: Re: How to overcome the fact that I can't write long stories? I have written some short stories (in fact, they are flash fiction). When I'm writing short stories, the ideas and the structure come

@Gail2416123

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Yes, it happens to a lot of people.

Writing is hard work, like anything else. You say:

I just feel that it is not a story that I want to write.

Real writing is re-writing. You need to bang out a first draft, then read through it. Then you need to make notes on how the book differed from your expectations. Ask yourself:

What was the book I wanted to write?
What I actually got?
What changes do I need to make to get the book I wanted?

And then you either completely rewrite the book, or modify the 1st draft. For beginners, complete rewriting maybe a better option. Even though it may seem like work, it will save time in the long run, as you are not trying to duct tape something broken.

You are correct in your idea about a novel being a lot of interconnected stories. All you need to do is, ensure there is a strong theme / conflict unifying the stories.

Like Steve Drennon and Fox Cutter have said, you need to keep practising. Writing a long novel is like running a marathon- you can't just go out and do it. You may need somepractice and groundwork before you are ready.

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