I've written two pages of my next novel.

And you can too!

People often ask me what it’s like to start writing a new book. Well, I’ve written six books and it’s still scary as hell. It never gets freaking easier! For me writing the first 2 pages may be the hardest part.

Why? Because I’ve gotta capture the narrator’s voice real good. And that means days of visualizing the character, practicing her voice and mannerisms. It also means endless research. I went into Lake Success, which is a book about hedge funds, with close to 200 pages of notes cause I knew so little about finance at the start. The book I’m working on now is a little easier because it concerns journalism and I know quite a bit about that world. Still, I spent a year hanging out with young journalists, journalism school deans, while also chilling in the newsrooms of the Times and Buzzfeed (long story). I’m starting this puppy with 38 pages of single-spaced notes, and I think I’m not even halfway there yet in terms of research.

But having finished the first 2 pages I do feel better. I’m starting to understand this character more and I feel she’s coming to life. So the very act of writing two pages primes the development of the character and now when I wlak down the street, I can almost sense her walking next to me.

There’s something the kids call “self-care” which I’m super into as well. To celebrate writing the first two pages I’m treating myself real swell this week. I’ll be noshing on some next-level corn at the Kinsley Inn in Kingston and luxuriating over many martinis (I only had 13 drinks last week, which is below my 14 drink limit!). But even as I stuff myself stupid, I’ll be taking down notes on my iTelephone figuring out what my character does next.

Oh, and one more note: there’s a good chance that even after I write 100 pages of this novel, everything will be trashed. That’s part of the horrific reality we writers sign up for. In the past decade I’ve trashed close to 500 pages of written stuff, enough for almost two novels. The only thing that keeps me going is the intense desire to unbosom to the reader and the wonderful quality of readers I’ve kept throughout the years. Thanks for reading, y’all.