Where's the Thrill?

Remember when you first began writing? I know some authors have written most of their lives, but some of us are still rather new compared to many others.
In a discussion this week, I tried to answer questions for a person beginning a novel. Right away, I realized errors this person was making and pointed out one--only one. His answer was, "I don't care right now. I'm just having fun writing."

MY FAVORITE
OF ALL MY BOOKS--
THE MOST FUN
TO WRITE

Now, that was refreshing. Writing should be fun.

Somewhere along the way, though, do we become a little jaded? Tired of certain tasks connected to our writing projects/career?



THE BOOK THAT HAS
WON THE MOST
AWARDS FOR COVER, 
STORY, AND BEST
REVIEWS

What pleases you most? Do you still get a thrill from at least parts of the process?
What do you dread most? What takes the fun out of writing and publishing?
Like any other job, there are rewards, but there are mundane chores, too.

Me? I still become excited about writing a new story. The idea is formed, I think about it off and on for days, and finally sit down and write that first sentence. I can see it all now. This story is going to be good!

Some stories almost write themselves, but I struggle with others. That's fine, because I'm still writing a new story.

So, now it's finished. Now what? Where does this story belong?
When you decide whether to submit here or there, or..gasp!...self-publish, then what?

THE COVER OF THE
STORY THAT HAS
MADE THE MOST
MONEY

Whichever you choose, the book must have a cover.
Forgive me for being shallow, but this causes the most excitement. Since I am a visual person, it is all important.  Once I work with the artist and come up with the best we can do, I am super-excited.
The cover is almost the best part!
So, the thrill has not gone away for these two tasks--writing a new story and the cover.

However, the never-ending promotion can become tiresome. I enjoy some of the process--I'm just not thrilled by it.
I don't even mind editing, because I like to clean up a manuscript. Even though we might consider ourselves just about perfect, trust me...we are not. We need outside help with editing.
But if the editing becomes re-writing, forget it. I've pulled more than one manuscript because the editor wanted too many re-writes, which in some cases would destroy the story.
 
If the thrill is gone, my suggestion is to step away for a time.
But I do hope you return and regain that thrill.

Celia Yeary-Romance...and a little bit 'o Texas
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/celiayeary
My Website
My Blog
Sweethearts of the West-Blog
My Facebook Page 

FREE AND DISCOUNTED BOOKS FOR EBOOK WEEK!

 

Read an Ebook Week began March 3 and will last through March 9.

Participating authors and publishers use this nationwide opportunity to promote ebooks, share the joys of ebook reading, and acquainting readers with new to them ebook authors.

Below is a list of free and discounted ebooks from many of our participating authors at Publishing by Rebecca J. Vickery and Western Trail Bazer. Please click on the title to go to the applicable book page, get the coupon code provided, and proceed through checkout to get your copy. HaPpY rEaDiNg!

Free Ebooks

Christmas in Bayeux by Stephanie Burkhart

Lucca: Warriors for the Light by Karen Michelle Nutt

The Devil's Wolf by Karen Michelle Nutt

Last Assignment by Les Williams

Unwanted Reputation by Les Williams

Last Stand at Bitter Creek by Tom Rizzo

The Prodigal by Chuck Tyrell

Deirdre by Miriam Newman

Changing the Future by Paula Martin

Death at the Whistling Swan by John D. Nesbitt

Rose of Durango by John D. Nesbitt

Give it All You've Got by Linda Swift

The Trouble With Fishing by Rebecca J. Vickery

Now Spit by Troy D. Smith

The Windigo by Troy D. Smith

The Soul of the Hobnailed Boot by John Duncklee

Crashing the Superbowl by John Duncklee

A Distant Call by Gerald Costlow

Mars Needs Men by Gerald Costlow

Ianthe's Dream by Clova Leighton

The Hands of Time by Laura Shinn - PG15+

The Infidels by Troy D. Smith

The Last of Her Kind by Cheryl Pierson

Scarlet Ribbons by Cheryl Pierson
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Texas Promise by Celia Yeary

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Catch the Lightning by Madeline Baker

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Long Ride to Limbo by Kit Prate

Blood of the Scalphunter by John Legg

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Brothers in Arms by Troy D. Smith

