A new approach to the novel

J reminded me of something he had told me when we had been discussing me trying short stories. I have talked with him a lot about it, and he has helped me try to work through what I want to do to keep my creative juices flowing. He suggested trying to write the novel as a series of short stories instead. When he first re-suggested it, I wasn't so sure how that would help - I would still just be writing the novel. Then he explained (again) that since I am more of a character-based writer rather than a storyline-based writer, with a series of short stories, I could cover all the main events of the novel, but also change points of view and explore characters more as I go. Each story would be a snapshot of an individual or group of people, and all of the snapshots together would make up the whole novel. I really like this idea; it is a lot less intimidating. It is just a matter of figuring out where to start and what to do. Writer's club at the library is today, and I have something started in this new framework, but I need to get some more written before it's time to head over to the library. Here I go!