I finished the first draft of my novel shortly before
Easter. Writing a novel was a big leap
for me and it required time and focus.
One of the first things about writing a novel that I want to share with
you is this.
I began with a quote.
I do mean began, because the first thing I had to do was let my mind get
used to the idea of writing a novel. I’ve
misplaced the quote but it was from a mountain climber that even mountain
climbers hold in awe. So paraphrased, as
I remember the words, they are…I expanded my mind so that the unfeasible slowly
became within the realm of possibilities.
Maybe I could write a novel. I told myself that I had completed my
apprenticeship in writing with the short stories I have written. I told myself that my novel didn’t have to be
‘good’. I told myself that each portion
would be a small puzzle that I could solve.
The final expansion of my mind was to look about and see who had written
novels. If they could do it…
 |
| One of my winter visitors |
So can I! And I
did.
This is from Writing as a Sacred Path by Jill
Jepson. …about writers…”We turn every
action we take, every thought we have, every moment we live, into an education
about writing.” Writing the novel was an
education that I’m glad I took.
