DID I MISS ANYTHING?

When I was growing up, friends, school activities, and summer fun were all-important events. My daily goal was to be in on as many things as possible, because I couldn't stand "missing out on anything."
Mother never had trouble getting me up to go to school. Even if I was sick, I'd beg to go if I remotely felt like it. She always said of me, "She's always afraid she'll be left out and miss something."
True. Very true. To my sad consternation, I am still like this today--just not as much.

It's not all bad, though. Recently, I discovered that this deep desire is somewhat akin to keeping up with a plot. Our lives are a running plot, moving from one scene to the next, and if we "miss out on something," then we don't completely understand our next move.

 Before glasses were prescribed for me at age 12, I could not see the movie screen well enough to know exactly what was going on. Usually, I could make out the characters enough to follow the basic story--especially if dialogue was provided. But if the screen were dark for some reason--a storm, a nighttime scene--then I'd whisper to my mother, "What's happening?" When the credits ran, I could not read those at all, so she would read them to me.

It finally occurred to my parents that I was horribly near-sighted. With glasses, the ability to watch action changed my life. I could see the entire plot.

What does this have to do with writing?

Have you ever read a novel or story that seemed to have an incomplete plot? The scenes were fuzzy, indiscernible, and confusing. The story arc did not work. The plot made little sense.

It's just like reading without glasses--we're not getting the whole picture.

MYOPIC AUTHOR WHO WROTE
"HOW TO WRITE A DAMN
GOOD NOVEL"--
AND HE KNOW WHAT HE'S
TALKING ABOUT!

I'd like to say all my completed works make sense and the plots are clear as day--such as Steven King writes. That may be true for me, but perhaps not for every reader. Maybe a reader thinks the story is "missing something."

I recently finished reading the third novel in a series written by one of my favorite authors. The first two books were quite clear and very good. But the third one missed the mark and I haven't yet come to a conclusion as to the exact reason. All I say is that it was incomplete and confusing.

Characters are my strongest point. A plot that makes sense and is complete is the main part of writing that I work on the most.

"The story is the thing." And so, it follows, "the plot is the story."

AVAILABLE AT
AMAZON, WHISKEY CREEK PRESS,
AND BARNES AND NOBLE

Of all the novels and stories I've written, the one that has brought the most comments is Crystal Lake Reunion. Happily, all comments have been glowing. I am grateful for every word.

This novel is not a pure romance, even though it does contain a love story. The main character is a dead baby, because the tiny thing started the entire story. If not for her...no story. Dana Dawson, a young Houston realtor, has a lifelong connection to this infant, even though she knew nothing about it. Dana learns the truth about herself accidentally, and in the end, several lives change.

The plot for this story literally wrote itself. Unbelievable? Maybe, but I would wager most authors can say that about a special story they wrote.

Once the kernel of the beginning was planted, the story took off and I did not stop writing until it was finished. I think I wrote every day on the plot, something I can't say about any other story.

Thanks for visiting!
Celia Yeary-Romance...and a little bit 'o Texas
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