{"id":6646,"date":"2018-01-15T12:00:38","date_gmt":"2018-01-15T01:00:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/allisontait.com\/?p=6646"},"modified":"2020-07-17T15:20:55","modified_gmt":"2020-07-17T05:20:55","slug":"10-things-i-learnt-from-writing-my-debut-novel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/allisontait.com\/2018\/01\/10-things-i-learnt-from-writing-my-debut-novel\/","title":{"rendered":"10 things I’ve learnt from writing my debut novel"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"10<\/a>There’s nothing quite like the experience of having your first novel appear on bookshop shelves. And nothing quite like the learning curve involved in getting the book there in the first place.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Today, I’m pleased to welcome debut author Louise Allan<\/a> to my blog, to share the process behind getting her first book The Sisters’ Song <\/a>(Allen & Unwin) from idea to published novel – and all the things she learnt along the way.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Take it away Louise…<\/em><\/p>\n

10 things I’ve learnt from writing my debut novel<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Sometimes I look at my book and can\u2019t believe I\u2019ve written one! I didn\u2019t start my working life as a writer but came to it much later than most. But being older didn\u2019t excuse me from doing my writing apprenticeship\u2014I still had to learn the craft and it wasn\u2019t at all easy. There were hair-tearing moments, disappointments, times I needed to take a break, and times I needed to talk myself into returning to my keyboard.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are some of the things I\u2019ve learnt along the way. This list is by no means exhaustive, but includes tips about the craft of writing as well as organising your time. <\/span><\/p>\n

1. Get your bum on the chair<\/b><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t make excuses, just do it! Yes, it might be easier once the kids are all in high school, or once Christmas is over, or once you have a dedicated writing space, but if you keep putting it off, you\u2019ll find you\u2019ll be forever waiting because the perfect time will never come. You\u2019ll never get a clear diary. Your kids will always have something on. Your writing space will never be perfectly set up. But it doesn\u2019t matter\u2014start anyway. Even 30 minutes a day. Don\u2019t put it off. Just start. Get those fingers on the keyboard and start typing. It\u2019s the only way to write a book.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Protect your writing time<\/b><\/p>\n

Protecting your writing time is an active thing, and don\u2019t let anything encroach upon it. Put off making the beds or vacuuming. Don\u2019t cook a couple of nights a week, or keep meals simple. Decline coffee shop invitations. Don\u2019t volunteer on the P&C or for canteen duty. Turn off the wi-fi. If you write best in the mornings, tell the repairman he can\u2019t come until the afternoon. Book appointments for when you\u2019re free and only when you\u2019re free. Shut your door and stick up a sign that tells the kids not to interrupt you:<\/span><\/p>\n

I found saying <\/span>No<\/span><\/i> the hardest thing of all. I felt guilty, as if I was letting people down. I kept telling myself that this was my time and I was entitled to it, and eventually, people stopped asking me to meet them or volunteer, which caused more guilt. I reminded myself that mums who work outside of the home can\u2019t do these things either, and that my writing was now my job.<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Mix with other writers<\/b><\/p>\n

They\u2019re your tribe. They\u2019ll understand you more than anyone. They\u2019ll be genuinely interested in the book your writing and they get your need to write it. Being around them will keep you motivated, just by reminding you why you started it in the first place. After you\u2019ve been rejected, they\u2019ll tell you about theirs. They\u2019re very helpful \u00a0people, great sources of advice, support and comfort. And when your book comes out, they\u2019ll be your biggest supporters.<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Get online early<\/b><\/p>\n

Everyone tells you this and you might think it will take away from your actual novel-writing time. It\u2019s also rather daunting, especially at first, and you\u2019ll feel a bit vulnerable. You also feel as if you\u2019re putting your work out there and no one\u2019s listening.<\/span><\/p>\n

I started a blog and Facebook page in early 2013 when I\u2019d was about to finish the first draft of my novel. I had 39 Facebook followers for quite a few months, but I kept going, posting consistently and trying to be myself. I made a lot of mistakes, but only those 39 Facebook followers know about those!<\/span><\/p>\n

Over time, I\u2019ve relaxed and got better at it, and slowly built up a loyal following. Because we\u2019ve been together for nearly five years, my followers and I know each other well, and since the release of my book, they\u2019ve been amazing, jumping on board and championing it.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, start a blog and Facebook page early even if you feel as if no one is listening. Be yourself and post consistently. Don\u2019t worry if you make a mistake\u2014just hit the Delete button! Give people time to come, and when your book\u2019s published, you\u2019ll have a group of followers who are more than willing to support you because they\u2019ve been with you all the way.<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Try things out and experiment<\/b><\/p>\n

