This gives me so much hope and strength.. like actual optimism and a re-taste of my self belief.. by sharing exactly how you’re holding your hand through the maze that is a wildly creative life, you’re holding our hands too. Anyone who is waiting for their first tangible project will resonate deeply with this piece, especially in the wobble and adulting you write about.
What struck me is that this feels less like a story about writing a novel and more like a story about making space for a new version of yourself. The novel seems to be arriving alongside that process rather than separate from it.
Thank you for reading, Nisha. What were the early stages of writing your memoir like? I'm sure there's so much I could learn from you and your process!
Good question! I took a memoir class where I created an outline based on Save the Cat Writes a Novel. I focused on getting the first 10k words "perfect" because I heard you can submit memoir to agents with the first 3 chapters. (I ended up really liking them, but now that I'm almost done with my first draft, I'm seeing they might have to change entirely!) Then I took another class where I wrote around 30k words completely unedited! And now I'm finally seeing the finish line to this first draft, knowing full well I may have to make some big changes. I think I'm going to take a break and play with some fiction before returning to the 2nd draft. It's been a journey...
Oh wow that already sounds relatable, although I've barely begun. I am strapping in for a long process, expecting structural changes even. It's affirming to hear that's usually how it goes. Thank you for sharing so honestly!
This gives me so much hope and strength.. like actual optimism and a re-taste of my self belief.. by sharing exactly how you’re holding your hand through the maze that is a wildly creative life, you’re holding our hands too. Anyone who is waiting for their first tangible project will resonate deeply with this piece, especially in the wobble and adulting you write about.
I sure hope so. My biggest learning has been it's really tough, but when it's time it just feels worth it. And that wobbling along is so allowed!
What struck me is that this feels less like a story about writing a novel and more like a story about making space for a new version of yourself. The novel seems to be arriving alongside that process rather than separate from it.
Spot on. That's exactly how it's been feeling!
Oooof - I love all of this and relate to it too! Thank you for sharing this with us.
Thank you for reading, Nisha. What were the early stages of writing your memoir like? I'm sure there's so much I could learn from you and your process!
Good question! I took a memoir class where I created an outline based on Save the Cat Writes a Novel. I focused on getting the first 10k words "perfect" because I heard you can submit memoir to agents with the first 3 chapters. (I ended up really liking them, but now that I'm almost done with my first draft, I'm seeing they might have to change entirely!) Then I took another class where I wrote around 30k words completely unedited! And now I'm finally seeing the finish line to this first draft, knowing full well I may have to make some big changes. I think I'm going to take a break and play with some fiction before returning to the 2nd draft. It's been a journey...
Oh wow that already sounds relatable, although I've barely begun. I am strapping in for a long process, expecting structural changes even. It's affirming to hear that's usually how it goes. Thank you for sharing so honestly!
Such a journey, and I am sure it will be worth it 💖