Novel and Thesis Writing

I have been working on my novel lately.

What I’ve learned about novel writing is it is not linear. What do I mean by that?

It is not a process that we can pin down and say, “Yes, this is how a novel is written!”

I am also writing a thesis. I’ve learned a similar process is at work with that. Although the thesis is academic and more formal (arguably), I still think a creative process similar to a novel applies. I have had (and wanted) to put so much psychic energy towards my novel and my thesis. Psychological energy? Either applies I think.

It is cool to see the process at work. I believe novel writing is interesting because it requires a way of seeing the world that is your own. Your own. Not anyone else’s.

And the thesis is similar, but as another step in the process of thesis writing, you must ensure what you’re saying is reasonably believable (or true, more or less). The same is true for novel writing, just in a different way.

There’s a term I like called verisimilitude (though I like the Spanish verosimilitud better). They mean almost identical things, don’t ask me, I just like the way the Spanish term sounds better.

The concept that word refers to is that of truthfulness or believablility. Would someone believe it (if it were a novel)? Or would it be convincing (in the case of a thesis)?

Those are the questions I am grappling with during these writing projects. Hopefully in some respects I am succeeding.