Colorado Justice by Lee Aaron Wilson

Fire Eyes by Cheryl Pierson

Ties That Bind by Anne Patrick

Surviving With Love by Rebecca J. Vickery

Following Destiny by Rebecca J. Vickery

Looking Through the Mist by Rebecca J. Vickery

In the Shadow of the Hills by Madeline Baker

Tales of Western Romance by Madeline Baker

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Jessie's Girl by Amanda Ashley

A Court Lady by Clova Leighton

Chances Are by Laura Shinn

Dixie Cup Assassin by Jerry Bohnen

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First Love, Lost Love by Jory Sherman

FLYER, a novel by Judith McAlister

The Devil's Galley by Michelle Rodriguez

Four Horses Dead Ringer by J. D. McCall

Palomino Days by Mart Shaughnessy

Song of Hoofbeats by John Duncklee

Seeking Shelter by Rebecca J. Vickery

Participating Blogs
http://rebeccajvickery.blogspot.com/
http://www.kmnbooks.com/karens-shenanigans/

http://onceuponaword1.blogspot.com/
Smashwords Blog 

Celia Yeary-Romance...and a little bit 'o Texas

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/celiayeary

My Website

My Blog

Sweethearts of the West-Blog

My Facebook Page 

YOUR NOVEL IN THREE ACTS

Authors surely know that fiction should be in three acts, resembling a play. I honestly did not learn this for a long while into my writing experience.

All it means is that your story should have a beginning, a middle, and an end. Each part is distinct from the other. This is not particularly easy, nor are the parts clearly identifiable. However, if we use the concept as a rule of thumb, we may write a better novel.

I: THE FIRST ACT: Main characters and the Incident
The first act is to establish main characters, their relationships, and their place and time. The main statement we hear today from editors and publishers is "begin where the story begins." I had a terrible habit to break in which I felt I should explain and describe for the reader to inform him of the coming story. Wrong, wrong, wrong.
The opening is the "hook," and it bodes well if we spend some time working on that very first sentence or paragraph.
Throughout the first act, the main character is involved in or aware of some incident that leads to a turning point. This turning point ensure the main character's life will never be the same, that he will confront this issue until the end of the story. He has a problem, an enemy, or a question to solve, and his life now revolves around such an issue.

II: THE SECOND ACT: Action and Character Development.
During the second act, the main character finds himself confronted with some entity that appears to thwart his goal. This may be in the form of a person, force of nature, or even an internal personal problem. In fact, the main character cannot solve the problem easily because he might not have the skills to do so. He must go through a learning process to repair his predicament. In doing so, he may need the help of another character in the form of another major character or a mentor.

III: THE THIRD ACT: Climax and Resolution.
Now, during the third act, the main characters reach a turning point, intensifying tensions and reaching a conclusion. The character, as well as any others connected to him, find their way, a new direction, or a new life.  

This is a simplified version of many articles and books written on the subject. If I were an expert, I would give more instruction. This much is the skeleton framework I try to follow, and I find it amazing that often a story naturally takes this route.

In a romance novel, the skeleton framework is boy meets girl, boy and girl face dissension and part, and boy and girl make up and live happily ever after.

In RODEO MAN, a novella about a city girl and a rodeo man, follows this skeleton in this way:

I: Marla inherits an abandoned town in West Texas. When she arrives to camp out for a week she finds a stranger there, whittling and whistling. The main characters have met.
They talk, argue, have fun, and learn about each other. Then Marla receives a threat--the incident-- and they must leave the town.

II. When they arrive in the rodeo town, Cody helps Marla track down the person or persons who made the threat, and why. During this time, the two become more acquainted, but Marla is ever diligent about becoming involved with a man who might have a girl in every rodeo town.

III. Cody and Marla confront the perpetrator of the threat and have him arrested. But do the two fall into each other's arms? Not yet, not until Cody proves that he is her man.

 http://www.amazon.com/Rodeo-Man-ebook/dp/B00B14S4X4/ref=sr_1_21?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1358284697&sr=1-21&keywords=celia+yeary

Celia Yeary-Romance...and a little bit 'o Texas
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/celiayeary
My Website
My Blog
Sweethearts of the West-Blog
My Facebook Page