Spending Seven Years Writing a Novel: A Study in Madness or Determination? 

Spending Seven Years Writing a Novel: A Study in Madness or Determination? 

This June, my fifth novel, Claire Casey’s Had Enough, will be released. When I shared the cover in my monthly newsletter, many friends said, “Wow, you wrote it so fast!” I laughed because that couldn’t be further from the truth.  

I’m sharing this book’s backstory in the hope of possibly inspiring other writers who may be suffering from a syndrome I call “I love this idea but is it time to shelve it?” 

It’s one I know all too well.

I started Claire Casey’s Had Enough, which has had at least three other titles, in 2017 when a writing group friend suggested we try National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) — a challenge to write 50,000 words of a novel in thirty days. 

After spending 2014-2016 mining my life writing a memoir, the thought of knocking out a work of fiction in one month sounded magical. Oh how naive I was back then! 

On the drive home from that writing group, I mulled the lone idea I had. It centered on a woman (the titular Claire) who’s lost herself amid the demands of her job and her family. When she attends her college reunion, she reconnects with a former boyfriend and suddenly remembers all the hopes and dreams that have taken a backseat (heck, maybe even the third row of her minivan) while she’s been caring for everyone else. Inspired, she decides to make some serious life changes. 

I was excited to begin and spent November happily typing away. While I didn’t finish the novel by the end of that month, I wrote a solid 30,000 words and, more importantly, I had fun doing it.

By the following June, I’d finished the draft, revised and polished it, and landed an agent who felt certain the manuscript would sell quickly. But as weeks passed, we received nothing but lovely rejections (my favorite oxymoron). Some editors quoted passages and said they laughed out loud while reading but, alas, the story didn’t feel “big enough” or “fresh enough.” Others began with “You’ve probably sold this by now…” I wish! Nearly all ended their letters with “I’m sure someone else will feel differently!”

After about two dozen rejections, my agent and I amicably parted ways. Months later, I sent the manuscript to a digital-first publisher that didn’t require an agent. I was thrilled to receive a response with thoughtful recommendations and a request to revise and resubmit. A perennial optimist, I thought once I made the suggested changes, my story would be coming soon to a bookstore near you. Not so fast. When that editor brought the newest version to an acquisitions meeting, she was told, “Sorry, mum fiction isn’t performing well.”

After I took some time to wallow, I hired a developmental editor and revised once again. I then submitted it to other publishers who said that while they enjoyed it, they didn’t know how to market it: Was it romcom or was it women’s fiction? Should it veer more toward comedy or should it include a subplot in which the main character tackled a more serious issue? 

I didn’t know so I decided to table it for a bit, believing time away would give me fresh eyes and new perspective.

During that break, I decided to turn my attention to writing thrillers. Those had to be more straightforward to market, I told myself. Whenever I finished one, I dove back into Claire Casey. I hired another developmental editor (see what I mean about determination or madness?) and she was instrumental in helping me get clarity on where this could sit in the market with a few more adjustments.

I was fortunate in that the editor who acquired my suspense novel, The House on Cold Creek, asked if I had any other projects I wanted to share with her. I jumped at the chance to send this romcom. Two months later, she made an offer. I couldn’t believe it. Six-and-a-half years after I started it, this story finally had a home. 

I gladly accepted and was thrilled to work with her again. As I was typing those words, she announced she was leaving to join another publisher. My next editor and her assistant had many, many more suggestions for the manuscript. So, after rocking in a fetal position for a while, I put on my revision hat and got back to work.

I find every book’s backstory fascinating especially because so often when someone announces a new deal or shares their cover reveal, it seems easy, almost effortless. In reality, that’s rarely the case.

Anytime a debut author lands on a bestseller list, my mom will say, “Can you believe it? Hitting a home run on the first try!” I gently explain that this “new” author may have a drawer or a file folder full of manuscripts that helped them polish their skills before penning this hit. 

Sometimes all that practice and perseverance pays off. I like to think that this version of Claire Casey’s Had Enough (probably my 115th iteration) is my best yet. I’m thrilled that these characters will soon be out in the world and no longer trapped solely in my head and iCloud. 

For anyone debating between reworking a project and tabling it, my advice is this: Follow your heart and your head and make the decision yourself rather than letting the industry make it for you.

Happy writing!

Liz Alterman is the author of the memoir Sad Sacked, the young adult thriller He’ll Be Waiting, the domestic suspense novels The Perfect Neighborhood, The House on Cold Creek Lane, and the romcom Claire Casey’s Had Enough. She loves meeting with book clubs. Say hi at Liz Alterman.

CLAIRE CASEY’S HAD ENOUGH

Back in the day, Claire had dreams. She was going to be somebody! Now a forty-something mom of three (four if you count her husband!), drowning in laundry and PTA chores, with a job she can’t stand, she’s finally had enough . . . A hilarious, heart-warming mom-com, perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella and Fiona Gibson.

Claire Casey has reached her breaking point. For years, she’s juggled it all: kids, husband, career, and a never-ending list of responsibilities. But when the man who’s supposed to be her partner – who promised he wouldn’t let his phone die and would pick her up from the airport – completely forgets about her, Claire snaps.

It’s the final straw. Claire is done. And so are they.

Sort of . . . maybe. (It’s not easy saying goodbye to sixteen years of marriage, ok!)

Still, Claire’s determined to reclaim her life. She’s tired of being the overworked, worn-out mom in her forties. She wants to be hopeful, vivacious Claire again.

Attending her college reunion reconnects her with former flame, Alex. And while flirting with him over email is innocent, his invitation to meet for drinks at a swanky hotel is not!

As Claire begins to rediscover the woman she was, she’s forced to confront the harsh reality that recapturing her sense of self could blow up her marriage . . . Now Claire must decide: risk the unknown or rebuild the life she has, flaws and all?

Told over the course of a day in the life of this relatable heroine, Claire Casey’s Had Enough is a laugh-out-loud mom-com that readers will adore!

PREORDER HERE

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