I started a new writing project this week. I’m nearly 4,000 words in so far (nearly 2 full chapters).

The process of starting to writing a new novel is scary. It requires a high level of long-term commitment and once you’re really in it, it’s hard to go back or quit. At some point you just have to trust in the work.

In this particular piece, I’m already getting in-tune with my characters. Their voices already sound like people I know. I haven’t felt this connected to a work in progress in a long time.

I was inspired specifically by the lack of representation in the Young Adult Fiction genre for stories about this experience (that will not be named yet) and how it has affected so many people, specifically young people. I realize this sounds very cryptic. The themes of home, family, identity, and culture shock are main aspects of this new novel. I’m so excited about it!

The way I see the first draft writing process is like writing all the words of the story down like sand in a sandbox. Once I have all the sand, I’ll be able to mold and build it like a sandcastle. I can’t wait until I have that sandcastle!