INTRODUCTION

If you’re reading this article, chances are you’re questioning how to write a book. You want to know more about the fiction writing process and how to finish a novel of your own. 

I am going to share with you the tips and tricks I used to finish my current novel, a contemporary romance. I am now on draft two of Project Emily–not its real title but named after the hero of my story. This includes how I came up with the story idea, techniques used to overcome writer’s block, and how I completed my book.

If you want to know how I did it–and how you can too–then keep reading. (Or scroll down to watch the video.)

INSPIRATION FOR THE STORY IDEA (WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW)

The idea for Project Emily came to me in 2014. I had just moved back to the US—my home country—after living and teaching in Daegu, South Korea for a year. I happened to be juggling a lot, mentally and emotionally, especially due to these factors:

2. I was doing a lot of the mental and physical workload on my team. There were also certain teammates freeloading off of me and taking credit for my work. I then became ostracized from this team the year after. It was very clear to me that the others were gossiping about me, instead of befriending me nor going to therapy to sort out their issues. I dealt with passive aggression and cold shoulders, the physicality of teaching, and my hair started falling out. I was extremely stressed.

3. I moved out of my parents’ house, for a second time. (Moving to South Korea was the first time.) I have never needed to return to my parents’ house since. It was very liberating yet lonely, but I enjoyed my peace and freedom. 

4. I had a lot of pressure, from my parents, to move back home with them. My parents were very offended by my moving out twice, even though my existence is purely to serve them or stay out of their sight. In other words, I had to remain invisible to them unless my presence benefitted them. If I didn’t give in, I was raged at, physically assaulted, called names–as an adult. (I originally moved to South Korea, for my own mental health sake.)

5. I had pressure to get married to whichever man walks through my parents’ doors and asks for my hand in marriage–I was just cattle to be sold off for the benefits of my parents.

All in all, I felt out of place and unwanted in my family and workplace.

They say to write what you know, so I took all this and formed it into my story idea for Project Emily. It was, and still is, a very emotional writing project for me, due to pouring so much of myself into this story, but that’s also why I love my hero and secondary characters. 

Writing about what I know allowed me to finish my book.

HOW I COMBATTED WRITER’S BLOCK

I actually put Project Emily away for some time because I originally didn’t have a strong story plot. I eventually hit writer’s block and had to put her away.

In the meantime, I worked on other projects and focussed on changing my career. Finally, in the summer of 2023–after realizing I had not been focussing on myself (but on pleasing family and looking for a better job)–I decided I wanted to become a writer. I’ve been wanting to be an author since the age of 12-13 years old. So I picked back up Project Emily.

To help me get further in writing Project Emily, I did such things as:

1. Watching advice videos from authors
2. Joining their newsletters
3. Watching free writing courses 
4. Reading self-help books on the craft of writing

All the research I’ve been doing to write Project Emily is what I teach here on my blog and over on my YouTube channel. (Like, Subscribe, and stay up-to-date with my latest videos here.)

THANK GOODNESS FOR AUDIOBOOKS

Another writing trick I did was listen to audiobooks.

Being a mom of two toddlers, still working 40 hours a week, I don’t have time to read. Any time I pick up a book, my kids want it too, so I don’t get the luxury of reading (not that I’m complaining because my children and their growth and wellbeing is my number one priority). Thankfully I discovered audiobooks!

I’m a late-bloomer when it comes to audiobooks. Personally I love the physical copy of a book. But my writing has been lacking, and I know it’s because I’m not reading enough. (If I do read, it’s a reread of one of my favorites instead. (See the list here.) Therefore, my vocabulary, sentence structures, use of dialogue, etc. are very poor. So I decided to try audiobooks since I sit in front of a computer, at work, all day. And they have been a lifesaver!

Being able to “read” again has allowed me to study story structures and the elements of a romance novel. Due to all the research I’ve been doing, I have also written more than I have in my many years of writing. I have boxes and USB’s of stories from my many years of writing, but Project Emily is one of few fully finished pieces.

HOW I FINISHED MY NOVEL

I’m very proud of myself for getting this far in Project Emily. As noted above, I’m currently on the second draft. I am perfecting the first draft by putting in more details, making my characters more complex, and making each chapter more significant. 

How did I do it?

I can’t give you details about my novel, but I can say that I ate my own medicine to get this far–and that is due to two things:

1. My free writing courses on YouTube
2. My Novel Writing Kit (see details here)

Essentially, implementing my own teaching has allowed me to write a book. (It should be a no-brainer for me–duh!)

This is no joke.

I want you, the reader, to be able to do this too. So go watch my free courses and get your Novel Writing Kit now! I would not be advocating this if this didn’t work. It does! Project Emily is proof!

Watch my story below:

CONCLUSION

I’ve been wanting to be a writer from a very young age. I have been working on a writing project for many years now, and I’ve finally been able to complete my novel, Project Emily. Getting this far is due to gaining a story idea from my own personal experiences, using many different methods to get out of writer’s block, listening to audiobooks in the genre I am writing, and completing the first draft of Project Emily due to my free writing courses and Novel Writing Kit. 

These are tried and true methods for me, and I know they will work for you too. 

If you want the secret to “How to write a book”, “How to finish a novel”, or “The fiction writing process”, then start applying all of this to your own writing.

Good luck and have fun writing!