New Posting - Novel serialization - first three chapters

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Image Credit: From Adobe Stock Photos - Three women in vintage attire with braided hair, posing for a selfie. By Irina Kozel
 

Don't try this at home! I find that I get 100 pages into a novel, then get an idea for another novel or story that I just can't let get away. So I start another doc in my 'Word Processor' and get the thoughts down. I may go for ten pages or 60 pages in that sitting! So, needless to say, I've ended up with over a dozen novels going, with none more than halfway through. That being said, I have decided to focus on 'Friending Jane Austen' and hope I can reach the finish line for once. I think the snippets are fun to read on their own, and/but fervently hope to finish it. If I don't, I apologize and will think of another way to get my work out that doesn't disappoint the reader.

Comments

Missing Image - Oy Vey!

Tara Nicole's picture

Sheesh! It's funny that I was successful loading a picture in my first post and now am at a loss. Wonder what I did wrong? I'm such a newbie! Oh well, the post still stands.

Tara Nicole Miller

How to fix it

Emma Anne Tate's picture

Hey Tara — Pop over to your story and hit “edit.” When you see the box with all the HTML code in it, highlight and copy the code for the image that you used at the start of the story (which is lovely, by the way!). Then close that window, come back to this post, and hit “edit” again. Paste the text that you copied from your story in the edit box right where you want the picture to appear, then hit “preview.” Hopefully, it should show the picture where you want it. If it does, hit “save.” :)

You’re doing better than great, by the way. I didn’t try to paste an image into anything here until I was on my fourth novel . . . .

Emma

Here's hoping...

Tara Nicole's picture

Here's to the hope that serialization leads to completion! Cheers!

Tara Nicole Miller

Exactly why

Patricia Marie Allen's picture

I don't post before the story is complete. I have a bone pile that parts are over 2 decades old. "Grandma's Gift" was originally started in 2002 posted in 2023

Hugs
Patricia

Happiness is being all dressed up and HAVING some place to go.
Semper in femineo gerunt
Ich bin eine Mann

I was wondering about that phenomenon...

Tara Nicole's picture

...and knowing my history of living in the catacombs, I should have heeded my trepidation. I was hoping it would be a kick in the pants to finish one of my longer works. I hope I don't disappoint my readers - I think there are two or three. Thanks for the comment; I will probably adhere to your philosophy in future. Love the Latin and German, btw! I've been learning German through reading Maddy Bell's Gaby series! (-;

Tara Nicole Miller

You are not alone

SaraKel's picture

It sounds like we have a similar writing method. Last year, I decided I was going to 'turn over a new leaf' and start finishing stories. My first task was to organize my 'bone pile'. I was shocked how many stories I started and never finished (72 at last count). Some are little more than outlines but others are 100k word novellas a few chapters short of the finish line. The problem is it's hard to get your muse back once you stop writing.

One thing that's helped me is giving myself artificial deadlines. I'm posting a serial right now called Changing Gears (shameless plug), a story I wrote 15 years ago that never posted anywhere because I knew it needed lots of editing. I've given myself an artificial deadline of another 5000 words every Friday until it's done. I'm sure this is the only way I'd finish it.

Once I finished my bone pile, I put together this 'shame collage' of cover pages for stories I want to finish.

Tvzxw3a.jpg

I haven't finished any so far but I do think I'll finish at least two by the end of the year.

Amen on deadlines!

Emma Anne Tate's picture

I worked to deadlines for decades. Unfortunately, I got so good at responding to them that I can’t manage to finish any longer projects without them anymore. But if I commit to readers that I’ll post on a particular schedule, the old reflexes are still there. :)

Emma

it's hard to get your muse back once you stop writing.

Patricia Marie Allen's picture

Ain't that the truth!

The only way I can do it is during the slack times here when it seems no stories attract my attention. Then I go back to the bone pile and read the unfinished work. If I've got a solid base in the story and I get back inside the head of my protagonist and the characters come alive for me, I can pick it up and write some more.

If I'm unsuccessful in that, it's like pulling teeth to write anything.

I like your pre-cover idea. I often take a break and create the graphic for the teaser after starting a story, That seems to get my creative juices flowing.

Hugs
Patricia

Happiness is being all dressed up and HAVING some place to go.
Semper in femineo gerunt
Ich bin eine Mann

Good Luck!

Tara Nicole's picture

Thanks for commenting and glad to know I'm not alone. I have a few hours each day that are expendable, so I will be using them for the same type of project - maybe 2,000 wpd, idk - would love to do more. I was so tempted to start posting another partial novel I love (well, I love all of my babies), but have since gone off the idea thanks to all who have offered some much-needed advice. I also know about having cover photos ready to go and I think that is another impetus - I want to use them! Thanks again.

Tara Nicole Miller