When I first sat down to write Galaxy’s Child, I wasn’t just writing a science fiction novel, I was stepping into something much more personal. I had carried this story with me for decades, always in the background, always waiting for the right moment. What I didn’t expect was how much the process of finally bringing it to life would teach me about myself.
I’ve always been someone who plans. As I’ve said before, my background in sales and management taught me how to set goals and meet them. That helped when it came time to structure the writing process. But what I learned along the way wasn’t just about staying disciplined, it was about learning to trust myself in a new kind of way. Writing Galaxy’s Child showed me that I’m more persistent than I thought. I committed to writing six hours a day, five days a week, with thirty minutes each day dedicated to refining my storyboards. And I stuck to it. Even on days when the words weren’t flowing, I showed up. I didn’t wait for inspiration, I built momentum through consistency. But I also learned to be kind to myself. I gave myself permission to stop after six hours, even if I had more in the tank. Why? Because I didn’t want to burn out or lose my love for the work. I wanted writing to stay something I looked forward to. That meant pacing myself. Working smart. Trusting that progress was being made, even if I wasn’t sprinting.
Another surprise was how much the story evolved as I wrote it. I came in with structure. But Galaxy’s Child had a mind of its own. Plot points shifted. Characters deepened. Themes emerged that I hadn’t fully seen at the start. And I learned to let go of control, just enough to let the story breathe. That was hard but freeing.
More than anything, though, writing this novel taught me that my younger self, the one who imagined starships and heroes and distant worlds, was still alive and well. Tapping into that part of me reminded me that creativity isn’t something you outgrow. It just waits for you to come back.
Now, with the second book in the trilogy on the horizon, I know a bit more about what I’m capable of. I know the challenges will come, and so will the doubts. But I also know that I’ve done it once and I’ll do it again. To anyone out there thinking about writing their first book, it’s going to teach you things you didn’t expect. And that’s part of the fun!
David P. Lloyd 