It is Never Too Late to Write Your First Book
It is never too late to write your first book. I’m currently writing a school life memoir of around 40,000 words that will be published early next year. And my next book project is already simmering. You too can do it. All you need is to believe in yourself.
I’m taking time out from life priorities at the moment, to update all my wonderful online writing friends about what is happening in my life. I’m absolutely humbled at how many of you have made time to contact me and ask how I am, even more so that you’ve actually noticed my absence from online writing in recent times.
In January I published a piece called Giving Myself The Gift of Time, explaining to my regular readers and friends why I wouldn’t be submitting as much writing as usual. After that I did manage to keep on for a while, but now, whether you’ve noticed or not, my online writing has come to a total standstill. In June I submitted a piece called Memoir Writing – Moving Into Phase Two, updating my friends and readers with my progress.
There are two reasons for my disappearance from the online writing world. One, but not necessarily the major one , is that I have returned to full-time teaching until the end of the year. As you can imagine, this keeps me exceptionally busy.
But, the real reason for my absence online, is the writing project I am involved in. Many of you, if you are my regular readers, have been following my memoir writing journey over the past year or so. For the past six months my focus has been on working on this project. For those of you who are not sure what I’m talking about, I am currently writing a memoir of my primary school days in the 1950s.
This project has been moving forward, slowly at first, but is now the focus of my writing life. I can report I’m currently on task to have the first draft of about 40,000 words in my editor’s hands by the end of October and the final draft to the publisher by the beginning of February. The school centenary I’m aiming to have it available for is in April 2013.
In order to keep me on task I’m currently attending a course in Wellington NZ, a two hour drive from where I live, on memoir and life story writing. This is a valuable experience and is certainly helping me add depth to my work. I recently wrote about this in a piece called A Day in the Company of Memoir Writers. I’m half way through this course now and even further through the first draft of my memoir.
For those of you who have been regular online writers, I want to recommend you try something bigger and more challenging than short online articles. This writing project I’m involved in is larger and more challenging than anything I’ve ever attempted before. And I’m loving it. But I couldn’t have done it without the discipline and skills I’ve developed over the last couple of years with online content writing. My message to all writers is, you are never too old to write your first book.
So, thank you to all who have noticed my absence on the sites I write for, I’m flattered that you’ve noticed I haven’t been around. My absence is not permanent. But, until my memoir is off to the publishers early next year, this will be my writing priority. Then, believe it or not, I have another book idea simmering in the back of my mind that I’m tempted to involve myself in. But, that will be another story, not to be released until 2013.
Online content writing has given me the skills and the confidence to take another step and write my book. You too can do it. You just have to believe in yourself.
Other articles by Val Mills:
Creating Writing From Forgotten Journal Entries
Memoir Writing – Moving Into Phase Two
Memoir Writing – Choosing a Focus
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July 23rd, 2012 at 2:49 am
Keep up the good work. And your absence online is understandable. Writers have to set priorities.
July 23rd, 2012 at 4:08 am
I hope your book’s available in Ireland Val – looking forward to it.
July 23rd, 2012 at 4:30 am
I am glad you have the conviction and the determination to follow your dreams. Wishing you every success…
July 23rd, 2012 at 5:21 am
Yes, I know what you mean about writing projects:)
Wishing you the very best of luck on your upcoming book:)
July 23rd, 2012 at 5:54 am
A briliant share.
Take care and enjoy your day.
Eddy
July 23rd, 2012 at 6:16 am
congratulations, i am imprssed
July 23rd, 2012 at 6:56 am
glad to see you back here, Val, missing you.
Happy that you are back to teaching, I believe this is what you enjoy. Thanks for the advice on books writing, I think I just can’t write as good as you guys, mine will be more like writing my own diary, also I wonder whether I have the courage to write about my life openly, the happy ones, and also the sad ones. I think I can’t write in sequence, but I may write randomly (censored) if I really try. Best wishes to you, Val. Keep writing and sharing with us.
July 23rd, 2012 at 7:26 am
I have started a book, I am sure it will take while to complete, but you are quite right, it is never too late.
July 23rd, 2012 at 9:41 am
It’s strange because just yesterday I was thinking about ideas for another book. This time a novel. With all the stress in my life since the first of the year, I have not written much. My life is getting back to normal or some degree of it, so I am ready to get back into writing. I have been reading your work but unable to comment again until now that Triond changed back to the old format for leaving comments. I wish you the best of luck in all you do. And you are right it is never too late to start any new part of your life, even a new book.
Take care, Pam
July 23rd, 2012 at 9:51 am
Val Wonderful article and good luck with your book invite me to the signing
Best Wishes
stevetheblogger
July 23rd, 2012 at 12:05 pm
You said it right, it’s really never too late to believe in yourself. I wrote my first book on communism, though the response was not near to good, but I didn’t stop writing. My next book is on the way… you never know what hits you!!!
July 23rd, 2012 at 12:35 pm
For sure, writing a book is not for the faint of heart. It takes time, dedication, rewrites, editorial efforts and publishing frustrations. Then the hard part starts. : ) Best of luck with your book, and with full-time teaching, no one can say you are not dedicated!
July 23rd, 2012 at 12:36 pm
For sure, writing a book is not for the faint of heart. It takes time, dedication, rewrites, editorial efforts and publishing frustrations. Best of luck with your book, and with full-time teaching, no one can say you are not dedicated!
July 23rd, 2012 at 9:58 pm
Hi Val, so glad your memoir writing is coming along nicely, and as always, it’s good to see you here
. I remember when you were talking about starting your memoir writing journey and now, here you are, getting ready to have your first draft in your editor’s hands by the end of October, and might I add, I am just too excited for you 
), I wish you continued good luck on your wonderful journey!!
July 24th, 2012 at 1:52 am
I have been writing my first novel, you inspire me. Thank you
July 24th, 2012 at 6:36 am
Thanks for post
I will write my first book
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July 24th, 2012 at 11:23 pm
thanks for sharing.
July 25th, 2012 at 9:24 am
Good. Luck. With. Your. Book. I have a journal about five com
pleted ones. I should be writing a book. Stay encouraged!
July 25th, 2012 at 9:47 am
Interesting.Enjoyed reading it.Thanks for sharing
July 26th, 2012 at 1:51 am
thanks for sharing!
July 29th, 2012 at 3:22 pm
That course sounds interesting. I’m sure you are having fun.
July 30th, 2012 at 4:58 pm
Interest, like information, thank good job
August 7th, 2012 at 12:41 pm
I wish you all the best. Thanks for sharing your work.
August 10th, 2012 at 6:51 pm
Well done, Val. Nice that you tempt people to write in a wider spectrum of creativity – not just for online writing sites.
November 18th, 2012 at 7:53 pm
Congrats on your accomplishing goals. Hard work I now see pays off. I have just recently joined this site and enjoy all kinds of writing. One day I would like to write a book. Good luck and and I will be reading a lot of your other pieces you have done.