There’s something sacred about the moment someone stops circling the idea of becoming a writer and actually *steps into it*—not when everything is perfectly aligned, not when life is quiet and accommodating, but when something inside says, *now,* and refuses to be ignored.
“Lightning in a bottle” is the right language for it. You don’t schedule that. You don’t manufacture it. You either answer it… or you spend a long time wondering what would’ve happened if you did.
And the fact that you’re honoring it—despite your plans, despite the structure you had laid out—that says a lot about you. It takes a kind of courage that isn’t loud, but it’s real.
Also, your partner gave you rare advice. “Start small” sounds simple, but it’s actually where most people fail. We try to hold the entire weight of the finished vision at once, and it crushes the beginning before it even breathes. Starting small is how something *alive* gets to grow.
I’ll be honest—reading this hits me in a personal place. I’ve wanted to write something larger myself for a long time, but life has a way of filling every available inch. Kids, work, responsibility… it all becomes noise if you let it. And somewhere in that noise, the quieter call gets postponed.
So seeing you choose it anyway—it’s not just inspiring, it’s confronting in the best way.
You’re not just writing a book. You’re choosing to take yourself seriously.
And that matters more than most people realize.
I hope you keep going, even when it gets messy, even when it slows down, even when it doesn’t feel like lightning anymore.
Because sometimes the miracle isn’t the spark.
It’s the discipline to keep building once it fades.
I’m genuinely proud of you for this. Keep going. 💥
Thank you so much!! Your words of encouragement mean a lot to me🥹
I’m so glad that this spoke to you and resonated. I think the glamour of being a novelist can become a bit blinding. Where people are more in love with the idea of having written a book than actually writing it. I’ve been there, to be honest.
I’m a full time college student and will be starting a paid internship as well. I know my life will get very busy, but I think as long as we as artists take it one step at a time, it will be ok🖤
Grounding it in VtM is maybe the only thing you could have said that could make me even more excited about this project. I wish this was already available for purchase.
This is such a grounded and nuanced take on the process of starting a novel (both a pun and literally). I loved seeing the advice from Ray Bradbury and hearing about your process. I'm a fairly new follower, but I am really looking forward to following this journey. <3
Thank you so much!! I’m so glad you this comes across as grounded and nuanced!! I’ve learned a lot about writing and wanted to approach this project wisely. The advice about starting with short stories was the best advice I could have gotten, honestly!! I’ll be posting another update soon!! :)
Looking forward to seeing what becomes of this. I'm going to do the "52 Short Stories" this year. I'm still struggling to get to Novel territory but this is inspiring.
Thank you so much!! Good luck with the 52 short stories!! Writing short stories was truly an amazing learning experience. I completely feel out of my depth writing a novel at the moment but I’m taking it one small step at a time!! I’m so glad I could help inspire you!! <333
Don't lose your inspiration. Take it from somebody who gave up on writer for years, the last thing you want to do is convince yourself that they are called dreams because you wake up from them. If I had retained the hope and drive I had when I was your age, I wouldn't be in my 40s still trying to make writing my career. I look forward to following you and reading your book one day.
Thank you so much!! I’ll do my best to harness my inspiration wisely!! Also, for the record, it’s never too late to be a writer.
I feel like most writers are in their top form when they’re older anyways. I’m glad I’m starting now when I’m nearing 30 rather than in my 20s honestly.
I’ll do my best to deliver a book I’m proud of!! Thanks again for your wonderful words of encouragement🖤
Some of the imagery is giving me Blood Meridian vibes, which is definitely not a Western Vampire book, but if you haven’t read it, it might have some interesting landscape and desert imagery in it to lean on. I have a gothic sensibility and quite liked how McCarthy portrays the desert almost like a character. In a similar way to other gothic writers.
Also loads of messed up stuff. Which is probably less relevant and very much subject to taste.
Thank you so much!! I am really nervous but also incredibly excited!!
