The Writer Writes a Novel

I finished my feature and received positive feedback from my editor - yay :)

This has left me with free time to write for myself. So did I get cracking on my novel in progress?

No. I started a new one.

I was never aware that I had ADD until now.

I had an idea for a novel that is based on real events in my family's past (think great great greats). I know a bit about the lives of these people and I have always been fascinated to find out more, but very little information is available, which frustrates me. I decided that if I cannot know my history, then I will recreate it. That's all a writer can do.

So I took out my vintage photo of the great great greats and started writing. I'm happy with the one page or so I wrote and am anxious to continue. So do I just forget about my first novel?

I love the first novel but I kind of hit a wall considering I never learned how to write a novel. Writing a novel is quite different than writing a long story. It just is. You have to structure it in a special way and I need to learn that way, otherwise I will keep writing and writing and not getting anywhere.

I read so many novels it's unbelievable, so I feel that I should know how to create my own by now. Since I do not, I think I'm going to sit down and outline my favorite novels, as well as ask around at my writing groups. Only way to learn.

I dream of middle-of-the-night furious writing sessions with just me, a cup of coffee, a cigarette and a typewriter. I don't smoke and I don't own a typewriter but it's such grand imagery, and very sexy.