Starting a New Chapter

Sometimes simple little things slip by a new writer. When I sold my third romance book and started working with a new editor, she pointed something out that I hadn't noticed. I had two chapters in a row that started with the characters in the same room, having a serious discussion. Even though many days had passed between the two chapters, the scenes were way too similar. The editor pointed out how important it is to start each chapter differently.

Don't start each with an action scene or a love scene. Don't start with an intimate discussion or the very worst, with your main character waking up in bed.

I think this can apply to many things in life. Today I won't be visiting many blogs because I'm in Boston, dropping my daughter off at college. For over eighteen years, the two of us spend most of our hours together when I wasn't working. We've traveled hundreds of miles together, just the two of us, visiting family and colleges. I have five sons, so it was always the two girls against all those guys. We definitely had them out numbered. Now she's moving on to the next part of her life, and I am too.

 I'm going to have more time to write. The house will be quieter. I'm going to read a good book and not be able to go lay on her bed while we talk about it. She's not going to be bugging me to check out some cool picture on Pinterest. But it's all good. I'm going to feel more like a nearly full time writer. I'll have more me time. I'm going to start a new chapter and it's going to be different than the chapter before.

This month, I'm the featured author over on the TBR blog run by that paragon of energy, Cate Masters. As a reader, you find some great stories on the blurb fests and by meeting some great authors each week. Please stop by and visit. If you might be interested in being featured, check with Cate.

So have you started any new chapters in a different way, either literally or figuratively? Are you prepared for the change of seasons? Are you taking a late summer vacation on this Labor Day weekend?