So I did a Thing. I completed a novel. I say “completed” instead of “wrote” because I’ve written many incomplete novels over the decades. This is the first one I pushed over the finish line. Yay.
For those interested in following the journey of my novel manuscript, I’ll be sharing the experience by way of a vlog series on my YouTube channel.
In this very first video, after announcing and being quite happy with myself for completing a novel, I chat a bit about genre and writing magical systems in fiction. In terms of genre, authors are always insisting they’ve written a “genre blending” novel and I guess I’m no exception.
You could say this is a work of speculative fiction. Though Book I (of the trilogy) is heavyset in the fantasy genre, I’m going to bring in a sprinkle of sci-fi in Book II.
You could also say it’s historical fiction with magical realism.
But I’ve been pitching it as YA (young adult) epic historical fantasy.
I want to vlog this journey because it’s an important one for me. Since high school I’ve aspired to be a novelist and at various points of my young adult life, attempted the endeavor and failed each time. When Holistic Tarot came out, internally I had given up on that dream of being a novelist because I just felt I was too old. You’re always hearing about the young, genius 20-something year-old debut author and at the oldest, early 30s. Kind of bizarrely irrational, isn’t it? We as a society prize the social and philosophical commentary of the 21-year-old but after the age of 40, you’re way over the hill and should just whither away in domesticity. Anyway, after the age of 35, I just grew complacent.
Recently I renewed my determination to finish the novel and thought to myself, go big or go home. I’m going to try my hand at a trilogy!
Anyway, here’s my first video. =) I’m very much looking forward to sharing this journey with you and along the way, hope you’ll offer your insights, opinions, perspective, experience, and wisdom to help support my journey. =)
benebell wen 
This is fantastic news, and the story sounds right up my alley! Count on my support regardless of the publisher. I’m ready to pre-order 🙂 In regards to “being too old” I offer you this:
– Julia Child was 49 years old when her 1st cookbook Mastering the Art of French Cooking, was published.
– Anna Mary Robertson Moses (Grandma Moses), one of the most celebrated names in American fine arts and folk arts, didn’t even pick up a paint brush until she was 76.
– Colonel Sanders founded the Kentucky Fried Chicken company at 65.
Rock on!
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Woohoo! Congratulations! This is exciting.
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Yay! And now comes the hard part for us—the waiting until it is published. Thank you for sharing your journey.
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haha yeah, it’s going to be around a 2-year wait. ^_^*
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Yay!! That is so exciting!! I can’t wait to read the first book in the trilogy!!
Will you go the self-publishing route with your non-fiction? Dean Wesley Smith’s website is a good resource if you’d like to look further into that option. 🙂
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Yay go you! Finishing (one of) all the things!
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Congratulations, Bell – what an accomplishment! Can’t wait to read it.
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Congrats on finishing it and now getting it ready for publication. It sounds like an interesting story and refreshingly different from all the High School novels saturating the market with sparkly magick. 😀 I’m sure you’ll do fine and be published in no time because you already have a following and the other books under your belt. That’ll help a lot. Don’t fret.
Thanks for sharing your journey; I look forward to hearing more about it and thanks for all the tips too.
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Congratulations on the beginning the next step in your journey!! I’m looking forward to what is coming next!!
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I am so glad to stumble upon this post. Being an aspiring novelist myself, it can sometimes be a lonely world. Like you, I’ve been dreaming about this since I was in school. I have yet to publish a novel. Finished one manuscript but the story was way too weak without any proper direction. I’m halfway through my second novel, first draft.
Congratulations on completing your manuscript and good luck! You are the perfect example of why aspiring writers should never give up. I am definitely going to draw inspiration from your attitude!
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Love this and have subscribed to your channel and would love to have you subscribe to my channel thegodminute here so we don’t miss any new posts from each other https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWueaTClFgRYflNdBlATKDQ
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