{"id":37635,"date":"2025-11-05T17:45:03","date_gmt":"2025-11-05T22:45:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pat-matthews.com\/stories\/?p=37635"},"modified":"2025-11-05T17:45:03","modified_gmt":"2025-11-05T22:45:03","slug":"embracing-the-journey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pat-matthews.com\/stories\/2025\/11\/05\/embracing-the-journey\/","title":{"rendered":"Embracing the Journey"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The number one question I\u2019m asked about writing books isn\u2019t about the mechanics of writing, or time management, or even generating ideas. Instead, my most asked question is how I keep myself focused for the months (or years) needed to finish a novel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A short pithy answer would be to say that I embrace the journey, but without knowing my process, that\u2019s kind of meaningless. So, let’s start with my process. Here are my four steps to writing a novel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 1: Accumulate ideas<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For Bradley\u2019s Dragons<\/a>, the genesis was my son asking me what type of frogs some tadpoles would turn into. I had no idea. I wasn\u2019t even sure if all of the swimming squiggles we were watching were tadpoles. It was a small mental leap to realize that I also didn\u2019t know what (or who) my kids were going to become.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The idea was invigorating, and I realized it could be the start of a book. I stashed it away until I had other ideas to combine with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 2: Go! Go! Go!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Once I have enough concepts twirled together, I write the first fifty pages of the story. There\u2019s no outlining or charting. I just write. It\u2019s fast, frustrating, exciting, and maddening all at the same time. Imagine starting a marathon at a dead sprint. That\u2019s what I do, every single time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many projects die during this period. Others get put on hold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 3: Get serious<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

At this point, my first fifty(ish) pages have inspired me to settle in for the long haul. I review themes, characters, tone, voice, and structure, and analyze the project as a whole. Does it really have the legs to go all the way? Can I pull it off?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That last question is best thought of as terrifying. I\u2019ve sprinted the first part of the marathon and am usually more than a little beaten up. Am I going to push forward?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Assuming the answer is yes, I begin the long and sometimes arduous journey of writing the book. Surprising discoveries are made, as are dark realizations. Chapters get written and discarded. Themes change. Characters are erased from existence. Long hours of writing are followed by more long hours of writing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weight is gained. Nervous twitches develop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 4: Final edits & polish<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s a celebratory moment when the book is first \u201cdone,\u201d but it\u2019s immediately followed by iterative improvements. In addition to my own editing, I involve early readers and editors. Everything is evaluated and reworked. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The analysis is unflinching and involves moments both heartbreaking and euphoric. For context, I have three full novels, countless picture books, and at least a dozen games that reached this stage, but never made it through. Emil<\/a> is my most recent book to survive this process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Motivation is the secret<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Step 1 of my process is filled with building curiosity and excitement. When they reach a fever pitch, I move to step 2. At that point, I am absolutely convinced that the book is going to be freaking awesome. I can\u2019t stress this enough. It won\u2019t just be good. It\u2019ll be awesome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With that driving me forward, I commit to a months-long emotional roller coaster that includes everything from giddy exultation to dark despair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And that\u2019s what I like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I understand my process might not be for everyone. It\u2019s safer, and perhaps more efficient, to take a measured approach, to moderate expectations. After all, if we don\u2019t expect to make something great, we won\u2019t be disappointed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s not for me. I\u2019ve tried living in a world of gray, and I hate it. Bring on the highs and lows. Will I get battered and beaten? Probably, but I\u2019d rather train myself to deal with pain than train myself to miss out on excitement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Embracing the journey is what keeps me moving forward. I don\u2019t ease into a project. I throw myself at it, then fight and claw and cry and laugh until either the book is written, or I\u2019m forced to admit defeat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How about you? Do you get emotionally invested in your writing? Do you believe that the thing you\u2019re making is freaking awesome?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If not, if you\u2019re living in the gray of moderated expectations, and would like to hop on an emotional rollercoaster, here are a couple hard-earned tips:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tip #1 \u2013 Actively pursue self-confidence<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This tip isn\u2019t about getting more confident in our writing, though that\u2019s a good idea. This tip is about gaining confidence in ourselves, in our ability to handle whatever is thrown at us. We need to understand that if our current project doesn\u2019t succeed, the next one will. It doesn\u2019t matter how many punches we take. We\u2019re always getting back up. Always.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do we get to that level of confidence? Actively pursue it. When we have a success, we celebrate. Whether it\u2019s a chapter or a book or a well-cooked meal, we own our successes. We don\u2019t chalk them up to luck or chance or being in the right place at the right time. Every success is proof that we can succeed again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tip #2 \u2013 Engage warrior mode<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When setbacks happen, and they will, we need to recognize them as the gut-punches that they are. The pain is real. There\u2019s no reason to pretend it doesn\u2019t exist. Failures don\u2019t mean we\u2019re horrible. They mean we have lessons to learn. So, we feel the pain, we learn the lessons, and we throw ourselves back into the fight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That’s it!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

How does it sound to you? If you give it a try, drop me a comment to let me know how it goes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regardless of your creative process, though, I hope this has been helpful to you. The world needs what you\u2019re creating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Never doubt it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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