I have a healthy respect for anyone attempting to write a novel, let alone doing it. I have to say that the most difficult part is coming up with original material to write. Yes, I could write some sloppy romantic tale. I could write a cheesy mystery. I could even write a non-fiction book on something dry like taxes. But coming up with an actual story that is from my own mold is tough.
Most things I write really come from my gut and I just sit and type away. In ten minutes, I've pretty much got the storyline out and done. A bit of editing and poof I have a flash story (300 words). Then there my longer short stories that I have an idea and pound out over a few days the storyline and I craft them. Some are quite entertaining and interesting. I love twists in the plot.
A novel though is like a string of related short stories, but every one of them is related to the same plot and same ending with often multiple changes in points of view. That's daunting. Making them mesh and make sense and having the where-with-all to put the gears together so they compliment each other must have an element of a labor of love.
Perhaps one of these days I will strike upon the right combination. All I know is that I have to keep writing. Keep trying. Keep going. The plot will come. It always has in my shorter stories. Here's to hoping it does in longer compositions.
