Writing a book is hard ...

I have to admit, writing a book is hard. Like, a lot harder than I ever thought when I decided to write a novel. I have a new found respect for all authors: published, self-published and unpublished who make this commitment. In the past, I had no desire to write; only the fierce desire to read. The ability to escape from one's own world, to mentally travel to a place of pure creation is something wondrous. To retreat into a story is absolutely freeing, whether you are gone for 5 minutes or 5 hours. For me, there is nothing better than completely losing yourself in a book. In my experience, I would even liken reading to an addiction. I will read until 2 am because I must know what happens next. I will wake up early so I can read before I go to work. Even though I know I will have no spare time, I will still haul that book around with me everywhere because I can't bear to leave it at home. Same with my Kindle. Even if I'm not reading something, I rarely leave it at home unless I'm worried about losing it. It's always in my purse, regardless. That's why my purse is the size of a small suitcase. What? 

Two years ago I decided to write my own paranormal romance/adventure novel. I had a great idea for a plot, and I planned to include elements of modern paranormal literature that I enjoy, like the totally played out but still moving trope of a typical mostly unattractive female protagonist we identify with who overcomes her obstacles and is actually freakin’ amazing. As a profession of my love for shoujo manga, I also would use themes of celestial maidens, school life stories and the curse of unrequited love. Although I refuse to read anything too scary, I am a reverent fan of horror stories, from Edgar Allen Poe to H.P. Lovecraft to Dean Koontz when I was younger, therefore any female lead of mine will have more than a few terror-filled moments. Okay so put those three very different genres together, and that equals that I am a total and complete nerd. I’m okay with that. I’m a happy nerd, so there. I’m hoping I will be successful at incorporating all these different elements into one story. Truthfully, I am determined to write something I myself would want to read, so I'm hoping that extends to others like me. (Total nerds.) 

In addition to the writing itself, there is a tremendous amount of research, editing, and rewriting involved in something like this. I completed the storyline and 16 chapters nearly a year ago, and have since then been fleshing out my story and content editing all at once, between my job, my family, my other commitments and my sometimes short attention span. It’s too easy to get sucked into watching episode after episode of Supernatural or checking my Pinterest. Only by threats from my long lost and equally nerdy sister did I ever get this far. That, and the guilt that weighs on  me when I refuse to open that folder on my computer for days at a time. Anyway, I will keep at it. And you can look forward to it. I hope. Someday.

Jess

“Writing a book is a horrible, exhausting struggle, like a long bout with some painful illness. One would never undertake such a thing if one were not driven on by some demon whom one can neither resist nor understand.” ― George Orwell