If you’d told me two years ago that I’d be writing my first book, I probably would’ve laughed. Now, I’m rewriting chapters, changing characters, brainstorming plot twists, and realizing that every new idea opens the door to ten more. 

Lessons I’ve Learned While Writing My First Book 

One thing I’ve learned is that books aren’t written perfectly on the first try. My story has changed a lot since I started. Characters have gotten new names, scenes have been rewritten, and I’ve changed the entire direction of the story at least once. At first, I thought that meant I was doing something wrong. Now I realize it’s just part of the process.

I thought writing my first book would be simple, and the story would just come to me as I wrote. I have never been so wrong. You have to plan out the plot and make connections you’d never considered before. That isn’t always the case, though. The writing process works differently for every person.

How the Writing Process Works for Me

For me, writing isn’t just about putting words on a page. It’s about asking, “What if?” over and over again until the story starts to feel real. Sometimes I’ll think of a new idea while I’m reading, while watching a movie, or right before I fall asleep. As those changes come to life, I get more and more ideas to the point where I suddenly have five different directions the story could take. Then comes the hard part—choosing the one I love the most. Once I choose one, I continue building the story from there.

Why Rewriting Is Worth It 

The one thing that hasn’t stayed the same in my story is… well, almost everything.  Every time you rewrite a chapter, every change, it just makes your story stronger. Terry Pratchett once explained that a first draft is mainly about telling yourself the story. After that, the process becomes about shaping it into something you can share with others.

The Difficult Parts of Writing a Book 

I know I talk about ideas a lot, but all the changes are definitely difficult. Out of nowhere, I’ll get an idea that will make the story take an unexpected turn. It’s a good idea, but it can make the story too complicated. When you have too many ideas, it can make it difficult to figure out which ones are actually good for the book and which ones to toss. 

Another difficult thing is focusing on all the small details. You wouldn’t expect how many little things you have to think about: the names, locations, timelines, whether or not things make sense. 

Even though this doesn’t necessarily make anything “difficult,” I think it is important to note that characters can surprise you. Characters you think are shy and quiet start to become more confident, or a character’s past changes because it fits the story better. The sky is the limit.

My Favorite Part of Writing My First Book 

My favorite part of writing my first book is that anything is possible. No one can tell me how the story is supposed to go. For all we know, the main character could secretly be a unicorn from the lost city of Atlantis. I mean, she’s not, but she could be. It can be about anything you want, and it can share any message you want.

I’m still learning, and this book is nowhere near perfect yet—but that’s okay. Every chapter teaches me something new about storytelling, and every edit helps make the story a little stronger.

Thanks for joining me on this journey. I can’t wait to share more behind-the-scenes moments, sneak peeks, and updates as I continue writing my first book. Have you ever started a creative project that turned out to be completely different from what you expected? If so, I’d love to hear about it.

Diya