The Novel - Short Stories in Disguise?

Short stories are hard to write. At least, good ones are. Crafting something that hooks a reader, builds to a climax and resolution in a couple thousand words. A tale that leaves the reader feeling like their time was well spent. That’s hard, but I like it. My ADHD brain can keep track of a short story. 3000 words later, I can still remember the beginning and keep everything in my head. 

Writing a novel is harder. I’ve got 2 novel ideas that I really want to write. I’ve started both and got stuck, for the same reason in both. I need to learn more before I can properly tell the tale in a way that will give a reader the experience they deserve. Keeping track of what has happened, figuring out what to do next. These are challenges to overcome. It doesn’t help that I’m a seat-of-the-pants writer. I’ve tried outlines, but I can’t figure out what’s going to happen next until I’ve written it.

I recently had a light-bulb moment that I think is key to the whole process. A novel is a collection of short stories under an umbrella of a bigger picture. Four or Five dozen ‘scenes’ that all work together, but have to work independently as well. 

Now I just need to get to work writing them.

 

-J.D. McKay