In my About section I noted that I am writing novels and longer works of prose and fiction. I’m now progressing on that journey. Baby steps at first 🙂 I wrote a few novels more than a decade ago, and having done this and having received some helpful critique from manuscript assessment professionals I then let them gather dust because in those days online publishing was not a viable option and I loved writing rather than holding any great ambitions to be published or ‘known’ for writing (if that makes sense?). I mean by this I had no interest in the general marketing of the books to publishers, so I didn’t try…the writing was the thing!!
Then I kind of went back to sleep creatively, concentrated on my daily work, and many years past. And in those years, online publishing started to come into its own, and with its birth comes the possibility of publishing when you are happy with a work, and then people will either read or not, as they choose. A more direct form of creativity and sharing that isn’t quite so much about sales figures, genres and so forth.
Now that such publishing is available, I’ve been working on updating the novels (funny how much has changed in our world over the past decade or so, particularly with technology, which can render general descriptions in works of fiction out of date so rapidly…). The first of the novels I’ve worked on has now had the efficient and kind attention of a professional editor, and I will start to traverse the world of getting a cover designed, formatting done and so forth.
This is new, exciting, and rather frightening all at once. I know many readers of this blog and/or other blogs I read are taking this journey too and I’d love any hints or thoughts about what to do, or perhaps more importantly what not to do.
I’d also appreciate your thoughts on whether, as it gets closer to publishing time (which probably isn’t for a few months yet given what is left to be done), you might like to see an excerpt or two, to see if you might be interested in reading the novel? I ask because most of what I write on here is poetry, and I really appreciate the support of everyone who reads and comments, but a novel is a different form, so I am just touching base to see if doing some excerpts would be welcome on this blog.
The first novel’s story is very poetic in its theme, in any case, about artists and writers, relationships, mythology in life and why we make decisions the way we do. So it is, probably not surprisingly, very similar in theme to a lot of my poetry.
Any feedback, suggestions or thoughts would be welcome…it’s an adventure and I’m not an experienced traveller on this path, so I’m relying on the kindness of others more travelled than I. 🙂
helenvalentina 
Sounds exciting! Yes, do excerpts! I’d love to read them!
Thank you for the encouragement! It’s funny how nervous one can be about doing something different! 🙂
Wow! That is awesome — so happy to hear! I plan on going through Amazon for my publishing when I’ve finalized my children’s book. I definitely think you should have your work published, you are a magnificent writer, Helen. Seriously my friend. 🙂
Thank you so much! Apart from the fact that I’m delighted to hear you will publish because I keep telling people (in my ‘real’, day to day life 🙂 ) to check out your blog because I know you will be famous one day and I want to have been one of the first to see that 😉 I’m also humbled by your support, now and as ever.
I really enjoyed writing the first draft of the novel back in the day, then updating it now. I’m thinking Amazon and some of the other platforms too..but its a big journey to get there, lots to do before publishing, partly because each sems to have different formatting requirements and so forth. I’d love to swap notes with you as you work towards publishing your work too. A journey shared is a better one I think! 🙂
You’re so very welcome! & thank you for your day-to-day support! I appreciate it immensely! I’d love to swap some notes & I’m curious about other publishing platforms. Please send me your email address. You can email me at estella.aguilar@gmail.com or estellarawpoetry@yahoo.com. A journey shared is always better than Hans Solo lol! 🙂
Thanks – have sent an email, looking forward to our correspondence. 🙂
Excerpts are also a great way to keep on track. They force you to keep moving forward. Best of luck. Dave
Thank you, very true, there is always the possibility of retreat uless you make sure you take one step at a time, and he mor you share I suppose the more likley you are to take that next step!! 🙂
I love to hear this! So many things worth doing are frightening. Facing challenge is human courage in action… a beautiful sight! Excerpts please!
Annie at Biocadence
Thank you so much. I’ll post some excerpts sometime over the next few eeks – as I said it will probably be a while before I publish the novel itself as the cover and formatting takes time. I do so appreciate your positivity and interest! 🙂
Wonderful. I will look forward to that. I love your poetic style. It will be fun to read that in novel form. I think of Beloved, by Toni Morrison. I’ve always craved more of that type of writing…
Annie
Congratulations… you’ve accomplished much! I look forward to reading it for sure. 😉
Thanks Roxi 🙂
I hope it all works out well, good luck! 😉
Thank you so much! 🙂
That’s awesome. Excerpts will be cool.
Thank you!! 🙂
Helen! I’m stoked! I hope everything works well! Keep us updated! XoXo
Thank you! I will certainly post updates, and eventually excerpts when it gets closer to publishing time. 🙂
Definitely go for the excerpt Helen, it will be a good advert for your book when you publish it! 😀
Thank you, I will! 🙂
Wish I could help/knew/etc. but good luck nontheless!
Your interest and support are more help than you know! Thank you!! 🙂
Why, of course!
I wish i knew more about this to help! I’m feeling my way through writing a novel via blog with ‘Dead Even’ too!
If been thinking to myself that if 50 shades of grey can be discovered online (being horrifically written at that) then i must have a shot at least!
good luck 🙂
I think you have more than a shot quite frankly…your novel is very engaging and a clever and original idea within a popular genre…I was telling a friend of mine about it yesterday and saying she should check it out. You can publish the novel online as a whole/complete when you finish it if you wish, that’s what I’m going to do with mine. I seriously think yours could be very successful if you try. 🙂
I’m going to try my little heart out! 🙂 thank you helenvalentina!
In your post you ask if we are interested in reading excerpts or reading the novel, I would be interested in reading the novel for you. I am aware how difficult it is to branch from the poetry into the novel and networking between the two. You can write me at JM@CreativityUntamed.com.
Thank you – that is very kind. I will write to you on the weekend when time is more on my side. Really appreciate the cameraderie!! 🙂
I am a huge fan of short story and prose and love to write both. Best to you with your text and projects.
Thank you so much! 🙂
Just go for it!
Thank you so much!! Really appreciate the positivity!! 🙂