Also, yes. I’ve heard of Blood Meridian and will 100% be reading it for inspiration!! Not yet though, but for sure!! I’ve heard it’s really messed up, but also that it’s amazing. It will be first Cormac McCarthy though lmao
Thank you so much Caroline!! You’re always hyping me up and I really do appreciate it!! I’ve heard that you’ve also got a book in the works with literary representation. Congratulations!! I hope you get an amazing book deal!! 🖤🖤🖤
Love this story! I also started out with the solo journaling RPG 1000-Year Old Vampire and ended up spending more than a day just writing the characters and their backstories. I'm excited to see this project unfold - the world always needs more women vampires.
I feel your excitement. Like you’re standing on the edge of a precipice about to take a leap, but instead of falling, you know you’re going to fly! Enjoy the flight x
This is beautiful to witness, truly.
There’s something sacred about the moment someone stops circling the idea of becoming a writer and actually *steps into it*—not when everything is perfectly aligned, not when life is quiet and accommodating, but when something inside says, *now,* and refuses to be ignored.
“Lightning in a bottle” is the right language for it. You don’t schedule that. You don’t manufacture it. You either answer it… or you spend a long time wondering what would’ve happened if you did.
And the fact that you’re honoring it—despite your plans, despite the structure you had laid out—that says a lot about you. It takes a kind of courage that isn’t loud, but it’s real.
Also, your partner gave you rare advice. “Start small” sounds simple, but it’s actually where most people fail. We try to hold the entire weight of the finished vision at once, and it crushes the beginning before it even breathes. Starting small is how something *alive* gets to grow.
I’ll be honest—reading this hits me in a personal place. I’ve wanted to write something larger myself for a long time, but life has a way of filling every available inch. Kids, work, responsibility… it all becomes noise if you let it. And somewhere in that noise, the quieter call gets postponed.
So seeing you choose it anyway—it’s not just inspiring, it’s confronting in the best way.
You’re not just writing a book. You’re choosing to take yourself seriously.
And that matters more than most people realize.
I hope you keep going, even when it gets messy, even when it slows down, even when it doesn’t feel like lightning anymore.
Because sometimes the miracle isn’t the spark.
It’s the discipline to keep building once it fades.
I’m genuinely proud of you for this. Keep going. 💥
Thank you so much!! Your words of encouragement mean a lot to me🥹
I’m so glad that this spoke to you and resonated. I think the glamour of being a novelist can become a bit blinding. Where people are more in love with the idea of having written a book than actually writing it. I’ve been there, to be honest.
I’m a full time college student and will be starting a paid internship as well. I know my life will get very busy, but I think as long as we as artists take it one step at a time, it will be ok🖤
Grounding it in VtM is maybe the only thing you could have said that could make me even more excited about this project. I wish this was already available for purchase.
Haha well, it will be a while, years probably.
I’ll do my best to deliver a project I can feel proud of putting out there!!
I do love VtM and will be using it for inspiration while also trying to make vampires a bit different.
Thank you so much for cheering me on!!
Word of warning. I do have a Civil War era urban fantasy that I want to write... but I was not planning on involving any vampires.
Oooo civil war urban fantasy sounds super cool!!
I can't wait to read this book.
OMG thank you so much!! I’ll do my best to deliver the best book that I can!!😭🙏🏼
orange…red……black
Haha yes there is definitely a color theme going on here!!😂
This is such a grounded and nuanced take on the process of starting a novel (both a pun and literally). I loved seeing the advice from Ray Bradbury and hearing about your process. I'm a fairly new follower, but I am really looking forward to following this journey. <3
Thank you so much!! I’m so glad you this comes across as grounded and nuanced!! I’ve learned a lot about writing and wanted to approach this project wisely. The advice about starting with short stories was the best advice I could have gotten, honestly!! I’ll be posting another update soon!! :)
Looking forward to seeing what becomes of this. I'm going to do the "52 Short Stories" this year. I'm still struggling to get to Novel territory but this is inspiring.
