Wait, so you're writing a novel?!
Yes, I am writing a novel! Often that initial question leads to a number of follow-up queries about the book and what I'm up to these days, so I thought I'd collect them in one place.
Imagine this as a question and answer-style interview with myself about this book — an FAQ Q&A of sorts. Here goes:
Question: So you're writing a novel?
Answer: I am!
Question: Wow, that's so cool. So... what is your book about?
Answer: Hmmm, how to answer that? I don't want to give away too many details about the plot, but I will say that it's a high-octane action-thriller with some grounded sci-fi elements. It's sort of high-concept, I guess.
Question: High-concept? Does that mean that things explode?
Answer: If I were being honest, I'd say that the book is really more mid-concept, if that were an actual thing, than strictly high-concept. The novel explores the psychological complexities of its characters and hopefully the characters grow and change over time.
Question: But... there are still explosions, right?
Answer: You and the explosions! I guess so.
Question: [Tense silence.]
Answer: Sorry. Um, yeah, things go boom.
Question: Sigh. How long did it take you write the book?
Answer: Well, I'm still writing it. Or, technically, I guess I'm rewriting it now. I'm almost done with my third draft.
Question: Does that mean you've already finished two drafts?
Answer: Yes, I'm nearing the end of writing the third draft. I'm currently going through the manuscript with a fine-toothed comb one last time. So it's not done just yet!
Question: How long did it take you to write the first draft?
Answer: I wrote the first draft pretty quickly, in about six weeks, working two to three days a week and writing for a few hours at a time.
Question: That seems really fast! Is that fast?
Answer: I guess it is? However, I've always been a speedy writer. I wrote the first 30 pages on my first day. All in one go, without standing up from the computer.
Question: Wow, that's kind of intense. Is that a typical pace then for you?
Answer: I always try to write a chapter or two (or three) each day. I don't believe in self-censoring. I just write — I don't agonize over every single word or description on the first draft. I think it's key to get it on paper and then you can always go back and improve it. Some days, I'd write 30 pages in one go and other days it might only be 10 or 15 pages or I'd take a deep dive into a chapter from the day before and really rework it. I tried not to think about it in terms of pages or specific goals like that.
Question: Still, that seems pretty fast. Was this an idea you had been thinking about for a long time then?
Answer: Not at all! It was an idea that came to me one day. I just fell in love with the concept and really wanted to tell this story and bring these characters to life. There were a few specific scenes that played in my head so vividly; it was about crafting a story that fulfilled the promise of those initial dreams.
I printed out the second draft of my manuscript a few weeks back. Yes, that is a lot of paper. A lot.
Question: So what's your writing process then?
Answer: Basically, I start each day by reading what I wrote the day before. Then I tweak it as much as I feel it needs to be at this stage before moving on to write something new. Now that I'm in the rewriting/self-editing phase, that means going back through what I've written and really cutting and expanding where I need to and taking a more holistic look at the work. Oh, and I always edit on paper with a pen.
Question: How long is the book?
Answer: Right now, it's clocking in at a little over 85,000 words.
Question: Is that a lot?
Answer: Well, it's recommended that a first novel be around 80,000 words so it's in the sweet spot for a novel of its sort. If that's difficult to visualize, it's 330 pages in manuscript form.
Question: So what's the next step with this book then?
Answer: Once I finish this pass, I need to start to send out the manuscript to agents.
Question: Oh, so you don't have an agent yet?
Answer: No, not yet. I really wanted the manuscript to be as close to perfect as it could be before I started to submit it to agents. Hopefully, a literary agent will want to represent me and take it out to publishers for consideration.
Question: And then what?
Answer: Hopefully, it will get published. Fingers crossed, anyway.
Question: Is that the end result then?
Answer: Well, partially... This story would also make for a really great big-budget movie, should a studio want to develop it and purchase the rights.
Question: Ooh, that's sort of exciting! Are you excited by that?
Answer: Let's just wait and see. First things first.
Question: Are you going to write another book then after you finish this one?
Answer: Let's not get ahead of ourselves! I do have some other ideas for books, both fiction and non-fiction, that I'd love to sink my teeth into. If this book is successful, I'd also love to revisit these characters again.
Question: Oh, so there might be more with these characters?
Answer: Hmmm. I'll be definitive: It's intended to be the first book in a trilogy featuring the two main characters.
Question: Wow, that's awesome! You're sure can't tell me what this book is about? Not even a hint?
Answer: No hints for now. I will say that it's unlike what I had envisioned that I would write (if you had told me that I would have written a book), and it's been such a joyful process to fall in love with these characters and watch them come to life on the page.
Question: Do you have any advice to give other people out there who might want to write a novel?
Answer: Just write. Every day. Even if it's just a sentence. And write for yourself: write something that you would want to read.