Ava was tough. She joined the army of the man who killed her family. Got close to him and plotted his demise. There was a prince, family secrets, betrayal and death.
I loved it.
But it didn't work. I had no idea what I was doing. While my story was cool, (in my mind) I didn't know the mechanics of writing. I didn't know what a critique group was, or what deep editing and revising was. I did edit, but not like I do now.
I did query my book, but only got one bite. It was sad to put it aside, but necessary. I know it wasn't good enough. Neither was my dreaded second novel. But that's why we write. To learn from our first few attempts. It only makes us better. :)
I wish I knew then, what I know now about writing. I can see I've improved. A lot. I actually call myself a writer now. Probably because I realized how much writing means to me. How it makes me feel when I finish a chapter or a scene. I can't even describe what finishing a book is like. All I can say is that it's awesome. Every. Single. Time. And even though I put my first book away, it's one that will always be with me because it was the first book I wrote. And someday, I really want to revisit that world. I've been thinking about it for a long time, actually. I will rewrite it. Probably from scratch and in a whole new way, but I would like to do it.
I have to finish a few others first though. ;)
Are you working on your first book? Did you put your first book aside? What was it like? Do you still love it?
31 comments:
My first idea was a Middle Grade fiction. It was a real blast to write, but it never went anywhere. Regardless, I'll always hold it near and dear to my heart.
The first book I remember writing was in kindergarten. It was about a prince and a princess who got married and was fully illustrated! I took it to show and tell. I was much braver back then.
In third grade I stared my first chapter book. After ten pages I decided I didn't have the skills necessary and decided to write it when I grew up. It was a middle grade novel.
When I was an adult and wanted to get serious about writing I started with some children's books before turning to novels. I didn't know anything about the industry and they didn't go anywhere but I often think about pulling them out and trying again.
My first idea went through two years of notes and plotting, and then four different opening few chapters before I realized it simply wasn't working.
I never finished it, but I'll always have fond memories. Kind of . . . ;)
I've put my first book aside, but I'm about to get back to it and revise the heck out of it. You're right--I've learned so much since then! Good luck with Ava!
I've heard a lot of people say to scrap your first idea. But I think that isn't always good advice. I'm getting ready to query my first book, but it took me four years to write and one year to edit and yes, I still love it.
@E.R. King I still want to write a Middle Grade someday. :)
@S.P. Bowers You should go back to them! You may find that you were better than you think! ;)
@Meredith Thanks! And good luck with your revisions! I heart revisions. :)
@Renee Collins LOL! You are hilarious. Maybe one day you'll realize you totally love it! ;)
@Angie Cothran I don't think that's great advice either. You can grow a ton from learning how to write your first book. When I finished mine, I thought it was awesome! So, yes. If you believe in your story and have edited the heck out of it, you shouldn't just set it aside. Good luck with querying!! :D :D
My first serious stab at YA novel writing was a contemporary romance/rape-recovery story told from the boyfriend's POV. Apparently there's NO market for such story, though I did attempt to query it. I've long since retired the idea, but I do still sort of love it.
That sounds like an awesome idea. Yes - I have put plenty of books aside. Some of them I still like and will probably go back to. I HOPE. It's hard, but important to improve and move on.
Oh yeah, I've put plenty of stuff aside. I still remember them fondly though.
My first idea was a love triangle that I wrote when I was 14. I got half way through the book and changed it to a mystery, but it has never seen the light of day.
I'm revising my fourth COMPLETE ms. I had lots of other ideas that only lasted about 17 pages, too. :)
Bermuda Scott and the Anywhere Box. It was MG, and mostly chapters and scenes. Not a complete book, so maybe it doesn't count:) Anyway, maybe one day I'll revisit it. Or maybe not.
My first book was awesome. And horrible. And took me like five years to write. I will always love it for being the first, but it wasn't even close to ready for querying.
I am working on my first book, but it has been 4 years of working on it. I love it and I will never put it down because it's a piece of my past. I am determinded....
oh wait, now that I think about it, there was this book that I wrote in high school. The computer crashed, losing everything.
I love it then, but it was a dreaded story that I will never ever let anyone read again!
I finished my first story last year, a future fiction about a woman who discovers a government conspiracy to control population numbers. I loved it, but at 40k it's just way too short. I might come back to it, one day.
I'm trying to rewrite my first book. I loved the idea so much, but the writing... yeah. Now I have enough distance from the manuscript I am free writing the story again in a first person perspective. We'll see how it turns out.
I think you always love your first book. I set mine aside for ten years before pulling it out and revising it. Now it's getting published!
My first book is trunked. I made every mistake a newbie could make and the writing is terrible. However, I do pick at it from time to time because I still love the story and the characters. One day, maybe I'll be able to fix it. I'll always have a soft spot for it.
I hope this is a process that always continues (looking back and knowing we've improved).
The only problem is, then we always think whatever we wrote before is awful.
I dreamt the whole plot one night, I went and bough a note pad the next day and started writing it.
