious, right? You got to be willing to make that sacrifice.

Writing also taught me perseverance. I felt like I was running a marathon when I was writing my book. It’s not a quick and easy thing when writing a book of any length. This isn’t a blog article or a social media post. I was in it for the long haul, and sometimes I just felt apathetic about what I was doing. I wondered if there was even a point to writing, if it would mean anything in the end. That’s when I had to roll up my sleeves and keep going. You got to be willing to motor on.

Thirdly, I learned patience. Writing takes lots and lots of patience. Whether words come easily to you when you write or not, the process is not necessarily a quick one. Maybe that first draft takes no time at all, but then you got to go back and revise. And revise again. And again. And then you get it read by beta readers. And by editors. And then you go back and write a new draft. You got to be willing to be patient to make your story the best it can be.

And finally, the hardest lesson of all: Humility. To be a published writer means putting your work – and yourself – out there for all to see. That makes you feel quite vulnerable at times. Putting out your book invites criticism and commentary, some positive, some not. When I first gave out drafts of my book to be read by others, I got a heaping helping of flaws and bad habits set down before me. It’s not pleasant, but it’s needed. You got to be willing to admit you’re not perfect and develop a tough skin to take necessary criticism.

That’s the quick summary. Over the next week or so, I’d like to dive deeper into each lesson and go into more detail about how I grew over the course of this book. I hope you all enjoy it!

The gods and beings of ancient myth never went away. They just moved on with the times.

My book, A God Walks up to the Bar, is currently available on Amazon.com. Venture into the world of the Greek god Hermes, a world filled with demigods, vampires, nymphs, ogres, magic, and trickery. It’s a tough job, being a god!

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My Book is Now Available!

Hello, all! My first book, A God Walks Up to the Bar, is now available for purchase on Amazon.com! This has been a long time in the making, and I am proud to share it with you all.

Thank you for your continued support of this blog and my writing, and for joining me on my writer’s journey. I hope that this book is but the first of many!

No Author is an Island

When I first started writing my book, I labored under a misconception. It was an easy mistake to make. I made an assumption about writing, one that, by all outward appearances, is apparently true. When you pick up a novel in the store, whose name do you see on it? The author’s. Maybe a few more names listed on the dedication page, a word of thanks to friends and family, but not much more. Oh, maybe the publishing company’s name, too, but that’s a business, not people. The writer is the one who gets the credit for the work.

As a self-publisher, I thought that writing was a one-person deal.

I am happy to say that I was very quickly proven wrong. Authors are not islands unto themselves, safely isolated from the hassle and responsibility of working with others, nor are they alone and dependent solely on their own skill and luck. Behind an author’s name are many, many other names, most of them willingly anonymous.

I wrote the book. Then I hired an editor to review my work. And I’ll contact an artist to create the book’s cover art. And then I’ll purchase my ISBN number and my business license so I can legally publish my work. And there is the commercial outlet through which my book is made available to the public. And yes, there are the friends and family who support me.

And let’s not forget the most important ones of all: the people who actually buy the book!

Even you, dear reader, are part of this process. Your very presence on this blog means that you’ve shown an interest in my work, maybe a passing interest, or maybe you’ll stick around for a while. Either way, you’re sharing in this journey alongside me. Interesting thought, isn’t it? No writer can truly say they made it by themselves. I find that oddly comforting. Writing isn’t lonely. It draws in folks who share a common interest and goal. It’s an unexpected side of the literary industry that I never expected, and I’m happy to have discovered it.

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So … What’s This All About?

It’s a question we all have from time to time. Why do we do the things we do? I’m not talking about jobs or chores. That’s just stuff that needs to be done. I’m talking about what we like to do. Why do you write? Why do you paint? Why do you fish? Why do you do yoga, or boxing or football?

It’s like the climber who was asked why he wanted to climb the mountain. “Because it’s there!” he replied. Well, while my answer isn’t quite as glib, I can sympathize with that sentiment.

Why am I pursuing a writing career?

I can’t claim to speak for everyone, but this is how I perceive it. The best way to describe it is an itch. I have to write. It’s a necessity. It’s a little nagging feeling in the back of my skull that can’t be ignored, and the alternative is … madness! Okay, okay, I exaggerate, but I’m not kidding when I say that the desire to create is very, very strong. I think everyone has a bit of it in themselves, whether they know it or not. We all want to look back at our lives and say, “Yeah, I did what I loved. I made something I’m proud of. I accomplished something that I value.” A 9-5 job may pay the bills and support a comfortable lifestyle, but that’s not everybody’s idea of fulfillment, is it?

When you have a good idea, a good story bubbling up inside you or a great masterpiece that you want to paint, or even if your dream is of the perfect fish to draw out of the lake or that Holy Grail of puzzles found in some hole-in-the-wall dollar store, then you have your goal. You pursue that goal. It makes life fun, don’t you think, having something to achieve? So, my goal is to publish good, entertaining stories. There you have it.

A tad melodramatic? Yeah, maybe. And if you’re thinking, “Gee, you kind of sound like you’re describing an addiction,” then don’t get me wrong. It’s not that kind of tyrannical need that bullies you into submission. It’s a passionate need, an act of joy. And hey, if I’m going to write, I might as well as write for an audience, yeah? Where’s the fun in creating if you can’t share it with others?

Which is where this website comes in. I’m just getting started , so things are a little spartan around here at the moment. But it’ll grow. I’ll publish stories and trace my writer’s journey through this blog. I hope you’ll tag along for the ride.