Having fun encompasses many areas of one’s life. So much in this world brings joy and creates fun for so many. But what brings fun for one is different from what brings fun for someone else. For me, there are a number of activities I do for fun. Here is a list of five.
Of course, there are other activities connected with these items that create fun, but these are the main ones.
This book is the first in a four book mystery series. I am half way through it, and enjoying every word.
What’s your next read?
In writing a story, remember something; keep the reader reading. How do you accomplish that? I equate this to dangling a carrot in front of a rabbit. Dangle information by leading the reader on but give them just enough to make them curious. After all, curiosity entices the mind to seek closure. When they seek closure, that means they are turning pages.
Increase tension within the story. Create a question or two but don’t answer it (at least not yet). Up the ante by increasing the stakes in such a way that it appears there’s no way out. The reader will have to turn the pages. They will just have to know. I can’t give you exact information as to what you should write, because I don’t know your story/stories. All I can do is give you something to think about.
When I’m reading a book, I like to be able to identify with the main character(s), empathize, get to know them, and miss them when the book is finished. This means the author must create them in such a way that they become ‘real’ to the reader. I know, that might sound silly to some, but it isn’t.
To start, the main character(s) is introduced at the beginning of the book (typically in chapter one). Then, throughout the book this same character will or should convey their feelings. Now this should be done in such a way that not only tells the reader how they’re feeling without literally telling them but also show how they’re feeling. This humanizes them and makes them real to us (the reader). (See linked article at the end of this post)
Throwing situations at your main character that draws out these emotions is the key. BUT make sure the emotion(s) fit the situation. You don’t want your male who is madly in love with his girl friend to lack in devastation if she breaks it off with him. This will cause us readers to roll our eyes. You don’t want that.
You want to hook your readers not repel them. Do everything you can to draw them in to your story world with your characters by their side. Make them your readers’ best friend.
For more on character emotions, please refer to my blog post Emotions from April 28, 2021.
That moment when you start reading a book and the story lifts you up and carries you away.
What activities do you lose yourself in?
Writing books, reading, and creating jewelry with beads.
As many of you know from a previous post, I finished my second novel this past July of 2022. Since then I’ve been editing, re-editing, and then editing some more. How many time does one need to read their work before it’s polished? How ever many times it takes. You will know when it’s just right. When you’re done with editing it, give it to another editor who knows what they’re doing. They have those editor’s eyes that will see something you missed that you didn’t think was an issue. Also, give your final draft to a beta reader (or a test reader). Yes, you want to do this. They will give you valuable feedback about your story. Trust me, if there is part of your story that isn’t making sense, your beta reader will spot it.
Before you go beyond the editing YOU are doing, read your story/manuscript backwards. Yes, start with the last page of your story and read each paragraph starting from the last paragraph and working your way backwards. Doing this will allow your brain to focus more on the mechanics of each sentence rather than the story. Think about it. When you are reading a story, the story is flowing through your mind. Your brain is focusing on the story itself and not on the mechanical issues you may have that must be fixed. Therefore, you will end up missing mistakes that need to be fixed. By reading it backwards, the story itself won’t get in the way.
Research is a wonderful thing. Time consuming? Yes, absolutely. In the end it enriches your story because it brings believability to the reading experience. If you don’t want to do the research, then don’t include that researchable element in your story. I say this because readers know when you’re winging it. This is so true when it comes to including information about other cultures in your story. Maybe another culture is essential to the plot. I know what you must be thinking. We all know this already. Well, yes. But some will still skip the research. Does researching mean you have to read everything and take extensive notes? No. Here are some ways you can conduct your research and have fun at the same time.
I enjoy researching because I love to learn. Sometimes I take too much time with it, and it ends up taking away from my writing time. This is okay. Just think about how much richer your story will be for having done all that work.
My books arrived yesterday, Sunday, January 31st. They are now available on this site for purchase at $12.50. That’s 50% off the regular price on Amazon. Get your SIGNED COPY today while supplies last. Just go to http://www.lmmontes777.com, scroll all the way to the bottom of the Home page and click on the button entitled PURCHASE A SIGNED COPY OF MY BOOK: THE TRIUNIX OF TIME
How is it I received them so early instead of the February 15 notification I received last Friday, January 29th? You see, the day after I received that notification, Amazon sent me a message saying they had been shipped. I was like, “Hmmm, and it’s going to take until the 15th to get here? That’s silly. Where are they coming from, across the Atlantic?” Then, after church yesterday, Sunday, January 31st, I went out to my car and checked my phone for messages etc. I saw I had received another notification saying my books had been delivered. I was like, “Really? That was fast.” I arrived home and low and behold there they were on my doorstep. So, you may now purchase them on this site here.
WRITE TIME AND AGAIN 