What a great post!
I wrote the book. The plot was sounds, but my ability and knowledge at the time wasn't up to the challenge.
If I get the time, then I will re-visit it. I have very fond memories of the experience. When I finished the climax, I was shaking as it was so intense for me to keep re-visiting the scene to be able to get it all down on paper.
I still love my first book, which I began nine years ago. Now I am back at it, revising and rewriting it full force. I used to hate revisions and refused to do them. Now I know the error of my old ways.
My first novel I wrote in 7th grade about a girl who is killed and narrates the story as a ghost. I turned in the first half as a Language Arts assignment and the teacher was so impressed. Clearly she didn't read Christopher Pike as it was a CLEAR ripoff of one of his novels! As for my first real novel- I just can't move past it to focus on something else. I love it too much.
I did eventually get my first book published by a small, but very good publisher. I think I did rewrite it at least six times but I loved that story and couldn't put it aside. I did write three more books before I sold that one though.
Great post! My first idea was about a young woman warrior tasked with guarding her little cousin, the heir to the throne. Her best friend (and love interest) was also in the guard.
I only got a few chapters in, but I still love it and plan to finish it someday. Within the first couple pages, I'd already crashed a chandelier in the main hall and had my MC slide down a wall banner! :)
I'm paraphrasing but Stephen King says something like "Everyone has a terrible book in them. Write it and then throw it away" That always makes me giggle. Especially since I'm still wrapping up that terrible book.
If I have to throw it away then I learned a lot from the journey.
My first is still my baby and while it is probably not worth much, it is priceless to me. I certainly have a long way to go but I can't say I will put it away. I will always work on it, try to improve it as my skills improve and hopefully one day, others will love it just the way I do. :)
I'm a firm believer that a person's first (and dearest to them) novel should be finished (because every good story deserves to be finished!) and stuck in a drawer for five to ten years while they write novels two, three, four and five. Then bring it out and have a look. You'll love it just as much, I'm sure, but it'll be sure to make you groan!
@Katy You could always go back someday! I'm sure there would be a market for it in the future. ;)
@Abby It is way important to move on. But you can always go back. You know? :)
@Cynthia Lee Me too. I remember all of mine as well. :)
@Patti Oh, love triangles. Aren't they the best? :) I do love a good one, but I try not to write them because I can't to them justice.
@Faith E. Hough Oh, those 17 pages. I've had many of those! lol :)
@Jessie Oliveros That book sounds fun! You should revisit it! :D
@Shallee I know what you mean. I love my first book still. It's horrible though. But I will rewrite. It will take some time though. :)
@Mel Fowler I think it's awesome that you've been working on your book for so long. I'm crossing my fingers for you to snag an agent with it! :D
@Sarah Pearson Sounds intriguing! I'd go back to it because I want to read it! ;)
@Candice Is that the super hero one? Because if it is, I want to read it!! :D
@Angie Woot! Yay! So excited for you!! :D
@Jennifer Hillier lol. I hear ya. I made every mistake a newbie could make as well. Still, I really want to go back to it. Someday... :)
@Maggie I agree. We should think more positive and know that every book is a part of us and was the best we could write at the time. ;)
@Iain I loved the feeling of writing my first book. It was so new and real to me. I'll never forget how I felt with it. Someday I'll go back. I loved my world I created. :)
@Susan Oloier Yay for revising! I love revising and rewriting. Everything sounds so much better after. You know? :)
@Megan LOL! How funny! And good luck with your book! I'm crossing my fingers when you start querying! Or if you are right now. ;)
@Susan Gourley/Kelley That is awesome. I'd love to publish my first book someday. I have a LOT of work to do on it first though. Probably a complete rewrite.
@Nicole LOL! That is awesome! I love things crashing and epic slides down wall banners! Finish it!! :D
@Small Town Shelly Brown That is funny. I definitely did that with my second book. My first I still kind of love. Someday I'll rewrite it. When I have more time! ;)
@Ms Saba (aka Teacher007.5) Oh, don't give up on your first one. I know of a few people who have published their first books. Don't ever give up on it. :)
@Weston Elliott Oh, yes. I believe that too. I'm sure I'll groan and roll my eyes when I read it again! lol :) Thanks for stopping by!
My first book is shelved.
I now know what I need to do to "fix" it, but it's a whole re-write from scratch. Well, not scratch, but close. And like you, I have other projects I care more about.
I shelved my first book when I was half-way through. It is a YA contemporary and I actually love it still and plan on going back to it eventually, but it is going to require more research and a major rewrite.
The first idea I ever had to write never got written. Only because that was a screenplay idea that was really bad and would not have been a good idea.
The first book idea I ever had was sparked by the meaning of a name and I did write that one. It did get put in a drawer but I didn't finish it until after I'd written another book. I do still love this book and the characters and the story and the world. Someday it will get revised/rewritten but I need to write a few more books and get some more practice in. Then maybe I'll realize how to save my baby and she'll get to see the world at large.
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