THE WRITE STUFF - THE CHALLENGES OF WRITING A NOVEL

greatest critics. Writing novels grants you the extraordinary ability to create characters that are often far more interesting than the people you encounter in real life!

However, be warned! These great characters often develop a mind of their own. They might hijack the plot, taking it in directions you never intended. They’ll insist on having longwinded conversations or make decisions that leave you scratching your head in bewilderment. Trying to rein them in and keep them on track can feel like herding caffeinated cats.

Novels provide a welcome escape from the mundane realities of life. They whisk readers away on a journey, allowing them to engage with fictional heroes and solve convoluted plots. As a novelist, you have the power to create this captivating escape for others, offering them a much­needed respite from the current cost­of­living crisis.

ing to navigate a particularly treacherous maze blindfolded. Every sentence, every paragraph, every page becomes a battleground to get it right.

Writing novels is a bittersweet experience that brings both benefits and challenges. From the thrill of crafting extraordinary worlds and breathing life into characters to the struggle against writer’s block and the torment of editing, the journey of a novelist is wild, controversial and occasionally downright off­thewall.

So, dear aspiring novelists, embrace the chaos, savour the perks and buckle up for the exhilarating rollercoaster ride that awaits you! Who knows? You may just create the next great literary sensation or, at the very least, provide your friends with endless amusement when they discover your unfinished manuscripts buried in a drawer years later...

you get to breathe life into these figments of your imagination, making them walk, talk and embark on adventures. They become your mates, your confidants and occasionally your