In Which I Attempt to Publish a Novel

Follow along to see how it happens.

In September, 2021, I started writing a novel, titled, The Blue Jay. It’s about a human man who unintentionally changes bodies with a bird, and what subsequently happens to both beings. Over the next few months, I intend to complete the writing and try to find a publisher, and I invite you to follow along as I document the process in as much detail as I think you’ll find interesting.

Here are three reasons I decided to write this Substack about it:

I need to keep a clear head about the process. It’s true that novel-writing is a long road I have to walk by myself. Other people can help (and they have), but I’ve been alone most of the time, which is somewhat challenging for an extrovert like myself. Then again, when you’re working on spec, distractions and interruptions can’t be fended off as easily as when you actually have a paying gig. It’s a balancing act.

Also, not everyone I’ve met on the road — or will meet — is helpful. For that reason, I’ve avoided mentioning this project to almost everyone since the beginning. My usual M.O. is transparency, so not talking about my work has felt slightly dishonest, but that’s nothing compared to the other trouble I can generate for myself.

During the actual writing, there are 1,000 pitfalls that’ll derail the story, or weaken it. Until I reached a particular place of confidence in what I was writing — the purposes of characters, the structure of the story, the overall mood — I could easily have become overwhelmed by internal questions about my intent and my vision. Self-doubt can be useful because it’s what gets me up in the morning to check my work, make corrections, and buff a draft until it feels all shiny and nice. But when it gets out of hand, it’s a show-stopping monster.

I’d like to build readership. Hi! Thanks for reading this! Maybe you’ll like me. I can be fun sometimes. Here, in the sterile world of your screen. Talk to me in the comments! I promise, I’ll answer you (unless you’re acting like a dick). The great thing about being a writer is, you can take me to bed with you, or to lunch, or the bathroom. Without embarrassment or guilt. And as I near the end of my first novel-writing experience and navigate the hazards of getting published, you can enjoy watching me make mistakes and falling on my ass, and then getting back up again. Look forward to fun, inspiration, voyeurism —what more can you want? And if this novel-writing thing works out, you’ll be right there with me. We’ll be pals, kinda like.

Finally, It feels important to share my experience with others. I’ve talked to a LOT of people who’ve undertaken to publish and have abandoned their project because they became discouraged. Well, I’m not going to get discouraged, and I hope you’ll help me remain upbeat. The book may ultimately be unsuccessful, but I’m going to finish writing it, and do whatever I have to do to get it out there. Maybe reading about the ups and downs will be useful to you, somehow. Maybe we’ll learn together about tools, processes, connections, and disturbing truths (such as the my liking the Oxford comma). Maybe, if you’re a published author, you’ll have words of advice or encouragement. Maybe this whole thing will be hilarious in some way I can’t predict.

As the title of the substack implies, I don’t mind doing difficult things that need to be done, but I do like to have a little fun along the way. I hope you’ll follow along. Maybe your participation will be good for both of us. Maybe it’ll be good for all of us.