The Beginnings
After spending years fully immersed in graphic arts and photography, achieving many of my goals along the way, I reached a point where I was completely drained and lacked the drive to continue. My creative spirit yearned for something new and exciting. Despite attempting some fresh artistic endeavors, I hit a roadblock with each one. It felt like there was something crucial missing; perhaps I lacked consistency or the maturity to create something that truly moved me.
I entertained the idea of writing, finding satisfaction in the art of arranging words. So I began writing articles about Korean cuisine for local publications and blogs instead. It came naturally to me - researching and organizing information into coherent sentences and tidy paragraphs, with proper punctuation. As much as I loved food, there was a drawback to this type of writing; it lacked excitement and felt monotonous. But I saw it as a necessary stepping stone towards my goal of writing fiction. I knew that if I wanted to achieve that dream; I had to keep up with this habit.
"As a child, I dreamed of sharing one of stories with the world, just like a blockbuster movie. Even though the details were uncertain, I had a strong feeling that it was bound to happen. It was just a matter of when and how."
Stepping Up the Game
During the early months of 2018, I revisited an idea for a novel that had been lingering in my mind. I took it as a sign and decided it was time to finally sit down and piece together the scattered thoughts into a cohesive story. One night, armed with a couple of glasses of Cabernet Sauvignon, I began typing without interruption. By the time I reached 3,000 words, I was filled with a sense of confidence that this was something great. Excitedly, I left the writing untouched for a few days before coming back to it. However, upon reading through my "masterpiece" a few nights later, I was disappointed to find that it lacked structure and depth. It was just a jumbled mess of words on a page.
Despite being deceived by my perception, I refused to give up. I was determined not to let the failure defeat me. After a few days had passed, I felt ready to try again. This time, I drank tea instead of wine. However, even with the change in beverage, I still struggled and only wrote about 1,000 words that were even worse than the first draft. The switch did not save me from another disaster.
Even though I had a natural gift for spinning tales, I quickly learned that creative writing was a whole different ballgame. Should I throw in the towel and move on to a new pursuit? I slept on it for a few nights, but those nights turned into weeks, then months, until suddenly an entire year had flown by and the story that had been brewing in my mind remained unwritten.
As the new year approached, I felt determined to give my writing another go. With a flexible work schedule, I dove into action in mid-January. But one thing I quickly realized was that I needed a solid plan to tackle this project. So, I turned to technology for help. After some searching, I stumbled upon Scrivener and it was a game-changer. No more boring and generic word processors for me! This software had everything - easy organization, note-taking capabilities, research tools, and more - all at an affordable price. It was love at first click.
Soon, my fingers were flying over the keyboard as I wrote. Sentences turned into paragraphs, and those quickly formed scenes. These scenes were built into chapters, and the story continued to expand. My initial plan had been for a short seven-chapter tale, but often the chapters would divide into two or even more, each one continuing to multiply. It was almost as if the writing had a will of its own, and I was merely a conduit. Every keystroke felt guided by an unseen force, propelling the story forward at an amazing pace.
The Editing Process
As I continued to write, I wanted to ensure that everything would fit together smoothly and be free from any of the dark elements from my previous works. Therefore, I meticulously went over each scene and chapter as I wrote them. Despite being satisfied with my progress, I knew that my writing skills were not at the level I desired. My college classes in creative writing were just a small part of what was necessary to produce a decent work of fiction.
With that in mind, I sought out a professional editor. After browsing through portals like Reedsy and Fiverr, I finally found my first copy editor. From there, I began sending her drafts for review and revision. Her feedback was very constructive, and with her edits, the story structure was slowly coming together as I had envisioned.
After months of hard work, I finally wrote the last two words in October: "the end." It was a moment filled with intense emotions. As I looked at those two simple words on the page, I couldn't help but feel immense joy and pride. Completing this project that I've been dreaming of for so long made me feel like I was on top of the world. But even as I was overwhelmed with happiness, I knew that reaching this final milestone was not the end of my project. There was still more to be done.
