First I want to share that in just a week I’m at over 10k words for my book. It’s like the more I write the more motivated I am. I’ve also gotten into a steady routine of writing at least 500 words a day which is helping me advance faster.
But what I really want to talk about this week, is my choice to write a book in English, when it’s only my second language.
I learned to speak English when I was 13 years old. I had taken mandatory classes at school all my life, but it was then that it really started clicking. It was all thanks to an unhealthy obsession I developed at that age with a tennis player (It was only normal healthy admiration!!). All information I could find about her, the main fan websites, forums, etc, were in English.
So I did what every rational, obsessed with a girl, teenager would do. I translated articles about her word by word using a dictionary. I also posted on forums, chatted with random fans over the world that had so much patience with my basic English, that it eventually started making sense, and one day I didn’t need the dictionary that much.
Since then I’ve consumed media primarily in English. Mostly Fanfiction, books, eventually also TV and Movies. As for my fiction writing, I’ve usually done my original fiction in Spanish, but all my fanfic has been in English.
When I decided to start writing my wlw romance book, there was never a question of doing it in Spanish. I was inspired to write it because of my years in fandom, seeing how much we can connect to stories about women. I was also inspired by other lesbian romance authors, it was only natural to write in English.
That doesn’t mean is not an additional challenge. Is not one I’m conscious of when I’m writing, I just do it to the best of my ability, but I know when I finish and the time comes to make a final product I will need to invest additional resources to edit, proofread, make sure all grammar is correct.
But I wouldn’t have it any other way.