Issue 43: What I learned from writing my first novel ... in under 4 months

A dream realized. 🥹 🥹 🥹

A little over 10 years ago, I had an idea for a book. The idea came to me fully formed and I take no credit for that part. It just came, I can't explain it. I worked on it enthusiastically for a little while but ultimately, the negative voices in my head won and I set it aside.

This year I turned 42 and passed through some kind of a portal that made me incapable of tolerating being out of sync with myself. I couldn't stand feeling miserable anymore about things that were fully in my control. I had to put my ass where my heart wanted to be. So I started writing and my book just poured out of me. I didn't have to scratch and claw for inspiration. All I had to do is make time to write. And I did. I DID.

This past Tuesday - in a little under 4 months - I completed my first draft —> 78,333 words in total. 🫢 I look at those ~300 pages and I honestly can’t believe I am the one who wrote them.

In doing so, I have learned:

1. At the beginning, work on creating clarity. And I don’t mean clear wri…