The Plot Thickens

novel an invented prose narrative that is usu. long and complex and deals esp. with human experience through a usu. connected sequence of events

Occasionally it becomes necessary to listen to someone expounding the confusing complications of life who mistakenly believes the events are unique and interesting. The long-winded remarks often end with "I could write a book!".

It isn't that easy. It takes more than a wish in order to write a novel that will appeal to readers. There must be many characters interacting within multiple interwoven plots. Keeping track of those characters and where each of them fits into the story line is a major task. A problem or conflict interesting enough to engage the reader must arise and then be solved satisfactorily by a character or characters who have gained the readers' rapt attention.

This cannot be accomplished by the person quoted above. It's the boredom factor that prohibits successful narration and that can kill a novel. A better suggestion is to write a short story. Have one or two likeable characters involved with some conflict which is solved intelligently. Tell it succinctly and to the point. Leave the novel until a short story has been written and received successfully.

Have you begun to write a story that you did not finish? Will you consider writing short stories for your family? Have you entertained others with your imaginative narratives? Will you consider doing so? Do you have old manuscripts lying dormant in a file?

Shakespeare wrote

This is the short and the long of it.