Thank you so much!! Good luck with the 52 short stories!! Writing short stories was truly an amazing learning experience. I completely feel out of my depth writing a novel at the moment but I’m taking it one small step at a time!! I’m so glad I could help inspire you!! <333
Don't lose your inspiration. Take it from somebody who gave up on writer for years, the last thing you want to do is convince yourself that they are called dreams because you wake up from them. If I had retained the hope and drive I had when I was your age, I wouldn't be in my 40s still trying to make writing my career. I look forward to following you and reading your book one day.
Thank you so much!! I’ll do my best to harness my inspiration wisely!! Also, for the record, it’s never too late to be a writer.
I feel like most writers are in their top form when they’re older anyways. I’m glad I’m starting now when I’m nearing 30 rather than in my 20s honestly.
I’ll do my best to deliver a book I’m proud of!! Thanks again for your wonderful words of encouragement🖤
I'll be cheering for you every step of the way. Feel free to take a look at my stuff. I welcome feedback.
Thank you so much!! And you’re only reminding me how much I need to catch up on my Substack reading😅
That looks fantastic. Good luck with it Coral!
Some of the imagery is giving me Blood Meridian vibes, which is definitely not a Western Vampire book, but if you haven’t read it, it might have some interesting landscape and desert imagery in it to lean on. I have a gothic sensibility and quite liked how McCarthy portrays the desert almost like a character. In a similar way to other gothic writers.
Also loads of messed up stuff. Which is probably less relevant and very much subject to taste.
Thank you so much!! I am really nervous but also incredibly excited!!
Also, yes. I’ve heard of Blood Meridian and will 100% be reading it for inspiration!! Not yet though, but for sure!! I’ve heard it’s really messed up, but also that it’s amazing. It will be first Cormac McCarthy though lmao
So excited for you to start this journey!! I'll be thrilled to read it when it's done 😁
Thank you!! I’m excited too!! Currently in the initial research stage and it’s tough work, but it will be totally be worth it!!😤
Right there with you! The research is so much more involved than I anticipated lol but you're so right that it will all be worth it 😁
Yesss it really is!! But it will be worth it!! For both of us <3
Ahhh this is amazing!!! Good luck!! Your book sounds amazing!
Thank you so much Caroline!! You’re always hyping me up and I really do appreciate it!! I’ve heard that you’ve also got a book in the works with literary representation. Congratulations!! I hope you get an amazing book deal!! 🖤🖤🖤
Love this story! I also started out with the solo journaling RPG 1000-Year Old Vampire and ended up spending more than a day just writing the characters and their backstories. I'm excited to see this project unfold - the world always needs more women vampires.
Thank you!! A 1000 year old vampire sounds mad cool!! And yes, I agree!! We DO need more women vampires!!🧛🏼♀️
I love Vampire stories! I’m currently working on one myself!
Me too honestly. Also, yes!! That’s awesome!! Vampires are so cool
All the best to you on your writing journey!
Thank you so much!!😭🖤
You got this, you already know you can do it and there is a fire that you are fueling all the bets ways, I can’t wait to see where this journey leads
Thank you so much!! I look forward to sharing it all with you!! Currently researching which has been super fun honestly haha
This was such a great read and makes me so nostalgic for the first time I started a big project 🥺 I can’t wait to read this!!
Awwww I’m so glad it made you feel like that!!😭
And it seems like a lot of you can relate, which makes me happy that I’m not alone in how I feel.
Thank you so much!! In the throes of research right now, so I’m certainly excited😤📖📚
I feel your excitement. Like you’re standing on the edge of a precipice about to take a leap, but instead of falling, you know you’re going to fly! Enjoy the flight x
Haha thank you so much!! I’m actually terrified of heights, but maybe that’s even more fitting since I have to make myself fly despite that fear😭