I Hope Something Will Come Out Of So Much Effort

So ... I'm still over here just writing away. I am 15 chapters, approximately 35,000 words into my third novel and ...


Sometimes I seriously question what the hell I'm doing.


I am thoroughly enjoying writing this story - THOROUGHLY! But ... it takes up so much time and energy I sometimes wonder if I'm just wasting my time.


Last night I got really discouraged.


I am well into the third novel and I suddenly had doubts that the first two books were any good and started questioning why I was continuing to write this story if the first two books were not worth reading.


So ...


I pulled out the first two books (AGAIN) and read through them. I hadn't picked either of these two books up and read them for at least two weeks and it was interesting to see/read them after having let a little time lapse.


I was a little more encouraged after reading the books again (I scanned a lot of parts - I didn't actually read every single word again). I like the story and I think this story - these books - have potential.


I could definitely be wrong, though. The biggest fear I have is that I am wrong and that ... I am just wasting my time. I'm not a fan of wasting time or ... being wrong.


I haven't yet solicited any literary agents. I am still in the process of having people read the books and editing. My friend, Vicki, who lives in Utah, is going to read them once I send her the manuscripts (I plan to mail her hard-copies by this weekend). My daughters have been too busy to read the books lately due to lots of tests and projects at school. They will read them soon. One of their friends is presently reading the first book, but I haven't talked to her about it. I haven't really talked to anyone about the books, except Chloe, and that was several months ago when she'd read the first book, made some edits/suggestions and I went back and changed a lot of the second half of the first book using her ideas and suggestions. She has not reread it since I've made those changes.

I am going to keep on writing. I don't know if I'm wasting my time or not, but I have to keep positive. Monet said: "I hope something will come out of so much effort."


I do too.


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Book1, Book2 and Now ... Book3

I have now completed the second book in my YA series. I have written about 146,000 words, a total of 48 chapters and I am seriously sucked into Laney's life.

I totally need to go back and re-edit Book1 (again) and continue editing Book2, but ... I am so into this story that I have already started writing Book3 because I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS!

Yes - this story has me totally consumed. And, because I am the sort of writer that doesn't use an outline when writing a story, I don't have a clue what's going to happen from one line to the next.

I know - I have given little in the way of details about what this series is about. I have several reasons for that. The main reason is because the story, while a basic plot, is in a continuous process of change. And, I'm just not ready to divulge too many details. I will tell you now that ...

It is ... a teenage love story.

It is set in Marble Falls, Texas and Laney is a junior at Haywood High.

Can love for a boy ... change a girl's life? Or ... is it the love of a boy that can take a girl's world and send it spiraling out of control?

I don't know which is more compelling, but what I do know is this ... If either happens or ... if both happen simultaneously ... nothing is ever the same again.

I'd like to introduce you to a few of the characters in Laney's life.

Butter -She is one of Laney's best friends and she's my favorite (aside from Laney). She's a quirky little blonde that got the nick-name Butter because she has this impossibly hard-to-say Greek last name. She is the gossip of the group, she giggles a lot and she's adorably funny.

Tory - She is Laney's best friend (since they were in elementary school) and I really like her too. She has a funny habit of rattling off random facts and she cracks me up. She's very tall, has chestnut brown hair, light brown eyes and plays on the varisty basketball team with Butter and Laney. She is the more serious one of the group, but she has her moments of humor.

Brian - He is the especially beautiful skateboarder, drummer, artist dude in Laney's art class that Laney is seriously infatuated with. He has dark brown, shoulder length hair, gorgeous blue eyes, a dimple in one cheek, an earring in one ear and at least one tattoo that Laney is aware of.

Shane - He is the very cute and very popular varsity football player that Laney is also infatuated with. He is dark headed, blue eyed also, but an athlete and has the body and attitude to go with it.

Mr. McCarty - He is Laney's U.S. History teacher who is Mc-gorgeous, looks like Jesus and is often in Laney's daydreams.


Angie - She is Laney's adorable, red-headed, six year old sister who is a wanna-be child star and just landed a staring role in a national Dunkin' Donuts commercial.


Brad - He is Laney's older, dark headed, football-playing brother who wears boxer shorts and dark sunglasses around the house and works part-time at the local bowling alley behind the shoe rental desk. Laney does not think Brad is as cool as he thinks he is.

Dani - She is the new girl in school and is threatening everything from Laney's friendship with Tory, Tory's position on the basketball team to Laney's relationships with Brian and Shane. Dani is a sophomore with the heart and habits of a ssssssnake. She is beautiful and too confident for her own good.

Ashley & Aubrey - Twins on the basketball team.

Becca - Also on the basketball team and also Shane's younger sister.

Coach Smith - Laney's coach.

Okay ... back to writing. I truly hope that one day you will get to read Laney's story and enjoy it as much as I am enjoying writing it.

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