30 Things I Learned From Writing A Novel in 30 Days

30. This night owl can actually start her day at 5 AM (in case you didn’t know that AM means IN THE MORNING!) I cannot, however, end my same day by staying up late. I flip-flopped throughout the month of November between early mornings and late evenings. I liked them equally.

29. It is true that when you write fiction your characters will at times take on a life of their own. They may cuss, make stupid mistakes, flashback to some childhood memory you didn’t even know they had or say something that makes you, the author, laugh out loud. It’s weird, but it really does happen.

28. The Master Creator (aka God) shows up when we as artists create. He meets us on the page, (or on the canvas or on the guitar strings, etc). And when He shows up, something amazing happens. Things flow. Your hands move by a power not your own. A bigger, more glorious power. You realize you are but just an instrument and creating, in these moments, becomes effortless.

27. When it feels like the Master Creator (aka God) does not show while we are creating, we just keep creating anyway. And after 1000 completely hideous words of monologue from your main character, out of nowhere will burst this golden 500 words of sheer beauty. Sometimes you just write crap so you can get to the 500 of words of sheer beauty.

26. To be a writer you just start writing and then you keep writing everyday until you’re done writing. I know, it’s crazy, but it really is as simple (and as hard) as that.

25. There are times where life circumstances are more important than your deadlines, your goals, your achievements. There were a few days during the month of November, where I could sense God saying, “You won’t get to write today. Today you’ll rest.” Or “Today you’ll just take care of and be with family.” I was surprised how willing I was to trust God through that and not freak out over a day skipped. Each day skipped put me 1600 words behind. But inevitably, I would get other golden pockets of time to make up my word loss. I had to bend with the ebb and flow of life.

24. Having an impending deadline made me wildly more focused and productive. I know that when November 1 hit I was going to have to focus all of my free time on writing. I would not get to sew or paint or design or read or blog. Every ounce of creative energy had to go towards the novel. Due to this, I got so much done the last few weeks of October. I painted, I made baby gifts, I stocked my Etsy store, I finished reading books, I planned and organized the extra details of November. I was amazed how much I was able to crank through. All because I had a deadline.

23. God used my characters to teach me stuff about myself that I really needed to know. Even though I was writing the words, they were teaching me. How does this happen!?

22. Finishing the book kind of felt anti-climactic. It wasn’t as nearly as breath-taking as getting up the guts to start it. And since I was in the weeds of it each day, and NEVER re-reading anything I had written from the day prior, it felt like a big blur. At times, it doesn’t feel real.

21. I was affected by my characters. I would get in the shower and my mind would start to wander, wondering how my main character was going to get her act together, or how I was going to resolved some conflict, or if her marriage was going to survive? Their fictional lives bled into mine.

20. I learned to ask for encouragement and help. There were times I wanted to quit, but instead of sinking into that feeling of darkness I would email someone or call someone or text someone. I would ask for a word of encouragement. I would ask for some time alone to write.I learned to communicate my needs so as not to get overwhelmed.

19. Someone wrote this wonderful advice to me over Thanksgiving, as I was scared about amping up for my final push of writing: “Laugh with family, enjoy the food, play and take care of the kids, love your husband, but also take time for yourself to complete this goal.” VALUABLE LESSON. Even as a mom it is okay to have creative goals and dreams and desires that we chase after. If God put them in us, He will help us to them.

18. I learned to use my time very wisely and to cut out unnecessary things. I asked Tony if he thought our lives suffered much during November while I was writing. Neither of us seemed to think so. Adjustments had to be made, but it wasn’t too bad really.

17. I can write on a computer, even if it’s not my preference. I much prefer writing pen on paper, but I knew for sheer speed, I was going to need to write on the computer. I can type so much faster than I can write. It took some getting used to at first, but it wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be.

16. I learned that great things take time. I learned to slow down and write in little bits everyday. The last book I tried to write, I rushed it a lot. And when I got a chapter or two done, I immediately sent it off to some of my author contacts, seeking their opinion. I didn’t take my time. I didn’t see the value in fine-tuning. This time I have a peace about going slow. January is my editing month. By February I might be ready to show the book to someone. We shall see.

