First off, apologies for not posting my blog as scheduled on Wednesday. I will try posting on Thursdays from now on as it seems that my Thursday posts get more visibility than Wednesday posts. This is all new and try and error for me!
Writing a book isn’t just about inspiration, it’s about structure. And when I look back on the journey that led to Galaxy’s Child, I realize that while creativity fueled the story, it was discipline that got it done.
Fortunately, I’ve spent the better part of the last decade working from home, so I already understood the value of self-motivation and time management. But writing a novel? That was a whole different kind of challenge.
From the beginning, I knew I’d need a plan. So, I set clear, measurable goals, something my background in sales and management had taught me to do. I gave myself six months to write, revise, and publish the book. That was the target.
Then came the structure to support it.
I committed to writing at least six hours a day, five days a week. No exceptions. Those hours weren’t always easy. Some days the words came effortlessly; other days they had to be dragged out. But I stuck with it.
Alongside that writing time, I also set aside 30 minutes each day to refine the storyboards I’d created before starting. The story evolved as I moved forward, and that daily reflection helped me keep the threads consistent while also allowing space for new ideas to develop organically.
And here’s something important I learned along the way: I never pushed beyond what felt sustainable. Some days I added an extra hour or two, but I never tried to write for ten or twelve hours straight, even if I felt I could. I didn’t want to burn myself out, and I didn’t want to lose the joy of writing by turning it into a grind.
That balanced approach is why I’m proud to say I finished the entire process, not in six months, but in four. Galaxy’s Child was written, refined, proofread and published in just 120 days. And I enjoyed (almost) every minute of it.
I’m planning to start work on the second book in the trilogy very soon. And yes, I’ll be applying the same discipline and structure, but I’m also open to adapting. Every book is a new journey, and I’m sure I’ll discover fresh ways of staying focused while keeping the joy alive.
If everything goes according to plan, you can expect book two before winter.
Until then, if you haven’t already, I invite you to pick up Galaxy’s Child at http://www.davidplloyd.com. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
David P. Lloyd 