The Journey of The Men He Met Along The Way

I am fascinated by how stories begin. for some authors, it is a spark of inspiration and for others it is the slow, brick by brick building of plot. The Men He Met Along The Way was a two and a half year journey. At times it was difficult, really difficult. I have been asked whether there is any of 'me' within the story. Whilst nothing in the book is strictly 'auto-biographical', I do wonder how much of the journey and the book was influenced by life outside of it. This blog post details that journey, from start to finish. Along The Way, just like Cameron, I guess life did influence the direction of the novel.

Whether I knew it or not.

The beginning

The initial idea began in February 2023. I knew I wanted to write a multi-perspective novel. One where you watched a main character through the eyes of others, but you never got the chance to be inside their head. At that time, I had been in Chicago for six months and was intrigued by the social dynamics of the gay community. The initial idea would be centred around this setting, along a 'everyone knows everyone' novel.

As I began to plot and create characters, it became clear the idea was both uninteresting and would not work as a novel. Yet still, the idea of a group of men who knew nothing of one another being connected still intrigued me. The question was what it would be, what could possibly be the thread which held the novel and these men together.

As most ideas do, it hit me when I was least expecting it. What if the very thing which connected the lives of all these men, was one man in particular.

An idea becomes a project

So began the plotting, the creation of characters and storyline. Cameron, as a character, came easy to design. The smart yet fearful man, with all his strengths and flaws, was a fun character to create. The difficulty lay in creating the characters who he would encounter.

I wanted to create a mutual exchange between each one. They would change Cameron's life, who would in turn be changed by them. Each one had to be different. They each had to have something which made them deserve their own chapter. I am happy to say, none of the men who Cameron meets are drawn from people I know. That goes against a firm belief I have that one should never open a book and know the writer was using them for a story.

The men however, were created from lessons I and many gay men have learned. Learning rejection, lust, dishonesty, pride and more. Indeed, each of the men who Cameron meets, teach him more about himself. Some characters like Fredric, Giles and Aled were easy to write. They are brash, untamed men who live their lives in complete opposite to Cameron. Others like Harry, Ben and Archie were more difficult. The subtlety and shyness in their lives, made it difficult for the lesson they would teach Cameron to be clear.

Once the plot was firm, so began the many hours of writing. Starting in March 2023, I took whatever chance I could get to see the story come to life. Early morning or late evenings were stolen away by the process.

And indeed it is a process. If I could give any advice to anyone aspiring to be a writer it would be that you have to see it as a second career. Even as an unpublished writer, you must view your work as the thing which will provide for you, even when it is not.

It was Tuesday 2nd April, 2024 when I wrote the final sentence of the book.

Little did I know, there was still some way to go.

Editing, editing and editing again

Then began the process of looking back to edit. Editing is my favourite part of the writing process. I am dyslexic, so I will often make errors and mistakes with writing. Having the chance to review and ensure the message I wanted to say is clear, to me, is a fun moment. Yet as I sifted through the many pages and words, I realised there was more to fix than a misspelled word or wrong tense used.

Cameron was initially too weak. Too passive in letting life happen to him. How, could a man supposedly so brilliant and smart, be so naive? How could someone constantly deny who they are for their entire life? Cameron needed an edge. There had to be an underlying purpose inside him. He needed to earn his redemption.

Changes were made. Ben was initially going to become Cameron's boyfriend. Giles was supposed to teach Cameron about the bittersweet reality of a one night stand. Day by day, the story changed into what it became now. Manuscript one became two which became three. I kept editing until I could read through and feel no itch. Until I knew the story was where I wanted it to be.

Keeping a secret

The deal was confirmed in summer 2024. A dream come true beyond a shadow of a doubt. Yet also, a moment of stirred emotion. For so long, since I was a child, this was something I wanted. Soon, it would become a reality.

Yet beneath the surface lay a fear of what that reality would bring.

To create something personal. To, and apologies for being cliche, 'put so much of yourself' into something and then have it released to the world to consume, criticise and disregard make me scared. Indeed I questioned whether it was worth it. Maybe a dream is better left as a dream.

Only a handful of people knew I was writing and even a smaller amount knew I would become published. Day by day, I knew the time of me writing for myself and in secret were coming to a close.

It was an identity shift. Soon, I would have to announce all that had been done in secret and face whatever reality that would entail.

A year to publishing

So indeed when it was announced, almost year before the publishing date, I was blessed to receive so much support and questions. I am even more happy to say I was accepted with open arms. Friends being supportive, happy and proud.

There was still work to be done. Final edits to be made and release plans to be finalised. Yet by October 2024, I knew there was no turning back. A year from now, the novel would be out and there is nothing I can do but wait until the day comes.

Staying true to a vision

If you are interested in exploring Lewis Warren's poetry further, consider engaging with the poetry community. Many readers and writers share their thoughts and interpretations of his work online. Joining discussions on social media platforms or poetry forums can enhance your understanding and appreciation of his poetry.

Additionally, attending poetry readings or workshops can provide a deeper connection to the art form. Hearing Warren's poems read aloud by the author or other poets can bring new life to the words. It allows you to experience the rhythm and emotion in a way that reading alone may not capture.

Conclusion: A Journey Through Words

At its core, the message of The Men He Met Along The Way is that we are all able to influence and change one another's path. Yes, there are themes of identity but I wanted a message more than simply 'Be Yourself,' important as that message is.

At the start of this journey, I was just half a year into a new city, I knew hardly anyone and I was uncertain of the direction of my life, let alone whether I would be able to get a book published. Two and a half years later, I consider Chicago my home and I know so many more.

I do wonder how much the trajectory of my life during this period influenced the book. Maybe in time I will be able to trace certain moments in the book to those which happened in my life. Maybe in some parts, Cameron's story can be found in my own.

The fact is, there are many Cameron's in this world and there are many like the men he meets. My overall hope is for anyone who reads this book to take a moment to not only consider the impact men have made on themselves, but to also consider the impact they have on others. Then, in time, become someone in a stranger's life worth writing a chapter about.