How I Wrote My First 35,000-Word Novel — A Beginner’s Journey into Creative Writing

 My Journey of Writing a 35,000-Word Novel

 From Zero to the First Draft

If you’re someone who dreams of writing, feels curious about stories, or is just starting your journey with words — this blog is for you.

Today, I’m going to share my personal journey into writing — how I started from zero and ended up writing my first novel of over 35,000 words. I’ll walk you through the inspirations, challenges, learnings, and even the mistakes that helped me grow.

Why I Started Writing: The Spark of Inspiration

It all began when I got admission into BS English Literature. I realized that just studying literature wasn’t enough. If I really wanted to grow and make the most of my degree, I had to develop creativity, especially in my thoughts and ideas.

I chose to step into writing not because someone told me to — but because I felt a personal desire to create something meaningful.

But your reason to write might be different — maybe you want to express your opinions, preach your beliefs, build a writing career, or simply enjoy it as a hobby. Whatever the reason, if writing calls to you — follow it.

Learning to Think Like a Writer

When I started studying literature, I slowly began to notice how I was changing inside. I started looking at ordinary moments of life in extraordinary ways.

I would look at something simple — like a tree shedding its leaves, or a conversation with a stranger — and start thinking deeply:

What does this moment say about life? About emotions? About people?

This habit helped me develop a writer’s perspective — the ability to see hidden meanings, emotions, and stories in everyday life.

 First-Time Confusions and Self-Doubt

At first, I was very confused. I didn’t know:

• What should I write?
• Should I write fiction or non-fiction?
• Do I have enough knowledge to write anything worth reading?

As a young student, I didn’t have much life experience. And honestly, I felt like I wasn’t “qualified” to be a writer.

But later, I understood an important truth:

You don’t need to be an expert to write. You just need to be honest.
Everyone has some experiences, emotions, and thoughts that deserve to be expressed. Your perspective matters. So I started writing based on my own past — things I felt, moments I lived through, and the behavior I saw around me.

That’s how I overcame the fear of “not knowing enough.”

Growing My Imagination

After getting comfortable with expressing real experiences, I moved toward imaginative writing.

Whenever I had free time, I would get lost in deep thoughts. One day, I imagined a story where the Earth splits into two — one side carrying the mind, the other side carrying the heart. I used metaphor to compare Earth to a human body, and explained how life becomes painful if either emotions or logic are ignored.

This idea turned into a symbolic story about the debate between logic and emotion.

Through this, I learned that:

• You can use imagination to express your thoughts.
• Even complex debates can be shared in simple, artistic ways through storytelling.

Exploring Literary Vibes Through Reading

I also started reading novels to learn more. I discovered that I loved deep, thoughtful stories related to philosophy and psychology.

Some of the authors that really inspired me were:

• Franz Kafka – for his surreal and emotional storytelling.
• Fyodor Dostoevsky – for his exploration of human psychology.
• Albert Camus – for his deep and philosophical writing.

I didn’t just read for enjoyment — I observed:

• How they built characters
• How they used dialogue
• How they added emotions to simple scenes

So, I recommend this to every new writer:

Find your interest area, then read writers from that genre. Let their style inspire you.

Writing Short Stories: A Good Starting Point

I began with short stories — around 300 to 400 words. Writing short pieces helped me build confidence.

Here’s my personal method:

• Observe the world around you.
• When an idea comes, write it down immediately.
• Later, sit down and develop a full story from it.

Example:

Once while traveling, I thought: If a girl I love leaves me, I’ll adopt a baby girl and name her after her. I’ll give that name a new meaning in my life.

That small thought became a 3,000-word story with three characters:

• The narrator
• The girl who left
• The adopted daughter

This story taught me how a simple idea can grow into something powerful and emotional.

Improving Character Development

In the beginning, my stories were short and unclear. I had the full story in my head — but the reader couldn’t understand the characters well.

To solve this:

• I started adding more details about each character.
• I used dialogue to reveal their personality instead of just description.
• I showed past events that shaped who they are.

This made my characters feel more real and complex — and made the story longer and more meaningful.

Learning to “Show, Not Tell”

As beginners, we often directly say things like:

• He was sad.
• She was angry.

But this doesn’t create emotional depth.

So I started using actions and gestures to show emotions.

For example:

Instead of saying “He was sad,” I wrote:

“He kept staring at the sky. His eyes blinked less, and the weight in his expression deepened, like a silent scream inside him.”

This way, the reader feels the sadness instead of being told about it.

Discovering My Unique Writing Style

Every writer has a personal style. I discovered that I enjoy writing:

• Mysterious stories
• With multiple plots happening at once
• That all connect at the end

I love building suspense and keeping the reader guessing.

You may have a different style — maybe humor, romance, fantasy, or drama.

The only way to find your style is to keep writing.

 When to Write? Idea-Driven, Not Time-Driven

Many people say, “Write a few pages daily.”

But for me, it doesn’t work like that.

Sometimes I hold my pen for hours and no ideas come.

Other times, I get three story ideas in a single day and write them all at once.

So I follow this approach:

Don’t force yourself. Write when the ideas come. But always stay mentally ready.

                                           

 My First Novel: The Final Step

After practicing short stories and developing my skills, I finally decided to write a full novel.

Here’s what I did:

• I planned the structure first: 5 parts, each with 4 chapters.
• The story is fictional and revolves around a mysterious girl.
• It took me about 2 months to complete 35,000 words.

This was the biggest and most satisfying writing project I’ve ever done. It showed me what I was truly capable of.

 Final Thoughts

I’m not a professional or expert writer. I’m still learning — and I always will be.

But this was my journey:

• From a confused beginner to someone who completed a novel.
• From simple thoughts to complex stories.
• From fear to confidence.

If you’re starting your writing journey, remember:

• You don’t need to know everything.
• You just need to start.
• Your stories matter — and you can learn the rest along the way.

Keep writing, keep imagining, and most of all — believe in your voice.
Your first novel might be just an idea away. 

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