I did write a book.
Here are the most common things I was asked about writing the book:
Q: How long did it take you to write?
A: The brainstorming, outlining, and first draft took about six months. I then took two months off to learn more about writing before embarking on the second draft. When that draft was done, I sent it to beta readers and began a second novel, getting about halfway through the first draft of that.
When I received the beta readers’ comments on the first novel, I began the third and final draft, finishing it about a year and a half after the date I first began work on the novel. Of this year and a half, about one year was spent directly working on the book.
Q: Where do you get your ideas?
A: From reading or watching other media and thinking either “That’s really cool, I want to write my own version” or “That was done really badly. I could do it better.” And from the news, especially international and science news.
Q: Did you plan what you were going to write ahead of time?
A: Yes. Some writers can make it up as they go, but I’m lost without a detailed outline.
Q: So all that foreshadowing in the book was planned out beforehand?
A: About half of it was. The rest I added in whenever I realized I needed it. Many other aspects also evolved from the original plan: the ending changed, characters were removed or added, etc.
Q: Are you going to write a sequel?
A: I would love to write a sequel, but I won’t until/unless the first book is on the road to publication.
Q: Is your second book related to the first?
A: It’s completely unrelated, sharing only that it’s another fantasy book with another queer main character. The voice, tone, setting, and themes are all different. When I finish that, I’ll write a third that’s different from the first two.
Q: You’re trying to get published traditionally? Did you consider self-publishing?
A: I decided an attempt at traditional publishing makes more sense for me. If it doesn’t work out, I can still self-publish. The manuscript doesn’t have an expiration date.