Welcome new readers!
Dream Big is about my writing journey. Approximately every two weeks, I post about finding writing in my 40s, embracing a creative life, writing my first novel, and the everyday moments that inspire me as I juggle family life and my dreams of becoming a published author.
I’m beyond grateful for your company on my writing journey, and I love hearing from you. Please hit reply or comment below if you’d like to connect.✨
Tiny, personal acts of bravery have helped me tackle my first novel: permitting myself to try, showing up and putting words on the page, and saying it out loud, not just to myself but to others.
At first, when I told people, my voice was small, following “I’m writing a novel” with “I know, I know—crazy, right?” But the more people I told and wrote about it (thank you, Substack), the more I was surprised by the response. People didn’t think I was crazy. And even if they did, I realized I didn’t care. Eyes widened, sure, but mostly in delight. People call it “brave” and “amazing,” and they “can’t wait to read it.”
I really haven’t received a word of discouragement, which reminds me that chasing a dream is about so much more than the dream itself; it’s about dogged determination and persistence, perhaps some sacrifices made along the way—but also the power of a community and the inherent goodness in most human beings.
Please don’t underestimate the influence of your time, encouraging words, support, and kindness on someone else’s dream. This community has lifted me through this novel-writing adventure in ways you may not realize.
I finally began to say it aloud.
“What do you do?”
“I’m writing my first novel.”
Telling people felt good and made it more real—because I had to follow through. Now that I’ve discovered that writing a first novel is possibly the greatest exercise in self-discipline that ever existed (no deadline!), I welcome (and need) the accountability.
However, almost invariably, the question that follows ends the conversation:
“Wow! What’s it about?”
Until recently, this is where I gave a close-lipped smile and said something to the effect of:
“I’m not ready to talk about it quite yet. I’m still working on the plot.”
It’s the truth. I have lost count of the number of times I’ve changed a plot point, or changed/added/deleted a character. I’m still working on names. I’ve gone through half a dozen working titles; none stuck. Honestly, it’s taken me an entire first draft to discover my story fully. The good news is that as I move forward, the changes become smaller.
So, it’s quite intentional that I have kept mum about this storyline. I need to pin it down before I can invite any response.
This week, I’ve been working on a chapter outline of my novel using index cards (a scene on each, paperclipped into chapters), which has been very helpful in ensuring the story is structurally sound—a bit like the bones of a house. A second draft and further editing come easier if the bones are good.
Don’t outlines come first, you ask? In theory, yes. For some writers, I’m sure. On my next book? Maybe. For now, this is how my mind handles all the pieces as best I can, in the order it works. Basically, I had to write an entire first draft to discover my story. The creative process is not linear.
Think of it this way: If you’ve never built a house before (and I have not), every step will take time to learn and execute. You’ll make mistakes and have to fix them. It will be slow. And the next time you build a house, though it is different and will come with its own challenges, you’ll have some basic tools in your toolkit and know a few things about yourself and how you do things.
What comes next? If all goes smoothly, the next few weeks will be busy, including coaching feedback on my outline. Hopefully, my plot is in as good a shape as I think.
At that point, when people ask me what this book is about, I can smile wide and respond confidently.
“I’m so glad you asked. It’s a story about…”
Thanks for being here.
Can’t wait for the unfolding!!
The index cards are a great idea. I think that I may need to borrow that!