Writing a novel can be a challenging and rewarding experience, and "The Detective" was no exception. In this post, I'll share my personal experience of writing the novel, from the initial inspiration to the final draft. Along the way, I encountered various obstacles and insights that shaped the story and my writing process. I hope this glimpse into my creative journey will inspire and inform other writers as they navigate their own paths to storytelling. So, let's dive in and explore the process of bringing "The Detective" to life.
Writing "the Detective"
When I first started to write "The Detective", I had a rough idea of what I wanted to do with the plot and story overall. I wanted to write a book in which the main character was an author who ended up in his own book and gradually started taking his new reality more and more serious, to the point he would form actual connections with the people and places in it. He was supposed to be a sort of cynical guy who really wasn't that pleased with his life anymore, as he had been in the past.
The idea of it being a detective novel of all things just came to me, out of nowhere. I had never written anything like it before, and I think that was one of the things that made it the way it is. It isn't a typical detective novel, yet at the same time it very much is. All of the key ingredients are there, after all. The only difference is the chapter at the beginning and the one at the end, where we see the "real world" that Mike lives in.
The Process
The process of writing the book took me just under a year, and it was an intense and immersive experience. I would often spend hours at a time lost in the world of the story, tweaking each scene until it felt just right.
One of the biggest challenges I faced in writing "The Detective" was striking the right balance between plot and character development. I wanted to create a mystery that kept readers guessing, but I also wanted to create fully realized characters with their own unique motivations and personalities. I spent a lot of time developing each character's backstory and motivations, even if those details never made it explicitly into the text. Because by understanding each character's history and personality, I was able to create a better story.
The amount of times I've googled something absolutely abhorrent for this book is out of this world. I've spent many hours researching poisons and ways to kill people. One even more gruesome than the other. All things considered, I think the count somehow had the least painful death. Which is ironic, since he was the worst guy there by a long stretch.
But in doing this, I've gained a lot of insight into how to kill people (in stories, in stories) and written some writer's guides about it. Because even though i found articles and such, it was never conclusive with all of the details i needed as a writer.
Another challenge I faced in writing the book was creating a sense of place and atmosphere. The story is set in 1950's London (read more about that), and I wanted to capture the unique cultural, social, and political landscape of that time and place. To do this, I spent time researching the history and culture of 1950's London, from the architecture and fashion to the politics and social issues of the time.
As I wrote the book, I also found myself writing larger themes of identity and power. The characters in "The Detective" come from different backgrounds and social classes, and their interactions and motivations are often shaped by their own experiences with power and privilege. By exploring these themes, I hoped to create a story that was both engaging and thought-provoking.
One of the most rewarding parts of the writing process was seeing the story and characters come to life on the page. As I revised and refined the manuscript, I could see the characters growing and changing, and the story taking on a life of its own.
Conclusion
Of course, writing a novel is not without its challenges and setbacks. There were times when I struggled to find the right words or to move the plot forward, and there were moments when I doubted whether the story was worth telling at all.
But ultimately, the experience of writing "The Detective" was incredibly rewarding. It allowed me to explore new ideas and themes, to challenge myself as a writer, and to create a story that I am proud to share with the world.
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