15. I embraced IMPERFECtion. It’s my word for 2009, so why not? I let myself spell words wrong and write awkward sentences. There are chunks in my story I need to fill in, but that’s okay. There are sentences I need to re-write, but that’s okay. I found I was able to open up and write freely if I knew my inner-critic was not allowed to speak at all during November.

14. I had fun. There were times where I so looked forward to my pockets of writing time. Especially if I treated myself to Starbucks and little cozy table by the fire.

13. I offered rewards. One big reward I dangled in front of myself is that December would get to be my craft month. If I could get through November writing, then come December 1 I could create all sorts of gifts for Christmas. That’s what I’m doing now. I have a whole list. I’m not sure if I’ll get through it all, but it sure is fun to do something creative and yet entirely different from writing.

12. I remained healthy. One of the things I told myself going into the month is that I wanted to go after this goal as healthy as possible. I wanted to continue to get good rest, eat relatively well, and continue exercising. I wanted to commit to spiritual health as well, spending time seeking God in prayer and through the Bible, asking the Holy Spirit to give me what I needed to get through each day. I didn’t want to get to the end of November and be a mess. It was only because of past failures that I was able to have the wisdom to set these boundaries for myself from day one of November. I’m so glad I did.

11. I have amazing friends. Truly. So many people cheering me on!

10. I feel vulnerable. I can’t write without wrapping myself up into the words. When people say they want to read my book I must admit I freak out a bit. I’m in there. Will they find me? What will they think of me? Anyway…issues to work through and get over. Definitely not so overbearing to keep me from trying to publish it.

9. I want to live the book I wrote. I don’t mean that I want to live out all the details of the story. Some of them were pretty messy and miserable, and I wouldn’t want to have to go through all that in my life. BUT, I did get caught up in the magic of the story, and I do think, when I get to go back and edit and get to see more of the dust settle from this book, that I will try to implement some of it into my own life. It has magic woven into its pieces and parts that I would love to have woven into my real life as well. I hope I’ll have more to write on this in the future!

8. It re-sparked a desire in me to want to read fiction. Good, classic literature type fiction. The kind that is rich with meaning and character development and story. I’m kind of tired of the non-fiction kick I’ve been on for a few years. So I have a few non-fiction books on my “to-read list” to complete and then I think I’m diving back into fiction reading for awhile.

7. There is something more wonderful about writing by a warm fire or with a cup of hot-cocoa close by. Winter is a good time to write a book.

6. The less opinions you solicit the better. At first I was bouncing my ideas off of people. They would ask what I planned on writing about and I would tell them my ideas. It was nice to get feedback, I suppose. BUT, I found when I started writing I would hear those peoples voices in my head and those voices wanted to start to take my book in different ways then I wanted to go. I had to quiet those voices, and in hind-site, probably shouldn’t have gotten so much input from others. I think that fits in better after the rough draft is completed. And, well, there are some people you just probably shouldn’t ask at all. Those are the people that tend to make you feel small or silly or childish in life. No thank you.

5. I love trying new creative challenges!

4. Dream lists work! Months ago, back in the Spring I believe, I scribbled down dreams on a list. The goal was to accomplish these dreams in 6 months. So many of them have come true. Writing a book was on that list. When I wrote it down I laughed at myself. I shouldn’t have laughed. Dream lists work!

3. I’ve wanted to write a book since I was in junior high. I’ve never really thought I would. But I did! And whether it ever gets published or not, I can say that in my lifetime I have written a book. I have done something I’ve always dreamed of doing. Just as one day a few years ago I finally got the courage to call myself an artist, now I finally have the courage to call myself a writer. (Actually I think a writer is an artist, but that’s for another discussion entirely). AND most importantly, I’m so excited to see what else I could do that I’ve always dreamed of doing. God continues to woo me in this way.

2. I can’t for the life of me figure out why some people reach their dreams and others do not. Why do some people do remarkable things with their life and others live too scared, too jealous, too insecure or too indifferent? I can’t figure out what makes a person flip that switch in their soul and fan the flame to go after something big. Why some and not others? Isn’t that odd?

1. I found I have this deep passion to help others realize their hopes and dreams, chase after them and make them reality. I do not know in what capacity I will get to do this, but man does that make me excited to see people come to life. To see people awaken to the person they always longed to be. To realize their potential and live it out with supernatural power from God. I would love to be a life-coach in dream-chasing. That sounds amazing.