Writing\u2019s meant to be fun, too, so explore. Go off on tangents. Be adventurous. Be free. There are no restrictions, not when you\u2019re drafting. Write your deepest fears, your most embarrassing moments, even things that might seem really wacky and over the top. Overwrite a scene, you can always pare it back later. Or delete it.<\/span><\/p>\n

I don\u2019t believe any writing is ever wasted, even if it doesn\u2019t make it into the final version. I have 190,000 words sitting in my \u2018Outtakes\u2019 folder, and every single one of them was necessary to making the final version of my novel what it is.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

6. Accept feedback<\/b><\/p>\n

I can\u2019t stress this one strongly enough, especially when you\u2019re starting out. Actively seek feedback whenever you can. Join a writing group and share writing with each other. If there\u2019s a writer-in-residence at your local writers\u2019 centre, they\u2019ll often look over a couple of chapters, and give you pointers which you can then use to go through the rest of your manuscript. Before sending your work out to agents and publishers, consider getting a formal manuscript appraisal. Work with a mentor even.<\/span><\/p>\n

Separate yourself from your writing while you\u2019re getting the feedback. Talk about it as if it\u2019s an object and not part of you. Look at it as critically as you can. Tell yourself that it will make it better, because that\u2019s the aim, after all. Don\u2019t defend it and don\u2019t get upset. If you\u2019re not sure of what the critique means, just ask the reader to elaborate. Even if you disagree, listen anyway and think about it.<\/span><\/p>\n

In my personal experience, I\u2019ve never encountered anyone with an ulterior motive. Every single person has been trying to help when giving me feedback.<\/span><\/p>\n

Besides, if your book is ever picked up by a publisher, believe me, they won\u2019t go easy on you during the editing. If you want to be a published author, at some stage you\u2019ll have to get used to hearing feedback.<\/span><\/p>\n

7. Be prepared to rewrite<\/b><\/p>\n

Following on from the previous point, no first draft is ever ready for publishing. Nor a second or third. It\u2019s tedious and hard, but you just have to sit at the computer and go over your words time and again. I\u2019ve lost count of my redrafts and rewrites, but each time, it\u2019s improved it. Believe me.<\/span><\/p>\n

8. Writing a novel takes a long time<\/b><\/p>\n

It takes a long time to write 90,000 good words from your imagination onto the page, structured in such a way as to take the reader on a enjoyable ride. There are no corners you can cut, and if it\u2019s your first novel, there are no ways you can avoid making at least some rookie mistakes. Then there are family, paid work and general living that also get in the way. Sometimes, the words just won\u2019t come, and you\u2019ll need to take a break.<\/span><\/p>\n

It took me six years to write my novel, which sounds like a long time but doesn\u2019t actually <\/span>feel<\/span><\/i> that long because I was busy all those years. Now that it\u2019s published, I\u2019m glad it took as long as it did\u2014the story has benefitted from the extra incubation time.<\/span><\/p>\n

9. Don\u2019t give up<\/b><\/p>\n

Never, ever give up. Remember the<\/span> Ira Glass quote<\/span><\/a>. Aim for that ideal vision of your book that you have in your head, but go easy on yourself as you head towards it. Allow yourself to be a learner and make mistakes.<\/span><\/p>\n

10<\/strong>.\u00a0Write for yourself<\/b><\/p>\n

Write the novel you want to read. Chances are, others will want to read it, too.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>Louise Allan’s first novel, The Sisters\u2019 Song<\/a>, is out now with Allen & Unwin. The manuscript has previously been shortlisted for the 2014 City of Fremantle\u2014TAG Hungerford Award and awarded a Varuna Residential Fellowship. Find out more about Louise and her wonderful book here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Interested in writing your own debut novel? You might find these links helpful.<\/em><\/p>\n

Six reasons you should start writing your novel now<\/a><\/p>\n

Writing is all about trust<\/a><\/p>\n

An inconvenient truth about mothers and writing<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There’s nothing quite like the experience of having your first novel appear on bookshop shelves. And nothing quite like the learning curve involved in getting the book there in the first place.\u00a0 Today, I’m pleased to welcome debut author Louise Allan to my blog, to share the process behind getting her first book The Sisters’ 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