What surprised me most about the writing process

It’s funny when I look back at the first book I wanted to publish as a teenager. I remember thinking that would be my one and only finished book. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to write more books. I figured I would be satisfied with merely one story and that the story would get picked up, printed, and read. I thought it would live on and remain on the shelves for all time. In short, I had no idea how publishing (or myself, for that matter!) worked back then.

But the further I came with that book, the more I realized I had other ideas, and I didn’t want to stop writing. Before I knew it, I was working on a second, third, and fourth book, and—well, you get it.

It also surprised me that many books I wrote were not meant to be sent to a publisher or agent. They were merely for me to learn, grow, and get to know my writing style.

What also surprised me about the writing process was how much there was to learn. Finding my style and voice was one thing, but knowing the rules and gathering tools was a whole other business. I understood that you didn’t always have to play by the writing rules, but you needed to know them in order to break them.

About fourteen books later, I began to see myself really implementing the tools I had picked up. And I didn’t mind that it took me ten-plus books to get there. And if I’d taken a writing course, I might’ve progressed faster. I was also surprised by the fact I didn’t mind putting book after book away as soon as it was finished, many times without sending it anywhere but to the trunk.

But what surprised me the most about writing was how invested I would become. I’ve been a painter, sculptor, a sketcher, and worked with Photoshop and photography, but I never felt that any of those artistic endeavors could express the emotions or thoughts I wanted them to. Until I began writing. It was a surprise and a discovery I will always be grateful for.