Author Alice Hoffman says, “Books may well be the only true magic.”

It’s a lovely quote, isn’t it? Paints the book world in sparkles and shimmering daydreams. And while there are arguments to make against the idea, why would we do that? Books are transportive and transformative both. They spark change and they enrage. They provide escape and provocation. They challenge and they entertain, and they remind us that the world is a very big place. That we too can be heroes.

Books are powerful.

So, yes. Perhaps we are tapping into some great magical reservoir when we read.

That said, it wasn’t magic that saw the writing of my sixth novel completed. And for those who embraced National Novel Writing Month, I bet you learned that wizardry only gets you so far. As tragic as it is, there are no magic wands to spin your story into existence. While there are often a handful of magical moments along the way, it takes a lot more than pixie dust to make a book soar.

It takes a spark. An idea.

A stormy brain full of sparks and ideas.

And words. So many words.

It takes ink and blood and tears. Sweat.

It takes work.

It takes skill.

Energy.

A mind willing to learn and to try.

It takes failure.

It takes power naps. Wake me in ten!

Lots and lots of Starburst.

Fuzzy socks.

It takes ibuprofen and a heating pad (some of us are only teens-at-heart).

It takes time.

It takes words.

Book learning.

Trial by fire.

Instincts.

It takes daily, hourly, minute-by-minute pep talks by you and for you.

Coffee.

And creamer and so much coffee.

It takes word sprint after word sprint.

It costs time and sleep and time again.

It requires you to keep a promise you made to yourself. To the hero. To the villain.

It means you might have to stay in when everyone else is going out.

Buckets of coffee.

Living with one foot in another world, another life, another mind for however long it takes to get done.

Words.

It takes a lot of words.

Words you write and words you cut and words you move. Words you save just in case.

New words and old words.

Synonyms.

It takes research.

Notebooks full of scribbles.

And words.

It takes pens and highlighters and sticky notes.

It takes music. The Lord of the Rings playlist on repeat.

It means eating at your desk, and writing at the cafe.

It necessitates solitude.

And quiet.

Sitting still for hours at a time.

It requires stamina.

And fortitude.

And words.

And words.

And . . .

words.

Well. At least that’s how it is for me. It takes quite a lot to get me from the spark of an idea to the end of the story. But it’s not just me, is it? Writing a book takes a lot more than magic from every one of us. If it didn’t, everyone would do it. And, as it is, only a very few of us earn the right to type THE END.

If you’re not there yet, keep going. It’s difficult and miserable and lonely and awesome and fulfilling and, yes, sometimes there’s even a little magic.

Tell me, friends, what does writing require of you? Has it been difficult of late or are you rolling right along? And, for those of you participating in NaNoWriMo, how is it going? Are you on track to win?

Shannon Dittemore is an author and speaker. Her books include the Angel Eyes trilogy, a supernatural foray into the realm of angels and demons, as well as the fantastical adventure novel Winter, White and Wicked. Its sequel, Rebel, Brave and Brutal is due out January 10, 2023.

Shannon’s stories feature strong female leads grappling with fear and faith as they venture into the wilds of the unknown. She’s often wondered if she’s writing her own quest for bravery again and again.

It’s a choice she values highly. Bravery. And she’s never more inspired than when young people ball up their fist and punch fear in the face.

To that end, Shannon takes great joy in working with young writers, both in person and online at Go Teen Writers, an instructional blog recognized by Writer’s Digest four years running as a “101 Best Websites for Writers” selection.

For more about Shannon and her books, please visit her websiteInstagramFacebookTwitter, and Pinterest.