Things That Happened When I Started To Write A Novel

The first time I sat down to write a novel, I didn’t know what to expect. All I knew was that I wanted to tell stories and be able to share my words with the world. As an indie author, it can be difficult sometimes, but it is also amazing.

The moment when you have finished writing your first draft is magical; a feeling of accomplishment unlike any other comes over you and makes you feel unstoppable! Below are things that happened when I started writing – some good, some bad (but mostly good).

How to Write a Book: 13 Steps From a Bestselling Author

Key Takeaways
Embracing the journey of writing a novel can lead to transformative experiences and personal growth.
Challenges and obstacles are a natural part of the process, but they can be overcome with determination and perseverance.
Writing can serve as a powerful means of self-expression and a way to explore your thoughts and emotions.
The act of writing consistently can result in improved writing skills, a stronger creative voice, and a deeper connection to your craft.
Connecting with a community of fellow writers can provide valuable support, inspiration, and a sense of belonging on your writing journey.

Table of Contents

The Panic And Excitement Of Starting A Novel

Let’s get one thing straight: it’s okay to be scared.

You may be scared of the blank page, but you should also be excited about writing something you want to write and sharing it with others.

That said, there are a few things that will happen when you start writing your first novel.

You’ll feel like no one will ever read what you’ve written because the content is so personal or silly or just plain bad (even if it isn’t).

Don’t worry I promise you people will read it! When they do and they tell you how much they enjoyed reading your book, don’t forget to thank them for taking time out from their busy lives to read something that was written by someone else who has nothing going on other than being lazy all day long (besides being an author).

Facing writer’s block or hurdles in your creative process? Discover effective strategies in our guide on How I Keep Going When My Novel Writing Hits a Wall to overcome obstacles and keep your writing momentum.

The Power Of The Blank Page

The first thing you will notice as a writer is that there is a blank page waiting for you to fill it with words. This can be intimidating, and it can also be exciting in fact, it’s both. There are so many stories in your head that have yet to come out into the world!

You start writing one down, but then another idea pops into your head, and then another and another until all of them are fighting for space on that one single page.

This might sound confusing or even scary at first (especially if you’re used to being able to type quickly).

But think about what happens when someone throws a bunch of clothes onto their bed before going through them and seeing which ones still fit/don’t fall apart after being worn once/make them look like an idiot:

They get sorted into piles based on their usefulness or lack thereof in case anyone wants something from those piles later down the line (and they usually do).

The same thing happens when we write things down; just because there isn’t necessarily any organization yet doesn’t mean there won’t be later this process gives birth both literally AND figuratively!

Embarking on a novel-writing journey? Our article on Top 10 Tips for the Aspiring Novel Writer offers valuable insights to help you navigate the challenges and excel in your writing endeavors.

Excitement!

The first emotion I experienced when I started writing a novel was excitement!

I felt that thrill of starting a new project, that rush of seeing the blank page and knowing you can fill it up with your words. It’s kind of like getting a new notebook for school and filling up every inch of it with doodles, drawings, and notes.

You know there is so much room left for more! And then when you type something into your computer, it feels even better because you see those words pop up on the screen (much like when you write in pencil then erase and rewrite over again).

The most exciting part comes when you begin to see your story come to life. When I decided to start writing my novel, it took me several months just to figure out what my main characters would look like – what color are their eyes?

How tall or short are they? What do they wear? This process was so exciting because I could finally picture them in my head as real people!

And the best part is that once they were created in my mind’s eye – they never changed! They stayed exactly how I envisioned them from the beginning til the end!

The Thrill Of Seeing Your Words On Screen

Seeing your words on a screen is a thrill. Not only is it proof that you’re writing something, but it also gives you confidence that the story will eventually come together. When I finished my first draft and opened up the file, I let out an audible “Woohoo!”

The feeling was so similar to when I wrote my name in cursive for the first time as a child challenging yet exciting and rewarding at the same time.

It may seem silly, but seeing your name in print on your book cover is an amazing feeling too!

