Coming Out of the Writing Closet

I have a confession.  It’s a deep, dark secret that I haven’t really talked about here before.

I am writing a book.

Yes, you heard me right.  I’m just over 30,000 words into my first draft of a young adult novel about a girl who doesn’t know she’s a witch.

Please don’t laugh too hard, okay? :)

I’ve been writing fiction for about a year and a half.  I haven’t mentioned it because saying that I’m writing a novel is like saying that I’m going to climb Mount Everest.  Lots of people SAY they’re going to do it, and some people try to do it, but very few are successful.  As someone who doesn’t have the greatest track record at finishing things I start, I don’t think I was convinced I’d really ever actually finish the book.  Yet here I am, telling you I’ve written thirty thousand (!!!!) words, and I really think I can finish it.  It may even be a halfway decent read when it’s done.

Writing a novel is a lot harder than I thought it would be.  I love the process, but there are days when it’s just excruciating.  I regularly doubt my concept, my plot and my writing skills.  There are days when eking out even 250 words feels like the hardest thing I could ever do, because every word I write feels wrong.  But there are also days when the writing feels really right, and the characters surprise me, and I surprise myself.

I have pledged over at Jo Knowles’ LiveJournal that 2011 will be my Year of Being a Writer, and I have pledged on Kaz Mahoney’s blog to write at least 250 words daily, so I’ve got a lot of writing to do!  I’m not the fastest writer in the world (I just might be be slowest), but I’m pushing on and loving it, even on the really hard days.

Whoa.  Feels good to get that out there.  Thanks for not laughing too much. :)

6 Comments

Join the discussion and tell us your opinion.

Wander Girl
January 6, 2011 at 5:46 pm

Thanks Katie!

KB/KT Grant
January 6, 2011 at 4:31 pm

Good for you! You’ve accomplished more than some people do in their lifetime.

Pat yourself on your back.

agay
June 12, 2011 at 7:32 am

i don’t believe in coincidence.

right now, i am planning to write a YA novel (my first attempt), and i thought of the title “Wandergirl.” so i googled the title, thinking there might be a YA novel out there with the same name. then i chanced upon your blog and saw this entry.

so i just want to say: yes! you’re meant to write that novel.

and yes, i was meant to discover this blog to inspire me :-) thank you!

Wander Girl
June 12, 2011 at 10:27 pm
– In reply to: agay

Glad I could inspire you, and thanks for the support.

Keep writing!

Amy Baskin
October 15, 2011 at 10:13 pm

Keri, that’s awesome. I just read your first 25 pages and cruised on over here to check out your blog, because I liked what you wrote so much. Looking forward to meeting you.

Wander Girl
October 23, 2011 at 1:52 pm
– In reply to: Amy Baskin

Thanks so much! I’m looking forward to reading your pages too, and meeting you at the retreat. :)