One Day I Decided to Write a Novel

Ok, so one day I decided to write a novel. Yes, it happened that quickly. I’ve always been a reader (I could read when I started kindergarten) and I love books. Just love them!

We’ve all had that one reading experience where we didn’t finish the book. The dreaded DNF. But for some reason, the last time I experienced it I thought: “I can write better than that.” So, thank you to the author and publisher of that book, and honestly, I can’t remember the title or name of anyone connected with it but thank you because you inspired me to begin writing.

I’ve always created stories but kept them in my head like delicious little secrets. My stories were fluid, they were quick-silver, and they changed and flowed each time I re-lived them. I thought if I wrote them down, they would become less fluid, less magical, less mine. I know now that writing does the opposite. It gives stories their voice and releases them into the world where they can grow and thrive.

So, I decided to write a novel. It had to be a horror novel, there really was no other choice. Growing up in a haunted lodge and having dozens of paranormal experiences, what else could I write? I can remember back in third grade when we could buy little chapter books through a school program…can’t remember the name of the program but it was fantastic! Two things were certain back then. One: my stack of books would always be the largest, and two: most of those books would be about ghosts, monsters or other creepy subjects. Thank you, mom and dad, for funding my obsession. 

There’s just one catch. I have to learn how to write. I’m in my 60s and school was a long time ago. Thank goodness for the internet with all its wisdom. And for things that seem to happen just when they’re needed, like the writers' workshop in my town not long after I decided to start writing. I attended all the sessions I could and loved every minute of it. I’m still learning with each word I write and decided to branch out and write a few short stories as ‘practice pieces.’ Is my writing better than the book I didn’t finish reading? My inspiration? Probably not. But it will be, eventually. I can be tenacious if I want to be.

So, I decided to write a novel. It’s an opportunity for learning, growth and creative expression that I want to share that just as much as the finished book. I hope you’ll follow along as I flounder my way to publishing this masterpiece in my head. I can’t promise that it’s going to be a life changing, profound experience but it’ll be a fun one. I think I can guarantee a laugh or two along the way. Slapstick does make a nice balance to horror, don’t you think?