Questions on Writing a Book?

Hey, Vocalites. Today I'm looking for some help in putting together a future article. I'm hoping this will reach the right audience...

I'm wrapping up the first round editing process for my debut novel (I should be done tonight, yay!), and I'm wondering if anyone has any questions about what the process has looked like for me so far.

Obviously, everyone is different, and everybody approaches writing differently, but I figure if I can answer some questions, it might make the topic a little more approachable for those of you who want to write a book, but don't know where to start.

I know that I was there once. I never considered myself a long-form writer. For the majority of my writing "career," I focused on short stories and poetry. Diving into a full-blown novel two years ago was an unexpected surprise, and I never thought I'd make it this far. There really were some points when I never thought I'd finish, and I'm proud of all that I've accomplished.

I understand the feeling that this task seems daunting, if not, impossible. I want to pull back the curtain and talk realistically about what it looks like to write a book from start to finish (at least from my perspective because, again, everybody is different and my way of doing things may not be everybody's cup of tea).

Some potential topics for discussion: idea generation, outlining (or not outlining...), writing your way out of a hole, plotting a cohesive story, the editing process, etc, etc. Really, anything you can think of, I'm open to answering, and no question is off-limits. I want to focus on my answers on things that would actually be helpful for the community, which is why I'm asking you all what you would like to know.

I will clarify, that questions will not be answered in the comments of this story, I will be reserving any answers for the future article I intend on writing. I figure that way, the answers will reach more people than just those who decide to peruse through the comments. I will also be crediting everyone who asks a question unless otherwise specified (ie. I will link your Vocal account in the article upon its publication). Just let me know if you're okay with that or not (ie. I can omit your account if needed). I want to give credit where credit is due because I'm aware that I can not write this article without the help of my peers.

I will clarify, that I'm not an expert. I do have two degrees in creative writing, but I am not a published author, and I have not been picked up by an agent or a publishing house (yet... keep your fingers crossed for me!).

What I can offer you is true, grassroots, book writing. I barely know what I'm doing, but I know more now than I knew two years ago, and I feel as though my perspective could be uplifting and motivating for people who have been in my position.

Writing a book is an arduous, thankless task with no promise of any kind of payout in the end. It's something to be done for the love of the craft, and it's a great mental exercise. It's taught me discipline, restraint, and resilience. It can be a bumpy road, and you might even drive yourself off a cliff in the process, but as long as you get back on track, it can be so rewarding. The feeling of finishing a draft is something that's indescribable, and I wish it for everybody who's ever wanted to try.

I am a writer with ADHD. I'm a person who starts a ton of projects and never finishes them. I am not a person with natural ability, I'm someone who has to work really hard to be good at what I do. That said, I think writing is for everybody who wants to write. You can teach yourself how to do anything without any formal training, and that's what I want to offer.

If this inspires you in any way, please leave any questions you may have about book writing in the comments below. I will be compiling an article with questions asked in the comments in the next segment of my "I wrote a book series."

You can read the previous parts of the series if so choose here:

Thank you for taking the time to read this article, and I appreciate any participation. Much love!

Edit: I just want to show how close I am to this feat (finishing round 1 of edits) real quickly now that I think about it... I've edited everything up to this point for spelling and grammar, now it's just about going back and adding where things are lacking to hit my word count... I am so stinking close!