At this moment, I am working on the next title for the Before Ember series. And it made me think about the difficulty in writing a whole book on my own again.

It was quite a challenge writing the first book, The Withered. About six years I’d say had been spent figuring out how to lay out the story. Many times, I have changed the plot, the characters, the setting, the themes, everything that you can think of! Not to mention, I have also struggled with health issues that prevented me from going back. There were times when I couldn’t even remember where I last left off. And because of that, I’ve had to start from scratch a couple of times. But after some sessions and the loving support from my family, I eventually prevailed and managed to finish what I had started.

If you’re interested, check out my book on Amazon!

One key factor that allowed me to see this through to the end was the idea of a story never getting its conclusion. And unfortunately, there are many different stories that might not be finished. One example I can think of is Hunter X Hunter. Another is an underrated cartoon called Infinity Train (if anyone knows that show, you rock). Both of them are great, but they are both struggling for different reasons. For Hunter X Hunter, it is on a hiatus due to the author’s (Yoshihiro Togashi) health issues. And as for Infinity Train, it got cancelled due to the darker elements and mature storylines that children would not be able to relate to. Either way, it is incredibly disheartening that these series might not be able to continue and finish.

So, for me, I don’t want that to happen to me down the line. Whether it’s because I am suffering health issues again or financial problems, I’d want to see these stories I have held in my mind come to fruition. Because they are begging to be written out!

A good form of practice that I have used to keep up with the writing process is reaching a word count. Many authors have practiced this method. For some, they would write 1000 words a day. Others have gone over and done 5000 words a day. For me, I stick to the 1000 words.

Another suggestion would be to get some exercise. After all, a healthy body will lead to a healthy mind. It has certainly helped clear my head. A simple walk through the park would also help to. An hour spent outside would be more than beneficial.

Any method is important if you want to craft and write out your story from start to finish. At the end of it all, you can give yourself a pat on the back for a job well done! And I am very thankful to those who have supported me throughout the process! It means a lot!

I cannot wait to get the ball rolling for this next book of mine!