How Do I Write a Book Again?

I’m serious! 

Does anybody know?

You’d think, after nine books, four of which are published, one in the process of being published, that I would have this down. I’m a professional. Others are looking to me for answers and yet it seems I’m still bewildered.

Let me tell you how I’ve been approaching my latest project because, if I do that, then my faith in myself will, hopefully, be restored. Note, this is not ‘my process’. I wish I had a process but instead I just try stuff out and hope it works. Like throwing spaghetti at the wall. Each time I think, ‘this my process’, but it’s always messy and time consuming and I’m left crying and cleaning glued pasta off my walls in stained PJs.

Anyway, onwards to my latest project: an idea that I’ve had knocking around for a while. I walk dogs, as my other job, and have done so for about thirteen years. In another life I’m a Dog Behaviourist and did do a year course with the notion that I’d become the next Victoria Stilwell (if you like dogs look her up - she’s awesome). In the summer of 2023, my now seventeen year old daughter, was diagnosed as autistic. With my daughter’s permission, and involvement, I embarked on igniting the flame of merging these two ideas - dogs and autism. 

The first thing I did was sound it out with writing friends. Unanimously it was a resounding - yes, write it. Then I started a bit, half-heartedly with the Jo Nadin method. Jo has an amazing way of writing her fantastic books which starts with scribbling everything down in a notebook. 

At the same time I started researching everything and anything on both dogs and autism. Podcasts, fiction, non-fiction, contacting charities, reaching out to teachers etc, continuing to write notes and chat into my voice memo app about what I was trying to say with the story and details on the main character.

I went back to craft books and pulled out things most useful to me, like the Save the Cat structures, or Steven King advising me to ‘write the truth’ or Story Genius explaining about the third rail. I selected a mentor text and wrote out the beats of the story which helped me do a rough plan for my own. I cherry-picked from other author’s on their processes. For example, I stole Tom Palmer’s scrap book idea and started one of my own. It was beginning to build but I still wasn’t actually writing. 

I shared what I’d been doing and my plans for the story with my agent, Veronique Baxter. When she said she was moved I knew I had no further excuses not to just get on with it. I’d still not written a word of the actual book. I couldn’t remember how. It was like gathering all the snow for a snowman but instead of building it I was just shovelling more snow. 

It was something Holly Bourne had said about her process during the W&A Festival that finally got me going. When it comes to doing her first draft she says she “writes like a shark swims”. Holly never reads back until the first draft is done. 

And so, dear reader, this is where you find me. I’ve signed up for the Write Magic Bootcamp (look Write Magic up if you write for children - they are incredible people) and I’m steadily going forward. I’ve lots of XX where names should be and there are huge holes. I’m not stopping and instead writing things like: put in some description here. I’m nearly done with a very rough first draft of 30k. The words have come because I’ve allowed myself to be rubbish. I’ve no idea if it’s working, because I’ve not read it, but the sketch is almost drawn. 

I’m debating now with myself whether to continue with Holly’s method and leave it for a month before reading, or whether to fill in the blanks straight away. Whatever I do I know, from previous projects, that I will think that I can’t do it. I will start to believe that I can’t write. I will throw myself face down on the bed and never want to look at the book again. I will cry on my dog, Stanley (who is very understanding and absorbent) and I will want to give up and get a job on the check out in Sainsbury’s.

But then the universe will provide, steering me gently (or sometimes giving me a sharp slap) back to the project. I’ll have a friend call, or a teacher will get in touch through my website, or some wonderful news will break like Call Me Lion being picked for the Summer Reading Challenge 2024 list and my self-belief will be restored. I can do this. I am a Children’s Author. This is what I do. This is who I am. How do I write a book again? I just believe that I can.

Camilla Chester is a dog walker who writes. She’s been a finalist in two national children’s writing competitions, for the National Literacy Trust and Mslexia, and has previously successfully self-published three novels. Call Me Lion is her first traditionally published novel.