From False Starts to Finished Novel: How Bruce Buchanan Wrote His Debut Fantasy
What does it take to finally finish a novel after years of false starts?
For fantasy author Bruce Buchanan, the answer was persistence, community, and the decision to stop giving up.
Bruce’s debut fantasy novel, The Blacksmith’s Boy, released in August 2025 with Wild Ink Publishing. The road there wasn’t straightforward, though.
Like many of us, Bruce spent years starting and stopping projects, second-guessing himself, and walking away when the doubts got loud.
In our recent conversation, Bruce shared how he broke through that cycle, what kept him moving forward, and the lessons he learned along the way.
If you’ve ever thought about giving up on your book, his story is exactly the reminder you need.
The Power of Finishing the First Draft
For Bruce, the game-changer was finishing a full manuscript for the very first time.
“Once you finish that first manuscript, it clears a mental block,” he told me. “I didn’t know if I could do that. After I completed that first draft, I knew—oh, hey, you can write a manuscript. You can finish. That has helped me the rest of the way.”
The lesson here? Even if your first draft is messy (and trust me, it will be—mine are!), just getting to “The End” teaches you that you can do it. And that belief carries you through the next draft…and the next book.
Learning Where to Start (and Restart)
Like many writers, Bruce wrestled with where his story should begin. His early drafts started too late, dropping readers into action without enough context.
It was only through feedback from fellow writers that he realized he needed to back up and give readers more of the stakes and the “why” behind his hero’s journey.
That outside perspective was invaluable. “I second-guessed myself,” he said. “I needed another writer to read it and confirm what I already knew.”
This is such a universal moment for writers: we often do know what’s wrong with our drafts—but it takes community, mentors, and trusted readers to help us believe our instincts and give us insight on how to fix them.
Finding a Writing Process That Fits Your Life
Bruce is a plotter. He needs a detailed outline as his roadmap. But what mattered most was building a sustainable habit:
“I’ve learned that if I have a little bit of focused writing time every day, I can get a lot done. Minimum of twenty minutes. No phone. No TV. Just write.”
Simple. Consistent. And proof that progress doesn’t always require hours of uninterrupted time. Just consistency and commitment.
Community, Confidence, and Not Giving Up
Bruce admitted that imposter syndrome haunted him for years, keeping him from finishing projects. What helped more than anything was finding a support network.
Having writer friends to swap pages with, vent to after rejections, and celebrate wins with made all the difference.
“Find ways to get involved in the writing community,” he encouraged. “Review someone else’s book, join a group, support other writers.”
I couldn’t agree more. Writing a novel may be something we “do” on our own, but it flourishes in community.
Bruce’s Wish for Fellow Writers
When I asked Bruce what advice he’d give to writers still struggling to finish, he didn’t hesitate:
“Keep going. You can do this. It’s not easy, but it’s doable—and there are people out there who will support you.”
And here’s the best part: since finishing his debut, Bruce has gone on to complete four manuscripts. Proof that once you break through that first wall, the path forward gets clearer.
The Takeaway
Bruce’s journey is a powerful reminder that the difference between an unfinished draft and a finished book isn’t talent, credentials, or some mysterious secret. It’s persistence.
It’s choosing not to give up.
Finish your draft—however messy. Lean on your community. Learn as you go. And remember: once you’ve proven to yourself that you can finish, you’ll never look at your writing the same way again.
Because the real secret? Writers who publish aren’t the ones who never doubted. They’re the ones who kept going anyway.
✨ You can connect with Bruce and check out his books at brucebuchananauthor.com.
