Confessions of a Nervous Novelist

Bit of a different blog this week as there is not a book review in sight. Now before you turn away in your droves to read your latest book rather than my blog, I am taking a week out to talk about my first venture into writing a novel.

Despite the title of the blog this is not going to be a 50 Shades of Grey type effort, nor even 1 shade or even a little hint of anything grey, it is a look at my journey so far and what led me to this place of telling the world about my endeavours to write the next best selling book. Ok, maybe I'm a little ahead of myself here, so I'll tone it down a bit and say write a novel. Right, are we all on the same page here, or the same paragraph at least.  Let the ramblings begin. What do you mean I am rambling already? All right I'll give you that one.

For some time now I have had the idea for a novel kicking around in my head, but have never really done anything about it, or even thought about doing anything with it. One day, Christian writer Amy Boucher Pye was on a radio show talking about all things to do with books, and was taking questions. I rang up to ask a question, not expecting to get through, and the next thing I knew I was on the radio and talking to her. Now it is a good job I am not really that nervous (more about that later), so I mustered up all my courage and asked her what advice she would give to an aspiring writer. Her suggestions, were do it, write, write, write and had I thought about doing NaNoWriMo Luckily for me she went on to explain that this is National Novel Writing Month which happens twice a year and you pledge to write so many words per day which takes you up to 50,000 words over the month. So being the take the life by the horns and do it straight away type of girl, I promptly mulled it over for a few months.

The next NaNoWriMo is in November so I had to make a decision as to what I should do. In September I registered on the site and then as October hit, I really had to make a decision as to what I was going to do. I prayed about it and it would seem God appeared silent. However, I think God answered in his own way as I got a stronger and stronger feeling that now was the time to do it. I'm not saying God told me to write this novel, but he certainly hasn't convinced me that it is the wrong thing to do.

At the moment I am busy planning my novel, thinking about plot, character development, back stories and all the other things which need to be clear in my mind. As November approaches I am getting nervous (see I told you we would return to that), and I think my journey is more than a little scary. But I am also excited and ready for the challenge. I wasn't going to tell anyone that I was writing the book, but I am told by a lot of people much more experienced than I that I should do so. I have therefore told everyone I know, what I am doing and hence the blog. I am asking everyone to support me and keep me going if I falter, as it would be so easy to fall by the wayside. I certainly don't intend or even want to do this, but I am told that it can be hard. If I seem like I'm faltering cheer me on, as this is my own little marathon.

What's that you say? This is all very well, but what's the book about. Sorry I nearly forgot about that part. Well it is a murder mystery/Police Procedural/Thriller set in Dundee, where I live, and will be suitable for all audiences. That's the plan at the moment anyway. I am told that novels and characters take on a life of their own when you start writing, so watch this space. I have been inspired by many different authors in my journey both Christian and secular. As regular readers of my blog know I am an avid reader and a great fan of Murder mysteries. Dundee has a literary event on at the moment and I am going to two events to meet three different authors. Two of these authors are Scottish crime writers and one sets her books in Dundee. What an opportunity. The other is bestseling romantic crime writer Karen Rose who is coming all the way from America. See I told you, my life and this journey are very exciting. As an aside one of the events has tea and scones with Jam and Cream thrown in. My three favourite things, books authors and food. This is the life.

It's great to have you along for the journey and I definitely don't feel so alone knowing how many people are rooting for me. I would like to finish by thanking Amy Boucher Pye for pointing me in the direction which kick started this journey. I will keep you updated as to how I am doing, but not too often. I don't want to bore you to tears before you get a chance to read my book. I will definitely let you know if and when the finished product is published.

Bye for now. Normal service will be resumed next week. Have a great week reading and enjoying life.