An Off the Beaten Track Guide to Writing a Novel

Creative advice for non-linear minds and people who like to wander

Hello friends, welcome back,

Tell me, are you like me? Do you find that you wander on your creative path?

This week, I wanted to explore creative journeys. And one of the biggest creative journeys I have been on in the past years has been writing a novel.

I am not a linear writer. And I refuse to shame myself into being one. I am happy meandering, even if it’s a time-consuming process. I found it a huge challenge to navigate such a big writing project. To hold space to explore, while staying on course.

And today, I want to share some signposts which helped me stay on track.

A hiking trail in North East Myanmar. Photo: CKnapman

My novel arrived like a tiny flash of light. It was as if I had opened a door into a large expanse of darkness and could see one detail.

I wrote down that detail.

Then a few days later, another detail arrived. I wrote that down too.

Week by week, I could see slightly more of the story. That was how it appeared. Until there was a rough structure. A village. A landscape. A cast of characters.

I believe that if - in filling out the landscape of this novel - I had let my mind take the lead. If - I had let concepts like ‘order’ and ‘logic’ take hold of these embryonic ideas. I would have killed them.

I needed other tenets to build around.

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Previously, I had tried writing two other novels. These books ultimately did not gain momentum and I did not finish them, because I tried to structure them rather than explore them. And in doing that, I got incredibly bored of myself.

Several factors helped me reach the endpoint with this idea. Some of these were - being a bit older, having lived more and experimented more as a writer. Looking back, all my wandering around the globe also helped me to find ways to appreciate my tendencies. To wander, but still reach my destination.

But the main reasons I finished this book, was writing from a place of believing in my process. Feeling empowered to hold that first glimmer of an idea and nurture it.

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I read a lot of ‘advice about writing’, much of which sent me spinning in the wrong direction. So, I want to share the nuggets of advice which helped me head the right way.

These pieces of advice counter much of what we are taught about market, productivity and products. And that is why they are powerful.

I hope it might help you, especially if you are inclined to head off the beaten track.

Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash

1. “If you don't see the book you want on the shelf, write it.” - Beverly Cleary

These words lit something up in me. They helped me to distinguish what I wanted to write from what was in the market. They supported me to lean into my unique knowledge and ideas.

Ultimately, they led me to consider the books that had been true companions to me, and how I could write something which build on that legacy. To dig deep into my experiences and create a novel I deeply wished to read.

Some questions to explore this wisdom:

• What do I see missing in the world?

• What does the world need right now?

• What do I have to offer from my knowledge and personal story which I do not see represented?

2. Turn up until it meets you.

I am not sure who said this. But, this changed things.

I was used to doing the same yoga sequence every day. And I did the same with writing. I practiced. Until, I started to play.

I found that the ideas came more easily when they knew they had a space where they would be tended.

My novel came from this practice. I had been turning up regularly to write consistently for about 3 years when that idea arrived.

Making time for writing, also shut out other distracting things - like phone scrolling, movies or going to parties. I love going to parties, but there is something powerful in devoting time to what you love on a deeper level.

I would also add - do this in a fun way. Make it a ritual. Involve some delicious caffeine, a beautiful playlist, a good view and an exceptionally nice pen. And if you get bored, change the ritual until it is interesting again.

Some questions to use this wisdom:

• What small spaces of time can I find for the things that I love in my day-to-day or week-to-week?

• How can I practice and play with writing?

• What rituals can I create which will keep my brain interested in showing up?

3. “Follow your own fascinations, obsessions, and compulsions. Trust them.” ― Elizabeth Gilbert

Almost every obsession of mine finds its way into my novel. From Jungian psychology to global politics to folklore, to rural women to archetypes, to rural women’s cows, land governance and nature.

I also filtered a lot of my own experiences into the world of my characters - from trauma to travel. This was the juice that kept me going.

I think one of the reasons I did not finish previous book projects, was that I got bored. An average novel is 80000 + words, so you need to keep refuelling yourself. Obsessions are a great way to do that.

I found writing about my obsessions allowed me to keep going deeper, better understand the characters and maintain my interest in what I was creating. It also allowed me to learn more about subjects I already cared about.

Some questions to use this wisdom:

• What could you read and research without ever getting bored?

• What topics do you go back to over and over again in your life? Make a list.

• Even if they not seem to fit together - can you follow the contradictions and connections.

Into the dunes in the Scottish Hebrides. Photo CKnapman

4. Don't talk about it. - Clarissa Pinkola Estes

I learned this from Clarissa Pinkola Estes during her Original Voice course - I am paraphrasing her, as I do not remember the exact words. (If you like her writing, I cannot recommend her in-person teachings highly enough).

Her advice was to not talk about work in progress. Don’t gossip about it.

Hold it in a sacred container.

I found this such a powerful anecdote to the world of social media, which encourages us to shout about our ideas from the moment we have them.

Instead of being loud and posting online during the time I was writing, I stayed quiet. I didn’t talk about it to anyone except people I truly trusted. Perhaps a maximum of 5 people.

Even then, I didn’t give away many details. Ultimately my writing container felt like a womb and that was an immensely powerful tool in allowing me to connect to the fictional world I was shaping.

It also created a lot of momentum to complete the story. Because I looked forward to the time in the future when I could share it. And I had to finish it to be able to do that.

Questions to tap into this wisdom:

• How does my idea feel after I have told someone else or a group of people about it?

• What part of me is telling me I need to talk about this?

• Is talking about my project fueling me to write more about it?

5. “Write down the bones” ― Natalie Goldberg

During my writing process, a lot of life happened. On the way, I met internal and external roadblocks. Sometimes I stopped for a few months, because I was heartbroken or had a big work project, or the chapters no longer had energy.

Slowly, I worked through the thoughts, the patterns and the life things, which were keeping me stuck.

This is why you write down the bones. Because to complete something you have not done before, you need to face blocks you have not got past before.

For me, that meant finding processes to tend to myself, so I could get to the root of my blocks and move on.

I usually found there was wisdom in being stuck. There was always something useful there.

I began to understand that sometimes I just had to live a bit more to see where to go next. I needed a new emotional capacity to write the next pages. And I became comfortable with those pauses and moments of personal growth.

Uncovering new knowledge about myself allowed the process itself to be valuable. To respect the years it took to complete the writing.

To tend to my bones along the way.

Questions to explore:

• What part of me is feeling stuck/blocked? What is it telling me? What does it need?

• What other area of life is asking for my attention right now? What is it telling me? What does it need?

• What other dreams and ambitions do I have? How can I tend to them?

  

  A central Myanmar hiking trail. Photo CKnapman.

6. Get Scrivner

One practical addition here. If you have a non-linear mind, a multi-character plot, or anything with small parts that you need to break down and then build back up, Scrivner is well worth the relatively small investment. I don’t think I could have completed my book without it.

Questions to use this advice:

• Is your current writing process allowing you to organise your writing?

• Do you need to re-order your work frequently?

• Do you have processes that support the way your creative mind writes?

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If, like me you wander, I hope these ideas offer you sustenance to keep going on your creative path.

I believe the world needs more books written by following our inspiration, rather than the advice of productivity gurus.

Wander and gather the wisdom as you walk. Because the endpoint is not the point.

There is so much more to taste on the way.

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Walk with me

You, your story and your voice are welcome here.

Tell me:

• What signposts help you to believe in your creative process?

• What has been your biggest creative journey?