From Draft to Done: How Author Michael Fedor Finished His Novel After 20 Years
Writing a novel is hard. We all know this. Now, writing a novel that takes 20 years to complete? That’s take’s hard and persistence to a whole different level.
In my latest episode of Write it Scared, I had the pleasure of talking with Michael Fedor, an award-winning indie author who proves that some stories just won’t let you go. His debut novel, What It Takes to Kill a Bull Moose, is a political science fiction thriller that took multiple rewrites, years of personal growth, and a few well-timed nudges from the universe to finally bring to life.
Michael’s journey is a testament to patience, resilience, and the reality of what it takes to turn an idea into a finished book. If you’ve ever doubted your ability to finish your novel—or felt like you’ve been at it forever—his story is exactly what you need to hear.
The Story That Wouldn’t Let Go
Michael started writing a version of What It Takes to Kill a Bull Moose in 2004 while teaching high school English. Inspired by post-9/11 political shifts, he poured his thoughts into a story about a political outsider challenging a broken system.
Like so many first drafts, his early version wasn’t great. A colleague gave him some tough but honest feedback, pushing him to study the craft and improve, which he did, but life had him put the manuscript aside.
Then in 2016, when real-world politics started mirroring themes from his novel. He dusted off the manuscript, rewrote it from scratch, and worked through it again with his trusted colleague. But again life—his family grew, major events unfolded, and the book went back into the drawer.
Then came January 6, 2021. Watching events unfold that felt eerily close to his manuscript’s ending, Michael realized:
“I might be onto something. This story needs to be told.”
So in 2023, he pulled the book out again and after many rounds of editing—finally, nearly 20 years later, the final version of What It Takes To Kill a Bull Moose was ready.
Letting the Story Evolve
One of the biggest lessons Michael learned? Your first idea isn’t always the best one.
The original main character ended up becoming the antagonist.
The book’s structure changed dramatically in the final rewrite.
He merged political thrillers with speculative fiction—creating a subgenre he calls Poli-Fi.
The big shift came when he finally allowed himself to embrace science fiction. By setting the book in 2044 and introducing an AI character, the story gained a fresh energy and depth. The moment he stopped resisting the genre he loved, the writing process finally clicked into place.
Balancing Realism and Thrills
Michael has 20 years of experience in politics, working in Washington D.C., state capitals, and on campaigns. That firsthand knowledge made authenticity a priority in his writing.
To make sure his political world felt real (and not like a Hollywood version of government), he had actual senators, governors, and Capitol Hill staffers read his work to verify its accuracy. Their feedback? It passed the sniff test.
But political accuracy alone doesn’t make a thriller. To create a gripping, fast-paced story, he had to:
Make readers care about his protagonist.
Keep the tension high and avoid info-dumps.
Carefully track what each character knows at any given time.
Using tools like Plottr and PseudoWrite, he mapped out multiple subplots, managed different viewpoints, and ensured that every detail lined up.
The Hardest Part of Writing? The Doubts.
Michael openly shared the self-doubt that plagued him throughout his journey—something we all can relate to.
One of his toughest moments? Sending his first draft to his editor, convinced that she was taking so long to reply because it was so bad she didn’t know how to tell him.
Reality? She loved it.
This moment solidified one of the biggest lessons of writing:
Your internal voice is often wrong. The doubt, the fear—it’s all part of the process.
Another game-changing realization? Writing a book isn’t about making your protagonist’s life easier—it’s about making it worse.
When he got stuck in the second act, he realized he’d been too nice to his protagonist. He took to the advice that the middle of the book should be a series of escalating challenges for the protagonist. Once he embraced that, the story flowed much more smoothly.
Finding the Time to Write
Between working in politics, having a family, and navigating life, finding writing time was a struggle. His solution?
Write during his peak creative hours—5 AM to 10 AM.
Be unapologetic about protecting writing time.
Cut out distractions like doom scrolling or binge-watching TV.
Accept that some weeks will be more productive than others.
Thoughts On Writing Advice
One of his favorite pieces of writing advice?
“People will tell you something is wrong with your book. They’ll rarely be right about how to fix it—but listen to them anyway.”
Feedback is crucial, but it’s up to you as the writer to find the right solutions.
Final Thoughts: Keep Going, Even When It’s Hard
It’s never too late to publish.
Your story will evolve—embrace it.
Doubt is normal—keep writing anyway.
Find a writing community to keep you sane.
Give yourself permission to take breaks—but never give up.
Michael’s book, What It Takes to Kill a Bull Moose, is available now, as is its action-packed sequel, Tree of Liberty.
To connect with Michael and check out his work, visit michaelfedorbooks.com or find him on Instagram and Facebook at @michaelfedorbooks.
