Writing a novel. Anyone can do it. Really.

Have you ever thought, I wish I could write a novel, but I don't have the necessary skills to do it? Well, I used to be one those people. I've always been a bookworm and always admired the ability my favorite authors had to create wonderful characters and weave intriguing plots. But not in million years did I ever think that I could do it too. And I was fine with that.

But then I began to come across books that really didn't impress me. I would find problems with the MCs, the plot, everything! I would think, how did this book get published? I could have done so much better. Then I started to think how I would improve a novel that I didn't like. So yeah, you get the gist. What motivated me to write my own stories were the 'bad' books I've read. I know, terrible! The worse the read, the more motivated I got.

But don't think my first drafts were any gems. Oh, no sir. They were awful! All I had was pretty much dialogue (and not even good dialogue). But writing, like everything else you do, gets better with practice. If you really want to do it, go for it. Don't get discouraged if you get writer's block. But don't expect to complete your novel in a couple of months either. Writing a novel takes time, especially if it's your first. So yeah, you gotta make a commitment to it. It took me over 2 years to complete my first manuscript, The Prophecy Arcadia.

There were tools that helped me along the way. Since my book is part of a series, I wrote an outline for all 4 books. Without it, I would have gotten lost for sure. Not all writers do that, but for me it was fundamental. I also used Scrivener, a software for writers. I gotta say it was the best investment I made. I'm not saying everyone should use it, but it worked for me.

After I finished the first draft, I asked a journalist friend to edit it for me. Not only did he correct many of my grammar mistakes, but he also gave me several tips to improve my novel. So, no matter how good your grammar skills are, it's always a good idea to have someone else read your manuscript. Once I made the many changes he suggested, I sent my draft to a professional editor. And I can't stress it enough, having your manuscript professionally edited is a MUST for any self-published author. You really don't want to annoy your readers with glaring grammar mistakes.

So back to the post title. I truly believe anyone can write a book. If you set your mind to it, you accomplish anything. And even if your book doesn't become an international sensation, just the fact that you actually finished it, it's already an incredible achievement.