I have got to say this...

Hi friends and fam,

Today I must address something. Two times now I’ve heard it. I know that’s not a lot, but twice people have said they felt that a book of mine began slowly. Granted, those opinions were from the young. Granted, they may not yet understand that the destination is important. You know, where the story ends. However, the journey, getting to the destination is crucial too.

That said; I want to explain something. When a reader chooses me—one of my books, I feel as though that person has made an alliance, entered a non-verbal contract with me. In this contract, which I will call the reader-writer agreement, that person has committed to entering my world—a world which I have created. The reader has vowed to do so, with their eyes open, and hopefully their heart as well. I’d also like to believe that reader is then ready to receive whatever it is that I, the writer, will say.

Thus knowing this, I must uphold my end of our agreement. I have got to tell you… I do not take my end of the bargain lightly. I never forget one simple premise, that first and foremost, readers want a great story. Therefore, in adhering to my end of the reader-writer agreement, I create a tale, from top to bottom, and everything in between. I do so by giving a reader background information.

At some point in the beginning of a story, I want my reader to know the character(s), the 'people' with whom they will interact for the duration of the story. I also feel like it is necessary to introduce the character(s) in a way that makes them memorable. Then—and only then—will I build upon that foundation.

Why? –Because I feel readers need to know certain things, like the character’s age, birthplace, or their background. Perhaps their likes or dislikes will be pertinent to the story. I’ve got to set it all up. I ask you; don’t readers need to know where a character lives, or their occupation?

My darlings let me explain something. As a reader myself, there is one thing I despise. I absolutely abhor getting into a story—like say in the middle—and then having to flip back to the beginning to find out something. For me that breaks up the flow. It is why I try not to allow that to happen when I write. Throughout, I try to remind readers, gently, of whom and what they should be aware. I don’t make it obvious though, because then that would feel like I’m insulting the reader’s intelligence. It would seem almost as if I didn’t trust them to remember.

Now I am not saying that while reading me you will never have to flip back, but I am saying that being mindful of the sacredness of the reader-writer agreement I try to minimize that type of occurrence.

Therefore, if one is the type of reader who doesn’t need the journey, if a reader doesn’t want to experience a multitude of things—including emotions—then perhaps…that particular reader does not want to enter an agreement with me.

Now for those readers who do want the whole kit and caboodle, and for those who have many times entered agreements with me, I am grateful. I will say, as I have in the past, I am ever honored when a reader chooses my work. It is why I will again state my endeavor, to never let readers down. You may not always agree with me. That is understandable. Yet it is my sincere hope that on one point we will always agree…that this journey that we have committed to take, together, will be nothing less than exciting, inciting, interesting, enticing, emotional and fun!

I am sighing as I type because we’ve come to that time. You and I both have gotta run. So let’s jump back in with Progression – Book II of The Cohort Trilogy next week.

Until then…be blessed.

April

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