I have always known writing a novel was hard, but damn I have to confess — it’s harder than I thought. Of course I haven’t exactly been easy for myself with “The Reigning.” I have about fifty characters, six of them are main characters who drive the story, which is made up of three intertwining storylines; it’s all taking place in the 19th century, in a fictional part of the world.

And it’s not even the total number of characters, or the three storylines, that is killing me. It mostly is the whole fictional part of the world-thing. I mean, if I was writing about 19th century France I at least have references — with a fictional one I don’t. Even though I modeled most of the countries (and monarchies) after real ones, it still is hard to keep the story straight.

That’s why I’m thinking about eliminating the fictional part of the world-part, and basing the story on actual countries. Problem is, that would mean that I would have to remodel Europe based upon the location of my stories, which means that it still becomes a fictional part of the world. I guess it won’t be as much fictional as before, but it still limits my list of references.

A simple solution would be to revision the whole plot — still sculpting the storylines towards the same goal, but in a different context — and to rewrite the chapters that have already been written. That would be the most simplest of solutions, considering it means I won’t have to change the characters all too much. Some names will need to be adjusted so that they will correspond with the European cultures they’re coming from, and some noble titles and places also, but in concept the characters can remain the same.

But do I want to write a fictionalized period piece about 19th century Europe? Yes and no. It would make the writing process more bearable and it’ll be an easier to understand story, but on the other hand, I won’t have as much freedom with the story. I’ll be more bound in to the facts. Which may be a positive thing — it means I have to focus more on the story instead of drifting off-topic every time, like I often do now. I have to, really, considering I have to explain the fictional world and all the families in it so that people understand it all.

Which basically answers my own dilemma, whether or not I should revert to actual Europe instead of fictional Europe. Yes, because when you have to explain too much and write about the facts instead of what the characters are experiencing, you’re not telling a story — and that is what novel writing is all about.