Even if no one else sees it, knowing that somewhere out there exists an item with your name printed on it gives me a rush of happiness each time I open my laptop case or look at my shelf.

Starting your novel-writing journey? Learn from our insights in 12 Things I Wish I’d Known Before Writing My Novel to better prepare yourself for the challenges and surprises that come with crafting a story.

Attempting To Write One Chapter A Week, No Matter What

There’s a reason why this is the first step in most writing programs. It’s because it works, and it’s incredibly important for new writers to get used to the idea that they have to show up every day and make progress on their work no matter what.

This can be difficult at first, but I promise if you follow through with this method then you will start feeling more comfortable with your writing routine pretty quickly.

The Sheer Terror Of What You’re Attempting

Writing a novel is scary.

It’s like you have this secret, and you have to keep it from everyone in your life even if they see you working on it.

You’re terrified that someone will find out how much time you spend alone, staring at the computer screen, typing away endlessly. And what if they judge your work? What if they think it’s just plain awful?

You may be wondering: Why would anyone want to write something that scares them so much? Because writing a novel has always been my dream.

My goal wasn’t to be famous or make money with my writing I just wanted to write something good enough for other people to read and enjoy.

As soon as I started working on my book (which will remain unnamed), I felt another kind of fear emerge: The sheer terror of trying something new and failing miserably at it!

This was especially true since I had never written anything longer than five pages before this point in time (and those stories were usually very short).

I’m Not Sure If The Baby Is Crying Or If It’s Just Me

I’m not sure if the baby is crying or if it’s just me. I hear the cries, but my brain isn’t so sure they’re coming from her.

Maybe it’s just a bird outside or a car driving by, but maybe it’s also what I’m writing. Or maybe she is crying and this is how she communicates with me. I can’t tell anymore all sounds are jumbled together in my head as I try to write without being interrupted by my child’s needs.

This can be frustrating when you have only one hour of sleep before having to get up for work and care for your family members.

Maintaining your creative spark is essential for any writer. Explore practical tips in our article on How to Stay Inspired as a Writer to keep your passion alive and infuse your work with fresh ideas.

Managing The Work-Life Balance

Writing a novel is a huge commitment. It’s going to take some adjustments in your life, and you should be prepared for that.

You might have to work extra hours at your day job or make some big changes in how you spend your time outside of work. But if you want to write a novel, then I’m sure you’ll find a way to make it work!

Writing is an amazing experience, but having other parts of your life going well can help keep things balanced and keep the joy of writing alive. Here are some tips on managing the balance between writing and other aspects of life:

Make time for family and friends
Set aside time for yourself

Hitting Halfway – And Beyond

If you’ve been following my writing journey, you know that I started a novel a few months ago. It was an intimidating task, but I felt like it was something I had to do.

I wanted to write something meaningful and tell my story in a new way that would resonate with those who have lived through similar experiences as me (and for so many others who haven’t).

The idea of sitting down and starting a project like this can be overwhelming at first glance. It is important to find motivation from within yourself and recognize your drive before setting out on the journey.

In terms of writing halfway through your book, several things are happening:

You’re in it now, there’s no turning back.

When you write a novel, you can’t undo what you’ve written. I know this because I tried. As I read through the first chapter of my work in progress, I realized that there were many places where it could be improved upon.

So, instead of just editing it as an amateur writer would do and hoping for the best, I thought about what the real experts would do:

They would start over from scratch with a new idea and make sure everything lined up perfectly before beginning to write anything else.

They wouldn’t let their characters talk about things that hadn’t happened yet because it will confuse readers who haven’t read all of your books/movies/TV shows/etc… (even though most readers don’t care about such things).

They wouldn’t have any extraneous dialogue or descriptions because those take away from important backstory information which might not even be relevant later on anyway (and who are we kidding? It won’t).

Writing At Every Opportunity

The most important part of writing a novel is that you do it. You have to write every chance that you get, even if it means writing when you don’t feel like it, or only have a few minutes here and there.

I found that whenever I had nothing left to say in my book, I would jump online and start looking at different blogs about writing or books about writing novels.

If you want to be an author and write your novel someday, then stop reading this article right now and start typing!

