Why write a novel?

It seems like a pretty fair question that, as of right now, is being consistently posed to me. Writing a novel can be a pretty isolated and unforgiving space to find yourself in.

It’s definitely not the most cost-effective means of spending my time. It can be a frustrating, tormenting head space to find yourself in. Self-doubt and constant uncertainty are to just be embraced as part of the journey and, certainly during the early stages, the only barometer of success you have access to is a slowly ticking rolling count of words.

The prospect isn’t for the feint-hearted and the potential negative aspects can be pretty daunting at times, even for writers far more experienced than myself.

Through the years, I’ve found myself engaging with story lines across books, films and TV where I’ve found myself questioning what direction I would have taken a plot from its’ early inception. If a small concept of the story was given to me, how would I allow it to grow and how would my influence and interests steer the characters in comparison to what I was engaging in?

Inevitably, it was this methodology that culminated in what I now find myself writing. It was the simplest of ideas that began to expand and grow beyond any constraints that I could initially apply. That simple idea began to escalate; Why would they do that? What if this character had this connection? How could this be interpreted from another angle? Before I knew it, I had drafted out a wider plot line with integral characters across 3 generations.

What started as the initial inception of the idea itself has become a small, minor part in the initial catalyst to the storyline. In many ways, it was the kind of scenario that I had found myself in whilst reading or watching any number of storylines unfold before me. It was the hallmark of some of my most admired authors, such as Harlan Coben or Sarah Pearse, who have perfected the art of a simple concept or idea escalating into something that could never be conceptualised at the start of the journey.

This thought of layering key details on top of important bits of information represents a style within the genre that is definitely an enticing principle to try and recreate. The challenge that accompanies this, along with the practical challenge of simply creating a storyline of the detail and value to justify a novel is what has ultimately appealed most to me about the process.

There is an escapism that can be found in literature. Of course, parallels can be drawn to the TV and movie industry however it can so often be a short-lived affair from which it can be easily distracted. My opinion is that it is impossible to truly create a fictional novel of substance without completely immersing yourself in the world and the characters that you are creating. To authentically evoke the emotions and passion that a reader would bond with and relate to, the author has to impart them with the same degree.

Being able to create something of real value and substance is the most alluring aspect of such a journey and the intrigue of the unknown with how that could turn out has played a pivotal role in what has driven me to write a novel of my own.

I’m not sure how that will end up and even whilst writing this manuscript, I have notes on a sequel as well as an entirely new storyline that I would love to engage with. Like my storyline, the prospects keep evolving and, as a result, it definitely feels like I’m on the start of a new and exciting journey.