How I Wrote My Novel by Building a Community

How I Wrote My Novel by Building a Community How I Wrote My Novel by Building a Community Giuseppe Porcaro is the author of DISCO SOUR: an existential odyssey of a heartsick politician trying to save a war-torn, post-austerity Europe from algorithmic autocracy. In this article, he talks about the collaboration behind his latest novel, which was inspired in large part by interactive events he organized during the writing process.When I first started working on DISCO SOUR, I had a story stuck in my head, and this romantic dream of writing on the beach, sipping on a coconut through a straw and hammering out my book in a couple of weeks. So, I bought a ticket to Indonesia and settled on the island of Gili Meno, where I rented a bungalow by the beach. Fresh Bintangs (local beers) took the place of the coconut.Learning that there’s more to writing a novel than just, well, writingAfter three days on the island, I fell in the mud after a tropical storm and severely dislocated my arm. A local suggested that I visit their aunt in a nearby village because she was an osteopath and would be able to help heal my arm.Finally, I organized a workshop for interactive world building for DISCO SOUR with Librebook, an independent bookstore in Brussels. Jessica Woodworth, an American filmmaker, and Pieter de Byser, a Belgian theatre director, joined to give their own perspectives on creating imaginary worlds.How community-building contributed to my novelAll of these events made my writing journey a unique and collaborative one. They provided a wealth of information for character development and even inspired entire scenes: without these events, the book would have been entirely different. For example, during the â€Å"Eurovisions† event, Denis Maksimov sketched the concept of â€Å"State of Noland,† and the role of free economic zones in hacking nation states. This concept became key in developing the backdrop for my novel: the outbreak of a European civil war.I also included snippets of conversations about dating apps that were recorded during the T inderpolitics performance, and the dance parties I hosted were instrumental in depicting many of the disco scenes.One of the most valuable outcomes of this whole process was the community that formed about DISCO SOUR. Readers became part of the story, helping create the world of the novel simply by showing up and taking part in my events. I also created a Facebook group (which acquired 800 followers), and a newsletter (which has grown to 1,000 subscribers) to keep participants of the event up-to-date on the writing journey. "By throwing events inspired by my book, I allowed readers to become part of the story." However you choose to write your novel, make sure you have funEvery author has a unique approach to writing a book. However, it can be said across the board that creating a story with which you’re happy takes time and consistency, and, above all, it has to be fun. If you don’t have fun writing it, people won’t have fun reading it. "If you don’t have fun writing your book, people won’t have fun reading it." And as any independent author knows, writing a novel is only half the battle. Drumming up interest is the other half. And while my decision to involve people in the writing process was for creative reasons, facilitating shared, face-to-face experiences with potential readers was also an excellent way to build buzz and encourage people to become invested in DISCO SOUR. I learned a great deal from my friends, filmmakers, journalist, native English-speakers (English being a second language for myself), Reedsy professionals, and avid readers - all of whom helped my story grow.Please share your thoughts, experiences, or any questions for Giuseppe Porcaro in the comments below!The book is available for pre-orders on Unbound.I would like to thank Michael Rowley and Jessica Hatch, who I worked with to develop and finalize the manuscript.