What being an Author feels like

The first day I started to write my book, I clearly had no clue about how to start or what to do next.

All I knew was that I wanted to write a book after seeing all the ads about writing your own book in social media.

My first attempt at writing a book did not require me to spend to much money. I learned of a self publishing website that allowed me to publish for free, and went for it.

When I was thinking of what to write in the book, I didn't really plan it. After all it was my first book! I spent alot of time in the wee morning hours typing, typing and typing away.

I really cannot even start to fathom that I would get a couple of 5 star reviews. Given that when I started writing I had no idea about what to fill the book with, or that I would ever complete it.

However people who read the book said it was an awesome read, and a total page turner. That was enough inspiration to start writing my second book which is still not published yet.

However the journey of writing a book seemed long, but not too painstaking. I wish I knew then what I know now. I did not make a writer's draft. 

Instead I started writing as though I was doing a stream of consciousness exercise, just emptying my thoughts on to the page. Authors apparently have to make a rough draft, which I know for certain now, and writing a book never has to be unpredictable.

I started writing the book talking about a protagonist loosely based on myself. I wanted my book to have relatable characters, and to flesh them out, I kinda based the main characters on my self and an old friend when we were in similar situations.

All I want to say is that it really was fun to write my first book, I liked the spontaneity and how one thing led to another. Experienced writers normally use things like mind maps, character sketches, a pre-planned climax and plot.

But I was enjoying the process of letting the story unfold naturally so much, and I was surprised about how the characters were coming into being, and the conclusion seemed inevitable. I wrote about a shy girl, who has a secret love, and their frequent trysts behind their parents back. 

I tried to create a relatable character called Jenna, who is the protagonist. As a young rich girl that grew up in a foreign country, she didn't seem like it all. She is the most down to earth human being you could ever meet, and she had her quirks which made the book all the more interesting.

When  put  like that 'what will this rather quirky, irresistible girl do next?' is what I wanted people to wonder about my protagonist. To add spice to things, she happens to have a lover who sees the best in her. He is a kind man, with a good heart, and their relationship is indeed intense.

You might have guessed that I rather enjoyed writing this book, and letting the story go in whichever direction. I wanted to write a story that even without a plot, you could relate easily to the characters and be drawn to their curious thoughts, actions and feelings. The best part is probably their camaraderie which is a little intense, their secret meetings which might even speak to the reader, and they would figure out from the story that some of my experiences are in it.

Yet, inspite of not having the sort of content that is commercially viable, I wanted my readers to enjoy the romance, humour and larger than life parts, and for this book to be all I intended for it to be.

By now you might have guessed that writing a book, and having friends and family who say nice things about your bold effort, is something wonderful! If you are a woman who wants to write a book, by all means, go for it!

There is no better feeling than hearing someone say, that your creativity is beautiful. We might be working hard at the our busy jobs trying to get a pay cheque. But there's nothing better than getting a job that you love and you never felt like you work a day in your life. Follow my advice, if you have it in you to write a book, do so, because it can even be called a legacy.