Chapter three...

In my in-the-works book, True, the characters are being introduced in the first chapter, of course. Normal. The first look at the "problem" is also introduced. Mildly, because getting a feel for who we're taking this journey with is important. Fleshing out characters is MAJOR. The whole novel depends on whether they're liked enough to keep a reader reading into the second chapter. My book has a group of teen boys and one strange newcomer. I think it's important not to overwhelm the reader with too much detail now, just concentrate on the characters.

The second chapter introduces the newcomer by way of his strange actions. The boys react to him, and a spark is ignited to figure out why this new guy is here. Again, not giving much away yet,  and because I'm a fan of Stephen King and like the way he does things, I always want to incorporate scary with a young adult story.  I like the way he gives tastes of what's to come, without giving too much away. So, second chapter isn't so difficult. As long as I know exactly what is coming down the road and know why I'm being so evasive now.

Third chapter? This is the one that always gets me. It's time to rev up the engine and take it out on the road. The real start of this journey where you're either with me or you're not. It's a vital chapter, and one that has always tripped me up. To me, it's when you have to know what this story is about, where it's going, and even if I don't plot it all out down to the ending, and want to be as surprised as my reader as to what will happen, this is the time to know something. I have to turn the GPS in my head on, and though I might change paths here and there, I have to come back to the main road and stick to things as I see them unfolding. But the joy of writing is also being surprised at what happens as it's being written. The story is the boss. That's from Stephen, too.

:)

Seriously, let's get back to the writing.

In 2014, most of my high hopes for writing were put on the back burner. I have to feel motivated, and I had so many stories in my head and no direction for them. I was overwhelmed.

A plea from my writer friend Jeff Fielder to us as a group made all the difference a couple of weeks ago. On Facebook, he talked about how his son, a 13-year old, was having trouble finding books that weren't about vampires, child wizards (he LOVES those, but really, who can compete and unless J.K. Rowling decides to give us more...) and he wanted something with a group of normal boys who face a situation that doesn't involve saving the earth per say, just get out of a mucky situation and give hope to the regular kids who don't have wizard blood inside of them.

Another published friend, Gae Polisner, shared a post about revising (as she was putting in LONG hours on a novel in which lots of changes had to be made...lots) and in it, it shared how revising can be changing up the entire story if you have to while keeping the good bones. It hit home with me. I was allowed. I was amazed.

I have two Young Adult novels simmering that are just that. Jeff sent out a plea for "us" as writers to write this stuff. Many sent suggestions of great books. Not what he was asking. He was calling us out to be the ones to WRITE it.

It fanned the flame inside me for those novels I was letting waste away on my old Dell. Before the thing dies, I need to finish these novels that have been conceived in its wire-y bowels.

Er...

So, this blog is back up and running and ready for a new year of serious story-making. First things first. I'll post parts of chapters, tell you how I'm doing this thing, and we can see what comes of it together. Share the blog, tell your friends. This is honest, the real deal of how an aspiring writer (THIS one) does it.

It's from my heart, anyway. I always hope for the best.