Thank you for sharing! I totally believe in focusing on enjoying the process – because as you said: then you are living your dream - you are writing novels!
I also completely understand the dream of having your book published and “out there”. I have been fortunate to have a non-fiction book published (much easier to write than fiction) but on my bucket list is also writing fiction and children’s books. But taking the time and not losing interest in the story are def big hurdles to get over. I look forward to continuing hearing about your writing journey 😍
That's exciting, that you want to dip your toe in fiction writing too! I write so much of the non fiction variety - content and copywriting - that I sometimes find it tricky to transform those writing skills into fiction. Do you find that too? It's like it's there, but I struggle with channeling it. It's a fun challenge though!
Yes I feel that too, it’s a completely different way of writing. I’m also much better at writing without initially being to self critical when I’m writing non fiction. With fiction I feel much more that every word and sentence is soooo important and finding that writing flow is harder. I have so much respect for anyone writing fiction, that’s for sure!
Have you read Writing Down the Bones? I discovered it last week and I’ve nearly finished reading it. It’s more about memoir like writing, but I think the exercises can be used for fiction writing too. It’s about freeing the writer within (as it says on the cover).
Thank you for sharing this Elin, I relate to a lot of your ups and downs. I'm also at a point in my writing journey where I'm questioning if writing books is my path. Something I've realised: the long years of trying to finish a draft, finally finishing the draft (YAY!), getting lost in the editing swamp (more years), querying agents and having my spirit crushed, self-publishing...it's led to a massive burnout.
Perhaps it's the same for you? Maybe as writers we need to give ourselves permission to not write, so that we can heal and replenish our creative well.
Thank you for sharing your journey of writing fiction! It's been really insightful and interesting to read through it. I've been working on a book project myself for years, as well. You don't really realise what a process writing a book is until you attempt to write one. My initial idea has transformed so much and I've had many attempts of re-writing it. At times, I've set specific deadlines for when I want it to be finished (at least the draft) but I've given up on that right now because I've acknowledged what a huge project it is. It's not something I can or want to give all of my energy right now. It feels like the book is still not quite ready to be written.
I love that you came to the conclusion, that you want to write a book for the sheer joy of it. I feel the same now. I don't want to get hung up over success or the final product itself. I want to write because of the whole journey around it.
Maybe it'll take me many more years to finish it, maybe even decades but that's okay because I'm in it for the process and for the love of writing.
So keep on going with your writing and focus on the joy. I am looking forward to hear more about your journey.
Thank you for sharing! I totally believe in focusing on enjoying the process – because as you said: then you are living your dream - you are writing novels!
I also completely understand the dream of having your book published and “out there”. I have been fortunate to have a non-fiction book published (much easier to write than fiction) but on my bucket list is also writing fiction and children’s books. But taking the time and not losing interest in the story are def big hurdles to get over. I look forward to continuing hearing about your writing journey 😍
That's exciting, that you want to dip your toe in fiction writing too! I write so much of the non fiction variety - content and copywriting - that I sometimes find it tricky to transform those writing skills into fiction. Do you find that too? It's like it's there, but I struggle with channeling it. It's a fun challenge though!
Yes I feel that too, it’s a completely different way of writing. I’m also much better at writing without initially being to self critical when I’m writing non fiction. With fiction I feel much more that every word and sentence is soooo important and finding that writing flow is harder. I have so much respect for anyone writing fiction, that’s for sure!
Have you read Writing Down the Bones? I discovered it last week and I’ve nearly finished reading it. It’s more about memoir like writing, but I think the exercises can be used for fiction writing too. It’s about freeing the writer within (as it says on the cover).
I have not! Will check it out, thanks for the tip :)
Thank you for sharing this Elin, I relate to a lot of your ups and downs. I'm also at a point in my writing journey where I'm questioning if writing books is my path. Something I've realised: the long years of trying to finish a draft, finally finishing the draft (YAY!), getting lost in the editing swamp (more years), querying agents and having my spirit crushed, self-publishing...it's led to a massive burnout.
Perhaps it's the same for you? Maybe as writers we need to give ourselves permission to not write, so that we can heal and replenish our creative well.
Thank you for sharing your journey of writing fiction! It's been really insightful and interesting to read through it. I've been working on a book project myself for years, as well. You don't really realise what a process writing a book is until you attempt to write one. My initial idea has transformed so much and I've had many attempts of re-writing it. At times, I've set specific deadlines for when I want it to be finished (at least the draft) but I've given up on that right now because I've acknowledged what a huge project it is. It's not something I can or want to give all of my energy right now. It feels like the book is still not quite ready to be written.
I love that you came to the conclusion, that you want to write a book for the sheer joy of it. I feel the same now. I don't want to get hung up over success or the final product itself. I want to write because of the whole journey around it.
Maybe it'll take me many more years to finish it, maybe even decades but that's okay because I'm in it for the process and for the love of writing.
So keep on going with your writing and focus on the joy. I am looking forward to hear more about your journey.