Writing My Novel –
An Unexpected Education
Writing My Novel–An Unexpected Education, details how I wrote my first novel, Feeding the Leopard. This short book explains how and why I committed to writing a book and the pleasant, and not so pleasant, surprises that lay in store.
Microsoft Word was the only software with which I had any previous experience.
I was unfamiliar with the workings of websites, Facebook, or the other social media and software programs I encountered. The result was, computer and technical issues more than doubled the time I needed to finish and market the novel. By my last count, I’d used over thirty different software programs through the process.
There wasn’t need for in-depth knowledge of the software, but enough understanding to achieve the results I wanted. With the experience gained from each new book, the technical side should become easier. A computer crash part-way through my first novel showed one exposure to the technicalities was not enough to be proficient.
For those thinking of writing fiction, or non-fiction, Writing My Novel will suggest many useful websites and other resources. They will help you improve your writing and editing, build a platform, self-publish your work, and market the finished product. Even if you want to follow the traditional path to publishing your book, you will find the resources helpful.
If you are not intending to write, this book is simply the story of my experience as a first-time author.
My goal, to do everything myself, helped me gain a greater understanding of the individual parts of the process. It would’ve been easier to pay someone to work for me. But I wanted to achieve independence and the flexibility to make changes as I wished. If nothing else, Writing My Novel should give a first-time author a little knowledge of what might lie ahead.