
I figure it’ll be a long and challenging road to become a horror novelist. But like the Chinese philosopher said, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. -Laozi
Here are my beginning steps:
- Set up a writing blog. (Check, duh.)
- Figure out a working title for my upcoming NaNoWriMo book. If you don’t know what NaNoWriMo is, look it up because it’s great fun and involves a huge writing community. (Check! Hag’s Hollow.)
- Read three books for research to learn about wilderness survival, animals in the wild, and witchcraft mythology. (In progress.)
- Watch five horror movies to analyze tropes, plot points, and pacing. (In progress. I watched The Ritual last night. Scary.)
- Read Word Painting by Patricia McClanahan, and work the exercises to become a better wordsmith.
- Write a brief synopsis of Hag’s Hollow.
- Develop a detailed outline during “Preptober,” the NaNoWriMo’s preparation month.
- Write the first draft of Hag’s Hollow in the month of November for NaNoWriMo.
- Become a supporting member of the Horror Writers Association on December 1, 2018.
- Weeks one and two of December: Work on editing the first novel I wrote this year, a practice novel called The Witch of the Manor House. It’s horrible. Is it salvageable?
- The rest of December: Take a break from writing and editing, and read three literary horror novels. I think they’re called “upmarket genre” nowadays.
I want to write a book some day just not horror maybe mystery. I’ll be following your progress and taking notes.
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I like a good mystery novel, especially cozies. Thanks for stopping in. You were my FIRST commenter on this blog!
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Wishing you all the best on your journey. Sounds like you have a great plan in the works. Also, LOVE the title you chose!
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Thank you so much, Mae! You’re one of my heroines in the writing world, so your kind words mean a lot.:-)
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What a schedule, Pricilla. That’s an aggressive first draft. Don’t feel bad if it takes you longer, and most of all love the journey. ๐
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Thank you so much for the encouragement!
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Glad you started this blog. Sounds like it will be a challenging and rewarding trip. Good luck with your new novel. Have you joined a local read and critique group yet? If you are interested, I’d recommend checking with the Virginia Writers Club. https://www.virginiawritersclub.org/ I belong to the Blue Ridge Chapter and mostly enjoy it. Pat
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No, I haven’t found a group. THANK YOU for the link! And thanks for the good wishes, too.:-)
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I am pleased to meet you, Priscilla, and look forward to reading about your writing journey.
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Thank you so much. (I’m excited!)
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Good luck with this project. It’s more ambitious than anything I’ve ever tried.
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Aw, thanks.:-)
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You already have a nice working title. I like “Hag’s hollow”.
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Thank you so much! I am at this moment working on character descriptions. It’s fun. Thanks for stopping by!
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Isn’t it weird how sometimes I reply to a comment and my tiny little me image shows up, and then other times there’s no photo but a design instead. The mysteries of WordPress!
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May I add one more?
I’m going to assume you said yes. ๐
Read one of your favorite fiction novels. It has the be a favorite that your have always been drawn to. Like a favorite song it pulls you in.
I write comedy/romance but the novel I study is Stephen King’s IT. Crazy, I know. That novel is the best character driven novel I have ever read. By the time I finished I felt as though I knew those people. They were old friends.
The first time I read IT I asked myself – How did he do that?
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Haha, of course I said yes.:-) Great advice, thanks!
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Hi Priscilla. The horrors of horror, huh? ๐ I need to give my WriMo a kick in the NaNo and get going! Cheering you on to WriMo mo mo! Hugs.
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Thanks so much! Yes, get in gear. Go Teagan, go!
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