I finished writing my first book!!!

November 18, 2024 | Ciaphas Cain

[Ciaphas Cain]

I had been trying to write this for more than ten years. Several months ago the desire to see it through came more than ever before. And then during the summer it was like God was telling me "you need to write this, you can do it."

I found that comfort is key. The vast majority of the manuscript was composed in Word on my iPad Pro. I had that and its complementary keyboard sitting on a lap desk atop my legs as I sat on the sofa. It was a position that let me think and write easily. For good luck a lot of the time, like yesterday, I wore a Star Wars t-shirt that a friend got me. Comfy and has plenty of room in the sleeves for moving arms and hands around while working.

Add in the dog curled up next to me as I worked and the conditions were great for writing. But she's also very glad that the manuscript is finished. More time to play with her now :-)

[Ciaphas Cain]

Years ago my then-girlfriend and I visited the Timberline Lodge in Oregon, where they shot the exteriors of the Overlook. It was June but there was a lot of snow on the ground. She snapped a HILARIOUS picture of me channeling my inner Jack Torrance. The Overlook had claimed another writer LOL

[piytar]

Congrats Mr. Ciaphas Cain. Writing a book is tough.

I know. Working on one now. Have a highly skilled collaborator.

Working on one on my own. Struggling with some of the dialogue. I tend to be too technical.

Have helped with a few others.

Look up The Journey: The Mike Volmer Story (warning: it is a tear jerker.) My Mom wrote that one. I helped.

Takes time and effort. A lot of time and effort. Tis not easy.

So well done!

If you need help with publication, well I know that game. PM me.

[Ciaphas Cain]

My advice: pray. Ask God to give you the tenacity and strength to get you through it. Trust that He will provide that. And then just DO IT. Take that first step. Write a few words and see where that takes you. If it doesn't seem right you can go back and try again. Keep doing that until you've got a real "flow" going. Pretty soon you'll discover that what seemed like an insurmountable chore has become a very real thrill that you can't wait to get back to. You will find that in writing there is real MOVEMENT of your heart and soul, as much as anything on this earth can be. The seemingly simple act of writing becomes something that makes you feel ALIVE. And why shouldn't it? You are creating something for others to discover and draw both entertainment and enlightenment from. You writing changes the world. Maybe in ways you'll never understand. But it does.

The thing that got me through this project was a lot of prayer. I took a DEEP dive into my life. There is a lot of unpleasantness in there, especially fighting manic depression for half my life (I turned 50 this past March). It genuinely HURT to write about some things. But God saw me through it. And now maybe there is a tale that people might someday reach and take something good from it. That's my hope anyway.

[fatima]

Great.

[Ciaphas Cain]

I'm going to rest for the next week or so. Then maybe next week after Thanksgiving I'm going into the folder and start re-reading the manuscript with fresh eyes. Looking for things that need edits and revisions (I made one yesterday, at the start of the chapter about my wedding, and it totally made it much better). If I can afford it I'm going to then hire a pro editor to go over it and see things that maybe I can't.

And then, I set about trying to find a literary agent. It's very much on my heart to see this get traditional publishing. I may take you up on that offer :-)

[Chainmail]

Hi Laz!

If there is any interest, I wrote my memoir about my service in Vietnam a couple of years ago - it's available on Amazon at Books - My Memories of Vietnam and After. and a bunch of other sites too.

The photos are all taken by me and my friends and so far, the reviews are pretty good.

[Danie_2023]

LOL!

Um... already tried that. Didn’t work...

as planned.

[Danie_2023]

“And now maybe there is a tale that people might someday reach and take something good from it. That’s my hope anyway.”

Thank you... for those great and inspiring words. Yes, I’m thinking the tale I’ve been hatching for so long... might indeed provide something good.

It’s a bit of a mystery ... and let’s face it... life IS a mystery. Many beliefs, but so few things we can prove... and so many things we still don’t know, for certain. The mystery to my tale’s plot will be ... is the main character an eternal being? An angel? A time-traveling “helper”? Those questions will be left open to the reader’s own imagination... and will remain a mystery.

Thanks again!

[OneVike]

Congratulations. As a man who spent time writing a book, I know the difficulty involved. Great feat and again, congratulations.

[shoff]

Congratulations! I know writing takes a lot out of you but the feeling of being done is like no other. Keep us update on it’s progress thru the publishing process.

[Antoninus]

Congratulations!

I refuse to buy a copy unless I'm in it. ;-)

[Antoninus]

Is this a new thing, Laz? Or have I only recently been added to the ping list for it?

Either way, it's a good idea.

[Lazamataz]

You are in the ping list.

[Moltke]

I have a tip. Just sit down and start typing. Type ANYTHING.

ANYTHING

ANYTHING

ANYTHING

ANYTHING

ANYTHING

ANYTHING

ANYTHING

ANYTHING

ANYTHING

ANYTHING

Hey, I'm really starting to get the hang of this.

ANYTHING

ANYTHING

ANYTHING

ANYTHING

ANYTHING

ANYTHING

ANYTHING

Look mom, I'm a writer now!