“Beware of advice—even this.”
― Carl Sandburg
I’m an unpublished author. Specifically, an author of epic fantasy. (So far.)
As of this moment I have completed one novel. Nothing, and I mean nothing, that I write here can or should be construed as writing advice.
The process of writing a novel has been far more interesting and challenging than I’d naively expected. Three years ago I lacked any awareness that a defined process existed. I imagined starting at the beginning, writing to the end, and then fixing some typos.
Turns out, there’s a bit more to it than that.
During the ensuing three years, I have occasionally jotted down some thoughts about what that’s been like, or have communicated those thoughts to others for various reasons, such that I actually have something resembling a decent sized stack of notes about the journey of doing so. Meanwhile, each phase of the process brings new surprises.
Soon, I’ll be “querying”—seeking an agent for representation in attempt to sell my story. As I prepare for this next step, and ponder what I want to write next, I’m also proceeding with the optimistic and perhaps overconfident view that at some point, I’m going to be a success at this. (however that is defined)
Eventually, I hope some people will look for a website such as this, to find out what I’ve written or when that next book is coming, or what I’m working on next. This is the humble beginning to that website. With luck, a day will arrive where I’m not the only one reading what is here.
First novels generally don’t get published, I’m told, and I don’t doubt the accuracy of that statement. But I don’t see a reason not to take it as far as I can, even if “as far as I can” is a stack of rejections.
My journey as a writer is not complete, and is truly just beginning, so I’m sure I’ll find plenty to fill this space over time. Meanwhile, someone else is just starting theirs, and though I have no advice about how to reach their destination, nor even what their destination should be, I hope I can still share something useful about walking the path.
If you’ve stumbled across this, I hope something here is helpful, or at least interesting, for you.
Sincerely,
J.B. Pinkle