I write fiction for many reasons. It’s fun; it gives me joy; it makes me sane; I feel a need to tell stories to the world. I also write so that I can learn life’s lessons. In Olive Branches Don’t Grow On Trees, Silvia learns that happiness can’t be found in any place; rather it is something internal. Although I know this lesson intellectually, in many ways I am still learning that true happiness is not contingent upon external circumstances, and through writing a story in which the main character comes to this realization, it reinforces my own knowledge. In Discovery of an Eagle, Cosmo learns not to sleepwalk through life and settle for mediocrity. He learns to cease the moment and go after his dreams. These are lessons I’m still learning and writing my second book greatly reinforced these lessons. Perhaps I’m learning with my characters. Or maybe they’re teaching me! Whatever the case, I know I’ll be learning such lessons for the rest of my life; luckily, I’ll be writing for the rest of my life as well.
This post is from my blog series, “Tips for Writing Fiction.” Be sure to check out my Greco Family Trilogy books, which include Olive Branches Don’t Grow on Trees, Discovery of an Eagle, and The Bird that Sang in Color. These books are available from all major online book sellers, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Apple Books.
