I'm Writing a Novel

Hello friends,

Curiosity has always been the thing that moves me—toward new skills, new questions, new edges of myself. Lately, that curiosity has led me somewhere both exhilarating and unsettling: I’m writing my first novel.

It’s both exhilarating and terrifying to venture into a creative endeavor that’s so different from anything I’ve done before. Yet, there’s a sense of wonder propelling me forward, reminding me that stepping into the unknown is often the best way to grow.

For a long time, I treated fiction like something I had to earn the right to try.

I’ve dabbled in various types of writing over the years—journals, blog posts, even short stories here and there—but I never seriously considered leaping traditional publishing. The idea of holding a bound book with my name on it felt impossibly distant, like a dream reserved for more experienced writers. Then I realized my hesitations were rooted in fear rather than reality. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that curiosity thrives in the space between “I don’t know how” and “I’m going to find out.”

Curiosity has always been my superpower. It’s what nudges me to learn new recipes when I’ve only ever microwaved dinners or to attempt dancing salsa when I can barely keep a beat. Now it’s guiding me to ask questions like, “What if I could write a novel?” and “How might my imagination come to life on the page?” Let’s be honest—sometimes I’m worried this story will be too ambitious or that I’m getting ahead of myself. But the beauty of curiosity is that it doesn’t require me to be an expert right away. It only requires an openness to possibility, a willingness to explore, and a readiness to learn from my mistakes along the way.

As for the book itself, I’m deep in manuscript mode—37 chapters, over 200,000 words, and a story that’s slowly revealing itself the only way it can: piece by piece—a process I find both mysterious and magical. I’ve been researching literary agents, exploring writing workshops, and gathering all the knowledge I can about the traditional publishing world. I’m working on creating a writer’s retreat for myself.

I’m sharing this now because curiosity, once named out loud, has a way of becoming real.

With each discovery, I feel a surge of motivation: one more skill to learn, one more puzzle piece to fit, one more step toward making this dream a reality. I hope that by sharing this journey, I might inspire you to lean into your curiosity. Maybe there’s a novel brewing inside you, too, or a passion project calling out from a corner of your mind. Whether you want to write a book, start a podcast, learn an instrument, or pick up pottery—let curiosity be your guide.

If you’re on a similar adventure—or even standing at the edge of one—I’d love to hear about it. Tell me what your curiosity keeps circling back to. Sometimes saying it out loud is the first real step.

Stay curious,
Tiffani