Adventures of a New Novelist

Who are you?

What are you?

And, most importantly, why do you feel ashamed to call yourself a “novelist”?

It feels like a word meant for a choice few. Wearing high-necked shirts in dimly lit rooms, preferably smoky, definitely off limits to us. They have the ever elusive publishing deal. They are blurbed about by someone with clout. In most artistic endeavors the concept of imposter syndrome runs rampant. Why do I think that I can write this book? What makes me think that I have something new to say?

To give in to imposter syndrome is to go down a very dark rabbit hole. Our gifts, whether plentiful or slim, are still our gifts. Each individual person means a unique perspective. A perspective that no one can take away.

Yet as easy as it is to say, it is difficult to put into practice. Something that even seasoned writers would admit. At many times during the writing process, insecurity slides in like a veil, stifling the words from coming out. But I am a novelist! you say to the wind. You want it to be as easy as the jobs you have had in the past. But those jobs weren’t constantly shifting, were they? Inspiration to do your job wasn’t something that was ever-changing by the day. Now you wake up tired and sleep in instead. Then you wake full of energy but all you can do is write a sentence and delete it. But I am a… novelist? you begin to say now in the mirror. Your face doesn’t seem to believe you.

Part of you thinks that the only way you can write a book is if it is about not writing. Then it would be much easier. Right?

In the grand scope of work, I have done barely anything. I am very much not the guru when it comes to anything writing-related. I have many short stories to my name, hidden within folders on my computer. Among them are unfinished manuscripts of novels that may or may not ever be finished. I have nothing published or searchable on the world wide web. But what I do have is one finished first draft of a novel in which I have begun editing for the second draft. It was only at this point that I felt comfortable to call myself “novelist” because I could at least print the manuscript out—even if it is filled with plot holes and twists that don’t twist at all—and hold something that resembles an unbound book. It is all about finishing, isn’t it?

As large and small as you wish, as good or bad as it turns out to be, it is at the finish line where you can look back at your work and at least deem it done. For now. One of the hardest things to do is to eat your writing elephant one piece at a time. It all feels daunting. If you are writing five hundred words a day, how will you ever reach one hundred thousand? Especially if you aren’t someone who is very savvy when it comes to organization. How to break things into smaller chunks and make goals is one of the most difficult things to do when starting out.

I learned a lot from reading how other more established authors approach their writing. Some give themselves daily word counts, usually between one and three thousand words per day. Others, like the enigmatic V.E. Schwab, prefers to allot an amount of time per day to focus on writing or editing, or even just thinking about what to write. Whatever your goal is, you must make sure it is within your realm of capability. Make a goal and if it deems too difficult and, most importantly, too stressful (writing should be at least somewhat fun), then change it. Never be ashamed to start with small goals.

These are words from a beginning novelist (see, mom? I called myself a novelist). They won’t help everyone. Yet, getting all of your ideas from well-established and successful authors isn’t exactly the way to go. Those who are just starting out can help you learn how they are starting, too. You and other new writers can start a small community of writers who are trying to get their sea legs. Writing can seem like a crazy world, but nothing is as crazy as it could be when you have an eagerness, a plan, and a little encouragement.