I got about halfway through my first fiction novel and put it aside. Not that it’s a bad novel, I just don’t know if I am a novel writer. In fact, those who have previewed it say that it is an intriguing story. Somehow, though, I feel like I’m cheating. I’m best known for my memoirs and stories based on real-life events. Making everything up as I go is a bit unsettling for me.
I love flying or driving with a GPS. No worries. I can see exactly where I am and where I am going. Still, in the air, I carry a paper sectional chart to track my course… just in case. The GPS seems too easy. That’s the way I feel about writing a novel. Too easy. Of course, that could also mean that my novel writing is a bit on the weak side.
So, for the time being, I think I will stick to short stories based on real life. They are fun to write, people seem to relate to them, and I know the beginning, middle, and end before I start. The challenge is in making the story come alive and entertaining.
I may eventually get back to the novel once I run out of interesting true-life adventures to write about. Time will tell.