Colorado

I named this post “Colorado” as we already had “Wedding” posts from Trent’s story. Of course, the main topic of this chapter was the wedding. However, the honeymoon in Vail also has its moments.

One trick for this particular chapter was to make the wedding different than Mike and Trent’s. Keeping it small and intimate made sense story wise concerning Jakob. But it also allowed the event to stand on its own in comparison. The lake house has now been used three times in my writings. It does return in Book Four — but (spoiler) it will be the last time. (I’ll leave you with that tease.)

As this was the next-to-last chapter of Hi, I’m Lance, I felt it appropriate to provide a “feel good” chapter.

Click here to read Hi, I’m Lance, Meeting No. 128 [Chap. 33].

Despite the positive vibes, I hope you still find some character development within the conversations and interactions between the principal figures in this book.

I have never stayed overnight in Vail. I have dropped in during a drive, but I think a few nights in the mountains and the quaint village there would be a lovely stay. Personally, I am a fan of snow. One attribute of mine that I’ve instilled in both of these characters is that they enjoy watching snow fall. I don’t get to enjoy a lot of snow, so when I see it, it is a wonderful treat (for me). I realize some people tire of it easily, but there is a beauty in a snowfall that I truly love.

This chapter also clarified two situations in prior chapters. Lance had a conversation with his boss and Jason’s father. He struggled with his choice. “Something happened at work” was a Jakob cliffhanger from the previous chapter. We now know it turns out they both have career promotion opportunities in the nearby town of Von.

When If It Weren’t For the Two of Us ended, it was slightly sad for me. I knew this third book was still ongoing, but as it approaches its end, I find those same feelings hitting me again. I created these characters. Even though they are fictional beings, I’ve still come to feel for them — or more accurately, their stories. I love Lance. Way back at the beginning of Extracurricular, I just needed an arrogant character. Then writing his emotional conflict with his own struggles, his alcohol problem and then his maturing relationship with Jakob — he became a favorite. Even with all his advantages (that dick!), he still shows that all humans are frail. Writing his story with Jakob could not have been more rewarding.

One chapter to go…

The Morgans

 

This chapter was different than every other chapter in the book. Why? I wrote it mere days ago. I had finished Hi, I’m Lance probably about the time Extracurricular was finishing being posted. The chapter-by-chapter posting always allows an author to go back and refine a chapter before making it available. I’ve enjoyed doing that. The two previous chapters had a couple of extra pages added but writing an entirely new chapter for this book was kind of a thrill. Hi, I’m Lance has been my favorite work for a while (that has since changed, but it still holds a deep place in my heart).

Click here to read Hi, I’m Lance, Meeting No. 119 [Chap. 32].

The reason I felt I needed a new chapter was because the previous one took place in August, and the next one is in October. This seemed too large of a gap. As I get closer to finishing the book, there were loose ends that I felt could use some more print.

Randall’s situation is coming along. We first met him in Meeting No. 7 [Chap. 4] with that debate trip. After writing how he was progressing with his first gay relationship, it almost made me want to flesh that story out. (Who knows, maybe there will be a Book Ten someday. Ha.) But I was pleased to be able to bring that subplot a little closer to full circle.

I can’t really do that with Evan. As much as I would enjoy giving him his own story, he’s straight. That’s not my wheelhouse. But at least he is dating again. He continues to look at Lance and Jakob as role models. He sees that love and knows that’s what he wants.

Telling Jakob’s family the news of the wedding was what really prompted me to insert this new chapter. There was enough raw emotion there that it seemed like it needed to take place. I adore Jakob. As much as his life is full of love now, I don’t want to lose sight of what he had to go through and how far he has come. When he was upset in the car following the visit, I think Lance’s observation is something he really needed to take to heart. He has come so far. Of course, there are only two chapters left in this book, but we are far from being done with The Morgans.

Reconnected

Finally, the reconnection with Anson comes into play.

Click here to read Hi, I’m Lance, Meeting No. 110 [Chap. 31].

Like I did in a previous chapter, I stretched the text a few more pages while reviewing my writing before posting. It would be easy to think that Anson’s visit might stir up some feelings within Jakob — and maybe it did; we’ll have to wait until Book Four — but upon analyzing this scenario, I found it might be more interesting to see how it might have affected Lance.

You might notice that Lance went from trying to be a nice host at the beginning of the chapter to spiraling into some unexpected fears at the end. To me, this gave the writing a little more impact.

