Occasional “how to” posts ranging from how to connect with booksellers and bookgroups to how to cope with Amazon stars (or lack thereof) or prettify your Facebook URL are indexed here. Please email me if you have anything you’d like to see covered, and if I can do it, I will. – Meg
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"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." — Eleanor Roosevelt 1st BOOKS is hosted by MEG WAITE CLAYTON
bestselling author of four novels, including The Wednesday Sisters (a writing group novel), and The Wednesday Daughters (coming July 30!)
Hi Meg, I am very interested in reading tips about starting-completing a novel and on to the getting it published. I have, what I believe to be, a extrodnary novel in my head. I have begun to write it. The little devil voices inside my head keep repeating, “no one will want to read this.” My angel voice tell me it is a story that needs to be written and shared. I know there are a lot of folks out there who believe they have all been duped with psychiatrist’s novels about there interesting patients. I have no PHD. I was a case manager at a rehab for pregnant women, or women with DFACS involvement. This has been the most rewarding job I have ever had. I met many wonderful, interesting women during my time there. However, one young lady found her way into my heart. Her son, he is autistic, did also. When I left that job, Angela and I began to talk on the phone and meet for lunch. My husband and I have been a part of their lives for 5 years now. I have known Angela for 15 yrs. We help her manage her monthly bills and provide a lighthouse for her in the times she gets lost in her storms. Angela has been diagnosed not only an addict, but also with ptsd, and dissociative disorder. aka known a multiple personalities. When I first met her, she had 19 alters. With therapy help, she is now down to 7. A much more manageable number. She has worked so hard to over come her childhood abuse. She has finally gotten over her huge fear of God and is patiently raising her 15 yr old Autistic son. She and her son live alone and are sometimes very lonely, but Angela is learning to make friends, after years and years of being told by her Mother that friends would only get her into trouble. She was never allowed to make friends while she lived with her parents. I would appreciate any advice you could give me. Thanks! Karen