How My Writing Journey Began
After I read an incredible book, I love learning about the author’s journey to authorship.
I scroll to the beginning of their feed and read the snippets they shared about their lives, from when they first began writing to when their book(s) were published. The snippets demystify the life of a writer and inspire me to keep going. It’s reassuring to know that we all start somewhere.
This Is My Somewhere:
I didn’t grow up wanting to be a writer. I never really knew what I wanted to do, so I’ve tried many things!
One thing that’s never changed is that I’ve always been a voracious reader.
I loved books so much that I got my undergraduate degree in English Literature and my master's in Curriculum & Instruction to teach secondary English. Basically, I wanted to share my love for books with others.
Where I Started:
It wasn’t until I transitioned from education to tech (a topic for another post!) that I began writing my book.
On my first project at Accenture, I traveled weekly to DC for over six months. A typical day would be working at the client site for over ten hours, not including work dinners.
During this time, I not only racked up hotel points but also had a desire to write a story.
It didn’t make sense. I didn’t have time to write. Transitioning careers to tech is no joke! Plus, I’d never worked in the corporate world. I felt so much imposter syndrome on top of feeling overwhelmed and exhausted.
But I listened to my desire. I wrote my first draft in the air by hand.
Where I Am Today:
I’m so thankful I indulged my creativity. Even though a lot has changed over the past three years like my career, my desire to write hasn’t. I’m still working on the same manuscript! It’s my ninth(ish) draft. But who’s counting? After the first, they all blur together.
Most things about the story have changed. I changed my protagonists’ age to eighteen, so it’s YA. I changed one of my POVs to an entirely new character. I added romance between the two POVs! I really enjoyed this addition. Each change has made the book so much better! What hasn’t changed and has been with me from the beginning is one of my protagonists and the fantasy world.
Where I Hope to Go:
I hope (fingers crossed) to be querying Spring 2026! The timeline has changed multiple times (I was so naive. I completely underestimated how long writing a novel can take! Magic Systems, portals, and creating a fantasy world is no joke. 😅), but finishing my manuscript by early next year feels like a realistic goal based on how my current draft is going. The words and ideas are beginning to feel like a story. But I still have so much to do to get it to the desired level!
I am also really motivated to finish because I have other stories inside of me that are dying to be written. Book 2 and Book 3 are impatiently waiting for me to give them some attention.
So much can happen in a year! I’ll have to wait and see what unfolds.
Following Your Desire:
If you have a desire to write or a desire to try something new, approaching it with curiosity works well. When I was a tech consultant, I needed a creative outlet. Writing was an escape from a stressful job. Writing gave me hope.
I could have easily ignored the desire and allowed excuses to overpower it, just like starting my Substack. I’ve had so many excuses over the years like not having a title, but I’m no longer allowing my excuses to override my desire.
While many things are out of my control, I’m focusing on what’s in my control like showing up each day to practice my craft, putting pen to paper or fingers to keyboard, and sticking with it. Following a desire doesn’t have to lead anywhere. It can be as simple as because I love writing. That’s why I do it. That’s why I prioritize it. That’s why I stick with it. It doesn’t have to be that complicated.
Book Talk:
I’m obsessed with witchy books.
My most recent read, The Crescent Moon Tearoom by Stacy Sivinski, had the description of a word weaver witch, which I thought was the coolest thing!
“Her magic flowed into the sentences of her stories, giving them a depth that made the text impossible to put down. The words hummed, beckoning readers to cling to the pages and not let them loose until they reached the very end.”
Umm, yes, please! That’s exactly the energy I want to infuse into my books. Writing is magic. I find the experience of writing magical, just like the experience of reading. Being transported to another world created from someone’s imagination doesn’t get much more magical than that.
If you have any witch book recommendations, please send them my way!!!
Goal of My Substack:
I’ve been laser-focused on finishing Book 1 for the past three years, and I wanted to finish my manuscript before spreading my energy to my other ideas. However, the ideas and words rattling in my head have been dying to come out.
I plan to write bi-monthly about the journey to publication, current reads, and lessons learned. I also hope my Substack will act as a digital writer’s grimoire, a collection of everything that’s helped me become a better writer, and serve as a place for inspiration if needed. I also created a physical writer's grimore, inspired by Heather Demetrios' genius.
I’m unsure what will unfold, but I’m excited to find out and bring you along for the ride.
Sending you warm wishes and fairy dust,
Liza