As authors write characters, some can be throwaway figures that just serve a means to an end. Others grow on you. For example, Jakob grew on me really quickly. Cooper has as well. Some of the AA attendees are ones that just serve to show people’s struggles, but I don’t delve into their lives as much. Anson sort of falls in the middle. I wouldn’t consider him a throwaway character at all, but I don’t really have a feel for him. He has two major chapters in the fourth book, but I don’t feel I have a sense of who Anson really is. As I refine the text to the upcoming book, perhaps it is a challenge to me to flesh out Anson a little more. I feel I need to get to know him.

But for now, this is Lance’s story, so I focus on him, of course.

While Lance trembling in Jakob’s arms touches me, I think my favorite moment in this chapter is when Jakob is reading the letter and Lance is there just to listen. I think this chapter confirms the necessity of Lance and Jakob being in each other’s lives. Their love is beyond sex, beyond companionship. I feel the two of them truly love each other for who that person is. Each one has exposed their vulnerabilities, and the other accepts that.

Has anyone out there connected with a first love after many years?

One real chuckle (to me) is Lance meeting Kaden and then recoiling that he had slept with Ophelia. That moment occurred in Meeting 22 [Chap. 14]. I had fun writing his reaction.

Three chapters left…

One Year

 

I’m unsure how this chapter will strike readers.

Click here to read Hi, I’m Lance, Meeting No. 99 [Chap. 30].

The last chapter had so little erotic content, so those fans might appreciate this one. But for all other aspects, this chapter was more of a signpost than anything really happening. I’m not sure if the character development was there enough for readers.

It was a time for me to reflect on who Lance is. Many of you know that the first two chapters of Extracurricular (not even titled at that point) were written years and years ago. Having discovered them while cleaning as the pandemic started, I typed them up (yes, they were handwritten). As this type of  writing became a fun diversion as we were all stuck in our homes, I never could have dreamed of finishing five books. Lance was thrown into that story as the token “huge dick” guy. He was all but a throwaway character. But as Extracurricular actually became something to develop into more of an engaging love story, his role as a secondary character was important enough.

As I wrote If It Weren’t For the Two of Us, Lance started to fascinate me. His subplot of being in denial made me want to peel away the layers shielding him from exposing who he really was. I learned to empathize with Lance. Loving what you can’t have is heartbreaking. It wasn’t long before I felt the third book developing. I loved writing about Lance, and I knew his story — quite different from Trent’s — seemed worthy of telling.

His share in AA at the one-year point this chapter really does bring home how much he has grown as an adult. His car wreck made him grow up fast. However, Jakob really brought out the real Lance.

Like I said, this meeting was a signpost. I think Lance’s journey had some significant moments that defined his path. That insane shower scene (which I have come to hate) started his relationship with Trent (and indirectly Mike). The night of the Detrell incident really cemented the close bond between Trent and Lance. Following the hot college apartment sex scene, Lance had to confront a load of internal dramas: coming to grips about the denial of his sexuality, the wall closing on sex with Trent and his realization that he was in love with Trent. Post-graduation, the car wreck, Jakob’s birthday card to his mother and the two of them moving in together were key moments that helped his growth.

I hope readers aren’t disappointed that more didn’t happen in this chapter, but it is a good realization of not only who the character of Lance was but also of the amazing heart that has grown in his transformation into a wonderful man.

Second Choice

 

Having written Hi, I’m Lance last year, the chapter-by-chapter posting is continuously intriguing. Readers might assume that authors remember every word they put down. On the contrary, when I come back to something I’ve written months — or even weeks — later, I’m often surprised by something that happens with a character. If a scene is moving to me, I know it has a better chance of connecting with a reader.

This latest chapter was startlingly different.

Click here to read Hi, I’m Lance, Meeting 95 [Chap. 29].

When I reviewed this chapter for posting, it left me flat. Originally, the chapter ended at the word “snakes.” Upon review, I felt the content of the moving day was not enough to develop the characters — and the scene. The discussion of fears over dinner was fine, but there was no major impact.

I also felt that with a wedding in the works, it needed to feel more substantial. I observed Jakob and Lance had not discussed it enough (or the reader wasn’t able to tell that they had). The “fear discussion” seemed to be a good jumping point to dive deeper into Jakob’s psyche. I think he is spot on with his questions for Lance. Of course, the story could have gone numerous directions here. If I wanted to, I could have let things unravel. But I didn’t see a point in that. I felt it was more relatable to have the two of them bare their souls. Ultimately, this chapter is much more satisfying than had I just left it as it was. I’m much happier with how it has now turned out.

If you were shocked (or disappointed) that I didn’t expand upon the last lines and turn it into a massive erotic scene, I can understand how that would have been appropriate. At times, however, I feel the author should let the readers use their imaginations, even with the nature of the platform. Something steamier will happen next chapter, so hang on.