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Happy New Year, Sauletai Temirkhan!


 (originally published on my Wordpress site on 24.01.02.)


I wrote in the About the author page that this blog is where I want to document my novel writing journey. But how much can you really share while the story is still being written? We authors are a peculiar bunch in that we feel very protective of our stories and our characters, and we rather not introduce them to the world until they are ready. 

Then there’s the whole notion of the mystique and - dare I say - sanctity of the writing process that is very important to some authors. Others are less finicky about such dramatic notions. I myself fall somewhere in the middle. While I am open about my process (read: routines) I do feel protective of said process while I’m still in the middle of it. I’m happy to discuss any of my finished stories. A work in progress is a different beast altogether. 

So, what exactly am I going to share on this blog? Where do I draw the line between information I am happy to share with you and information that is just for me (and my many notebooks)? To be perfectly honest, I don’t know. But this is exactly why I started this project in the first place: this is supposed to be an exploration. I want to figure out what it’s like to write a novel in a year. This project is about finding out the answers instead of having them ready-made. It’s about allowing things to take time; allowing for failure, for false starts, and dead-ends. 

Am I going to tell you what the novel is about, at least? Why, I already did! And, yes, of course, I will be sharing more information as we go along. I will also write about books and other stories I’m using in my research, as well as the books (movies, tv-shows etc.) that inspire me. Hell, I may even share some original art!

But all in good time. For the most part, I want this blog to be a safe space for sharing my day-to-day challenges of writing a novel, and the eventual solutions to said challenges. Be it impostor syndrome, being chronically online, or how to research an obscure topic - this is what this blog will be about. 

So, follow me on this flawed journey, and happy writing.

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