What I've Learned After Writing Ten Books
Today was a big day.
I finished my tenth novel, ELLATHINA!
Even though it still has editing and proofreading to go through, the first draft is complete.
Writing one book isn't easy. Writing ten borders on insanity, but it is possible - especially if you're willing to put in the work and effort every day.
Let's take a look at all of the novels I've written:
THE GIRL WHO WALKED THROUGH FIRE: Book One of The Dragonwitch Chronicles. Young Adult Fantasy.
THE GIRL WITH THE INVINCIBLE BLOOD: Book Two of The Dragonwitch Chronicles.
THE GIRL AND THE SILVER MARK: Book Three of The Dragonwitch Chronicles.
THE DARK QUEEN: Book One of The Soulless Trilogy. (To be published next year!) Young Adult Fantasy.
THE DARK EVOLUTION: Book Two of The Soulless Trilogy.
THE DARK CAGE: Book Three of The Soulless Trilogy.
GENESIS HOTEL: Adult science fiction.
THE GIFT GIVER: Middle grade mystery.
COMING OF AGE: Young Adult science fiction. (And the beginning of a new series!)
And finally, ELLATHINA: Middle grade fantasy.
And ten isn't enough. I'm just getting started. I want to write different genres, too - like thriller, mystery, and adventure. Although I love science fiction and fantasy, sometimes you need to switch it up.
(Stay tuned for a future blog post on how to be a prolific writer! I'll share some tips about *how* I've written so many novels.)
In the meantime, I wanted to make a blog post to share what I've learned after writing ten novels:
1. No Two Novels Are Alike
You can't write two novels the same way. Each story is unique, and poses its own set of challenges and obstacles - whether it be dialogue, subplots, pacing, and so forth. There really isn't a strict set of rules to it. It's ever-changing.
*Writer's Block can be a real wrench in the road, but you must keep moving forward - even if it's slowly.
2. You Won't Run Out Of Ideas
A lot of writers fear that they'll only be able to write one book, or two or three. One day, they fear they'll run out of ideas completely. That's impossible. Stories beget more stories. Creativity only increases the more you use it - and like a muscle, it gets easier to flex as you train it.
3. Anyone Can Do It
No, seriously. I won't lie to you: it takes dedication, sacrifice, and strong willpower to stay sane through it all, but it's possible. I believe everyone has stories within them - multiple stories, in fact. Commit to writing one novel in a set amount of time and go from there.
4. It's A Journey
You'll learn a lot about yourself writing a novel. You'll see facets of your personality that you didn't even know existed. As writers, we have a tendency to put our souls into our stories. You may be surprised at what comes out - so be warned. It's really a journey of self-discovery.
5. It's Rewarding
Nothing compares to the feeling of accomplishment after writing "The End". Holding your first draft in your hands, knowing how much energy you've put into it, is truly indescribable.
For the people who have never written a book, I hope you do. It's a fun experience - even though it has its challenges. I guarantee you won't regret it.
And who knows? Your hobby could turn into something much bigger!
Here's to great storytelling - and many, many more novels.
Sincerely,
Dana
I finished my tenth novel, ELLATHINA!
Even though it still has editing and proofreading to go through, the first draft is complete.
Writing one book isn't easy. Writing ten borders on insanity, but it is possible - especially if you're willing to put in the work and effort every day.
Let's take a look at all of the novels I've written:
THE GIRL WHO WALKED THROUGH FIRE: Book One of The Dragonwitch Chronicles. Young Adult Fantasy.
THE GIRL WITH THE INVINCIBLE BLOOD: Book Two of The Dragonwitch Chronicles.
THE GIRL AND THE SILVER MARK: Book Three of The Dragonwitch Chronicles.
THE DARK QUEEN: Book One of The Soulless Trilogy. (To be published next year!) Young Adult Fantasy.
THE DARK EVOLUTION: Book Two of The Soulless Trilogy.
THE DARK CAGE: Book Three of The Soulless Trilogy.
GENESIS HOTEL: Adult science fiction.
THE GIFT GIVER: Middle grade mystery.
COMING OF AGE: Young Adult science fiction. (And the beginning of a new series!)
And finally, ELLATHINA: Middle grade fantasy.
And ten isn't enough. I'm just getting started. I want to write different genres, too - like thriller, mystery, and adventure. Although I love science fiction and fantasy, sometimes you need to switch it up.
(Stay tuned for a future blog post on how to be a prolific writer! I'll share some tips about *how* I've written so many novels.)
In the meantime, I wanted to make a blog post to share what I've learned after writing ten novels:
1. No Two Novels Are Alike
You can't write two novels the same way. Each story is unique, and poses its own set of challenges and obstacles - whether it be dialogue, subplots, pacing, and so forth. There really isn't a strict set of rules to it. It's ever-changing.
*Writer's Block can be a real wrench in the road, but you must keep moving forward - even if it's slowly.
2. You Won't Run Out Of Ideas
A lot of writers fear that they'll only be able to write one book, or two or three. One day, they fear they'll run out of ideas completely. That's impossible. Stories beget more stories. Creativity only increases the more you use it - and like a muscle, it gets easier to flex as you train it.
3. Anyone Can Do It
No, seriously. I won't lie to you: it takes dedication, sacrifice, and strong willpower to stay sane through it all, but it's possible. I believe everyone has stories within them - multiple stories, in fact. Commit to writing one novel in a set amount of time and go from there.
4. It's A Journey
You'll learn a lot about yourself writing a novel. You'll see facets of your personality that you didn't even know existed. As writers, we have a tendency to put our souls into our stories. You may be surprised at what comes out - so be warned. It's really a journey of self-discovery.
5. It's Rewarding
Nothing compares to the feeling of accomplishment after writing "The End". Holding your first draft in your hands, knowing how much energy you've put into it, is truly indescribable.
For the people who have never written a book, I hope you do. It's a fun experience - even though it has its challenges. I guarantee you won't regret it.
And who knows? Your hobby could turn into something much bigger!
Here's to great storytelling - and many, many more novels.
Sincerely,
Dana
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