Guiding aspiring writers on their journey? Share the power of inspiration through our Teaching Story to Inspire Your Beginning Writers and help them find their creative voices with confidence.

Getting Up Before Dawn To Write

You may have heard that the early bird gets the worm, but I believe it’s more accurate to say that the writer who starts first wins.

Here are some tips for getting started early:

Set up your writing space and set aside time each day for your novel. Your writing area should be free of distractions, so turn off your phone, shut down Facebook, and put away any other distractions before you start working on your novel.

Give yourself enough time to write without rushing or being distracted by anything else; this could mean blocking off an hour or two at a time or making sure you don’t schedule anything after work until after you’ve written something substantial.

Stay motivated by looking forward to finishing what you started when inspiration strikes later in the day which can happen at any time!

Night Time Writing Is Easier On The Soul But Harder On The Eyes

There are a few things that I had to adjust to when I started writing at night. Some of them were pretty obvious, but others surprised me.

One thing that I didn’t realize until I started writing in the evening was how much more difficult it would be for my eyesight to see everything clearly while writing.

The screen is the most obvious problem: it’s difficult to see in general, and even harder if you don’t have proper lighting around your computer. The keyboard and mouse pad are also hard to look at because they’re so shiny!

They reflect light like crazy and make it hard for me to focus on what’s happening on the screen itself. If you’re going to write at night (and who wouldn’t want all those extra hours?), then get some good lighting for yourself so your eyes don’t hurt from squinting too much!

It’s Like A Little Miracle When You Read A Sentence Out Loud And It Sounds Ok

The first time you read a sentence out loud, it can sound like a recipe for disaster:

Get two cups of flour and mix well with eggs. Add some salt and add enough water to make dough. Make sure not to overmix the dough or it will become too tough!

Knead the dough until smooth and then let it rise for several hours before baking at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes or until golden brown on top.

Knowing that friends and family are reading your novel as you go along gives you an extra boost to get going – no excuses!

Another thing that happened when I started to write a novel? Knowing that friends and family were reading my work as I went along gave me an extra boost to get going.

There Are No Excuses For Not Writing As Long As Someone Is Waiting For Your Next Chapter

Writing a book is hard work and can be very isolating, so it’s great to have people who are counting on you to keep their interest up, even if they don’t know the first thing about storytelling (I mean, they love your stories anyway!).

I Know I Can Do This Because I Am Doing It!

You can do it. You have to have faith in yourself, but the more you write, the better you will get at it. The more you write, the better your writing becomes.

When I was younger I was always scared of things that I wasn’t good at or had never done before because I didn’t think I could do them or didn’t know how to do them.

But now that I am a grown adult who has lived on this planet for 15 years and written 4 books (that’s right 4), there are no more excuses!

I know this is all very standard advice, but having grown up with anxiety and insecurity issues because of my past failures and mistakes makes me want to shout into the internet “YOU CAN DO IT!”

Conclusion

Writing a novel can be a scary thing for many people. It’s like diving into the unknown, but with no life jacket. You’re going over the edge and hoping you don’t hit any rocks on the way down!

But when I started writing my first book, everything changed. It turned out that something was amazing waiting for me at the bottom of this new journey…

FAQs

What are the benefits of writing regularly?

Regular writing enhances your creativity, boosts your writing skills, and allows you to develop a consistent writing voice.

How can I overcome writer’s block?

Writer’s block can be overcome by trying different writing prompts, taking breaks, changing your environment, and experimenting with new writing techniques.

How do I stay motivated during the novel-writing process?

Staying motivated requires setting achievable goals, finding sources of inspiration, and reminding yourself of the reasons you started writing in the first place.

How do I manage my time effectively as a writer?

Time management involves creating a writing schedule, prioritizing tasks, minimizing distractions, and setting aside dedicated writing periods.

What should I do if I feel stuck in my story’s plot?

If you’re stuck in your plot, consider brainstorming alternative scenarios, seeking feedback from peers, or temporarily stepping away from the project to gain fresh perspectives.

Costantine Edward

Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.