In 2023 you couldn’t go anywhere without seeing the captivating waterfront cover of Carley Fortune’s summer release Meet Me at the Lake. A #1 New York Times bestseller, Fortune has reached heights many writers dream of. This book has also been optioned by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for an adaption through Netflix via their production company, Archewell Productions. Now, Carley’s latest novel This Summer Will Be Different has been out for nearly a month and readers can’t get enough.

This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune

When Lucy goes on vacation to Prince Edward Island, she ends up in a steamy fling with a local named Felix. Soon, however, she discovers he’s actually the brother of her best friend. Year after year, they have a casual no-strings-attached hookup, but the distance keeps feelings from forming. That is until Lucy has to go to PEI to be at her best friend’s side and things with Felix get complicated.

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If you’re just getting started or are at the “I’m thinking of writing a book” stage, Fortune has some tips for aspiring authors.

Though Fortune has reached what many would consider a pinnacle of author success, it’s important to remember that all authors, no matter how successful they become, start in the same place. Staring at a blank page, feeling certain they don’t know what they are doing. Fortunately, Carley has shared some tips for anyone hoping to one day publish a book.

Check out this advice from Carley Fortune on what to do if you want to write a book:

Finish that First Draft

To write a book, you have to write a book. Annoying, but true! Commit to finishing a first draft within a set time frame.

Fight Perfection

Fight perfection at every turn when you’re drafting. Lower the bar! Just get a draft done and trust your future self to make it better.

Set Goals

I love a daily word count goal. If you write 219 words a day in 2024, you’ll have an 80,000 word manuscript by the end of the year. My daily word count goal for my debut, Every Summer After, was just 388 words.

Loose Outline

Not a plotter? Not a big deal. Although sometimes it’s helpful to know what the big beats are in your story. Think about what major moments are happening around the 25%, 50%, and 75% marks.

Take the Time

Think of your writing time as a gift to yourself. Figure out what that gift is. Maybe it’s just 30 minutes a day on weekdays. It’s not selfish to spend time on your passion—we’re better friends, partners, parents, daughters, sisters and colleagues when we feel creatively fulfilled.

Mind Your Mental Health

Protect your mental health. For many of us, being a writer comes with plenty of self doubt, imposter syndrome, anxiety… the list goes on. Exercise, therapy, meds—whatever it is you need, make it part of your life. I use all of the above.

Enjoy

Have fun! The stakes are low. You might as well enjoy what you’re doing.

We all need to hear it (sometimes over and over) from an author who has been there and come out the other side. There isn’t a writer in the world who feels they have it all figured out when they get started. And for most, you still don’t feel like you have it all figured out after you’ve successfully published a novel. It is a constant cycle of starting with a blank document, barreling through that first draft, refining and repeat! So don’t let doubt, nerves, uncertainty and thoughts of inadequacy stop you from going after your dream.

Make sure you check out Carley’s new book This Summer Will Be Different, out now!