I criticize the media for inventing stories.
I'm very strict in my belief that non-fiction should be truthful, and fiction is for invented narratives.
You learn to write by writing, and by reading and thinking about how writers have created their characters and invented their stories. If you are not a reader, don't even think about being a writer.
For me, the pleasure of writing comes with inventing stories.
A good story is obviously a difficult thing to invent, but its difficulty is a poor reason for despising it.
I used to be a freelance journalist, so I had to write fast, but I always found writing nonfiction constraining. I like the freedom of fiction, where I get to invent everything, and tidy, conclusive endings are within my control.
It turned out I really didn't like journalism. I wanted to make up stories, not cover real events.
There are so many different narrative traditions across the world, and each of those traditions has evolved dramatically over time. Once I understood that, I felt truly free; I could write and invent the way I wanted to because there never has been only one way to tell a good story.
Stories are invented: Juncker wants to introduce the euro everywhere or immediately deepen the EU - although I publicly stated the opposite that same day.
