An open letter to an aspiring novelist:
Hi,
I hope you forgive a stranger writing to you out of the blue.
I saw your post on the Romance Writers of Australia’s Facebook page and you mentioned that you were beginning of their journey and wanted some suggestion, advice and support.
You couldn’t have gone to a better place.
That Facebook page, along with the Association itself, is a terrific way to connect with many people who are are various stages of their journey from those beginning steps to successful internationally recognised multi-titled authors as well as publishers and agents.
I said hello (under my real name) and I was thrilled to see so many others offer their support.
There was one thing you said in your post which has moved me to write to you here. I’ll paraphrase but it was something along the lines of ‘I love writing but I haven’t let anyone see it because I don’t know if it is any good’.
My heart broke at that because I’ve been in your shoes and know what it is like to create something which is a part of your heart and soul and then lay it bare for people to pick over. Don’t let anyone tell you that it’s not frightening, because it is.
Words matter. Words are matter. Words created the world and everything in it. You have created something precious.
You said you hadn’t finished your story and wondered whether you should continue or abandon your project.
I hope you don’t think it hubris on my part to offer a little advice even though I have been a professional writer since the age of 18, I’m a first time novelist too with debut title due out this year.
You’d think that writing for a living would make penning a novel easier.
It’s not.
Not everyone who can drive a Formula 1 race car around Monaco can drive a semi-trailer from Darwin to Perth – each have their own skills even though we call both ‘driving’.
So it doesn’t matter what you do to earn your living, it has no bearing on whether or not you can tell a good story.
And that’s my advice to you.
Get that story out.
Put aside writing styles, correct grammar – heck, even spelling – for a moment.
Your characters are depending on you to tell their story. Do it honestly and do them justice. Don’t stop. They want to speak and you should let them.
And once they have told you their tale, go back to the beginning as though you have picked up a coverless diary in the street and the only way you can return it to its owner is to read through word by word, page by page.
Can you follow their story? Does it make sense to you?
You may find that you have to ask your characters some more questions at various points as you walk in their shoes to make sure that you understand what is happening in their world. Don’t be afraid to ask those questions.
Do some of that grammatical housekeeping. You don’t want to live in an untidy world and neither do your characters.
When you have talked with them and walked with them until the end of the journey, how do you feel? Do you feel sad to leave them? Do you feel optimistic that when you leave, your characters will continue their journey in their universe without you?
If so, congratulations. You have written a story that other people will be delighted to read.
I hope you find comfort in this letter.
You might also find some great comfort in another by CS Lewis. Most people know him as a children’s author but forget that he was also an English professor and philosopher.
I’ve included it here for you.
All the very best for your writing journey,
Elizabeth.