It has been a while since I wrote about my progress with writing my novels, so I thought I’d share my journey of how a novice wrote and published two short novels.
How Jerry Jenkins’s Course Influenced a Novice Wrote and Published Two Short Novels
I signed up for Jerry Jenkins’ Blueprint course, which was incredibly helpful. It guided me as a novice through writing and publishing two short novels. I hadn’t revisited it before, so I figured it was time. I didn’t follow all of his advice, as the course is geared toward writers submitting novels to publishers.
The benefit is clear—publishers handle final edits, polish the book, and secure spots in major bookstores. However, they take a significant portion of the profits. While they may advertise your book, you still need to do your marketing.
Jerry Jenkins’ course teaches how to structure a novel, commit to at least six hours of writing per week, and edit rigorously. Someone encouraged me to show rather than tell, and I have worked hard to implement it.
I submitted my first chapter for an editor to review as part of the course. This was a valuable experience that helped me refine my writing.
Beta Readers influenced how a Novice wrote and published two short stories.
Having beta readers was a crucial part of my writing process and helped a lot with how a novice wrote and published two short novels. A friend’s boyfriend, who also enjoys writing, offered to beta-read my book and provided a detailed critique. I also found another beta reader through a Facebook writing group, who gave me in-depth feedback. Finally, I paid a small fee (around $20-$30) to a professional beta reader who reviews books regularly. The insights from all three readers were invaluable, especially when I noticed recurring feedback across their critiques.
AI, in the Writing Process, influenced how a Novice wrote and published two short stories.
AI has its place in enhancing writing, but I found it a mixed experience. While it improved readability in some areas, it often rewrote my passages, making them more “tell” than “show” despite my instructions. AI also removed much of my dialogue and repeated certain words, which frustrated me. After reading discussions with other authors, I realized AI can be a double-edged sword—it may refine writing. Still, it also risks stripping away an author’s unique voice and authenticity. Correcting multiple AI-generated mistakes made me even more convinced that AI should be used cautiously.
Second Beta Reads
For the second round of beta reading, I worked with the same beta reader from the Facebook group. We swapped manuscripts—I beta-read her novel while she did the same for mine. This second beta read was essential in helping me clarify and refine aspects of my book that still needed improvement.
Professional Editing and Publishing
One of the pastors at my church, Vince Esterman, has successfully written and published several books. I asked him for recommendations on professional editing services, and he directed me to a company in America. Recommendations are valuable because they help ensure quality service when investing in professional editing when you are a novice who wrote and published two short novels.
Before self-publishing my novels on Amazon, I used this company for a developmental edit and other necessary refinements.
My Next Steps
I am currently addressing a publishing issue with Hyacinth, the Time-Travelling Cat. Due to an error I made when requesting the book’s inner layout is currently unavailable in Australia. I need to resolve this issue to expand my book’s availability.
Additionally, I am working on the sequel to Two Crabs and a Stone and planning the next instalment of Hyacinth, the Time-Travelling Cat. Having sequels available will encourage readers to continue following the stories.
Marketing is another area I need to focus on. While I am eager to write more novels, I also need to work on promoting the ones I have already published to reach a wider audience.
Final Thoughts
How a novice wrote and published two short novels was a journey of learning, trial and error, and perseverance. Every step contributed to my writing growth, from taking Jerry Jenkins’ course to working with beta readers, experimenting with AI, and hiring a professional editor. I look forward to refining my publishing strategies and bringing more stories to life!