To ensure that the story was polished and free of any overlooked errors, I brought on a second editor to review from the beginning. After completing a second round of revisions in December, we completed the editing process for the novel. With this final version, I could finally share NINE 9 with friends and beta readers for feedback. Their overwhelmingly positive responses filled me with excitement and motivated me to dream even bigger than just achieving a sense of completion.
Publishing NINE 9
My first question was, "What's my next step?" Like most things, the answer could be found through a quick Google search. After gathering information and reading multiple blogs, I discovered that there were two major routes for publishing: finding a literary agent to represent my work or contacting publishers directly. The consensus was that finding an agent was the best option, but also the most challenging. They were known for being picky and hard to please. It took me some time to sift through tons of profiles and figure out suitable agents for my short novel. Once I had done my research, I narrowed down my search for agents in New York City. If I was going to take the plunge into the publishing world, I might as well swim among the sharks.
In the second week of January, I began sending out emails. About a week later, my inbox was filled with replies. Unfortunately, they were not the responses I had been hoping for. Instead, they were kind words of rejection:
"Dear Mr. Wabe, Thank you for your patience as you waited for my response to NINE 9. However, it does not fit what I am seeking. Keep in mind that this industry is highly subjective and another agent may have a different opinion. Best of luck in your search for representation and thank you for submitting your query."
As the emails continued to pour in, my dream of becoming a published author crumbled. Each rejection only added to my discouragement, and I was ready to give up. The thought of not having a publisher's support made it seem almost impossible to reach readers. I reluctantly accepted that maybe my manuscript, NINE 9, was not meant to be published after all, and tried to move on. Emotionally drained, I had no strength left to pursue my vision...until an unexpected email arrived, offering a glimmer of hope.
“Dear Mr. Wabe, Thank you for your submission to NINE 9. I have passed your work to the editorial board for review. I would like to mention that regardless of their decision, we will be in touch in approximately six weeks.”
The sudden arrival of that email snapped me out of my funk and reignited my determination. Knowing that the manuscript had made it to the editorial board meant it had passed the initial review, and now all I had to do was wait for another six weeks. Easy peasy, right? Not really...
After six long weeks of waiting, I received no reply. Exhausted and defeated, I let go of my pursuit. Even though I knew the story was worth telling, it just wasn't the right time yet. Instead of trying to force the issue, I would wait for the universe to present me with the opportunity to share NINE 9's fate.
In 2021, spring signaled a new beginning filled with warm weather and the sweet scent of blooming flowers. This sense of renewal gave me the drive to make a second attempt in my search for a publisher. I was determined to keep pushing and reach out to more potential agents. Just as I was preparing to dive into another round of emails, a message from New York appeared in my inbox. It was the publishing agency I had been anxiously waiting to hear from.
“Dear Mr. Wabe, Thank you for your patience while the editorial board completed their review of your manuscript. I would like to take this opportunity to inform you that the editorial board has confirmed that we are interested in moving forward with the publication of your work.”
Within a week, I signed a contract and after a year and four months in the publishing house, NINE 9 finally hit the shelves on August 31, 2022. The release was delayed a few months because of the challenges caused by Covid-19 in terms of supply and production worldwide. Although I must admit, the wait made me restless, I tried my best to remain calm and patient.
Final Thoughts
I cannot speak for others when it comes to publishing their first book, but I am certain of one thing: luck has nothing to do with it. What worked for me was a combination of three essential elements: a clear vision, consistent effort, and patience.
From the start, I had a firm belief in my ability to write an interesting story. This vision motivated me through the long and arduous process. Whenever I felt discouraged or uninspired, I dug deep into my innermost self and held onto that image. It became my driving force, keeping my imagination fueled and alive.
Developing a habit of writing every day, even if only for a short time, was crucial. This consistency and discipline enabled me to complete such a monumental project. Ultimately, it was only by overcoming my fears and doubts that patience granted me the clarity to navigate through the most challenging moments.
Let this recount of my journey inspire you to finally put pen to paper and share that book you have always dreamed of with the world. If you're curious about the story of NINE 9 and its message, you can catch a glimpse in Google Books or purchase your copy through Amazon, Book Depository, or directly from the website. Don't let fear or doubt hold you back from creating something beautiful and meaningful. Take that first step, and who knows where it will lead you?
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