Category Archives: Joe Nichols

Appealing To Readers Outside Your Genre

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TRAILS END – The Novel

Appealing To Readers Outside Your Genre

Rome Wager is a friend of mine. Not a close friend that I know intimately, but someone I became well acquainted with during my rodeo days. He stood out, for several reasons, and I admired him.

I am a subscriber to the NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC magazine. It could be the most diverse publication there is. I most likely will skip the article on the latest species of frog or spider discovered in New Zealand or Kenya, but lots of topics are interesting to me. The cover story of the latest issue is about the writing of the King James version of the Bible. The article began with the first two words, Rome Wager.

I thought, how strange, whoever they’re taking about has the same name as ole Romey. Guess what. It was him, my bronc riding buddy.

The reason to include Rome in the article? He now is a minister in northern New Mexico, near the Jicarilla Apache Reservation. He is reaching out to young cowboys, ranchers, oil field workers, and staff at the Apache Nugget Casino. The point being made that ancient manuscripts from England, found their way to the American West to be repeated just as they were written.

Can you imagine how many people in the world have read and appreciated this article? This is what I would like to accomplish with my novel. A book that anyone can relate to, and enjoy.

My best wishes to you, Rome.

Thanks for reading,

Joe

Getting the Facts

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TRAILS END – The Novel

Getting the Facts

Last week I wrote about continuing to improve our abilities, and to learn new skills, even as we age. I attended the Team Roping school taught by Rickey Green, and would like to share a little about that experience.

In sports or any profession, there are individuals who completely change the standard methods in use. In his era, Ricky revolutionized the excepted way of roping the back feet of a steer, and left his competition behind. Everybody had to change what they were doing to catch up, because his ideas worked better and faster. After slowing down from full time competition, he then devoted himself to teaching others to rope. In the same way he competed, he so improved the process of instruction that he is today considered one of the best clinicians in the business.

If you want to improve your skills, in whatever field, you need to learn from the people who have made a living at doing it. Not someone who has made a living at teaching it, but someone who was successful producing income from it. Then you have to be sure that person is capable of instruction. This takes a lot of effort to develop. I’ve known World Champions who couldn’t teach you how to tie your shoe.

In the story of TRAILS END, Jim Barnes is that very type of person to teach Donnie Williams how to ride broncs, and how to win. But is the veteran bronc rider a good influence for the young and impressionable kid that worships him? I hope you will be interested to find out.

I would like to thank Rickey Green for a great positive experience. I wasn’t able to put the information to use during the school, but I’m confident I now have the tools for success. Thanks also Rickey, for making the learning fun.

Thank-you all for reading,

Joe

Continuing Education

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TRAILS END – The Novel

    Continuing Education

This weekend I am attending a school. It is a Team Roping clinic.

I have been a cowboy my whole life and have used a rope in my occupation and for recreation since I was a kid. So why would I drive 200 miles and pay someone for this instruction? Because I want to improve. I want to be more competitive. I want to partner with my wife and catch more consistently. This will increase our chances to win, and decrease my chances of sleeping on the couch. That’s an unfounded joke, but my point is, regardless of age we should never quit trying to get better or  try new things. I’m learning to develop physical balance and inner peace, learning to invest, and learning to write.

Donnie Williams learns to ride broncs in rodeos, but the story is really about the life lessons he experiences, which shapes him into the person we see develope.

What’s going on with you? Get after it.

Thanks for reading,

Joe

Point of View

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TRAILS END – The novel

Point of View

When I first attempted writing, I knew what every character was thinking and doing, how they felt, and why. I simply told the reader all they needed to know. Learning to write from one character’s point of view and letting them show the reader the story, became intimidating. For a while I became stifled, unable to make any progress with my story.

With the help of my good friends in Wordsmith Six, and attending the Jodi Thomas Writers Academy at WTAM, I’m learning. There is, however, a POV I still struggle with. Trails End is a main character in my novel, and I really want to incorporate the horse’s POV a few times through out the story. I just finished such a chapter, and I have no idea if it will fly. My Wordsmith Six group might have to fix it.

Have you seen the movie “War Horse”? The book was loaned to me by Natalie Bright because it’s written entirely from the horse’s POV. What a great story. So at least I know it can be done. I can only hope my novel will be as compelling.

Thanks for reading,

Joe

 

Family Matters

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TRAILS END – The Novel

     Family Matters

I hope everyone enjoyed the Christmas season. Dianne and I made the long trip to central Kansas to be with my side of the family.

It’s so nice to spend such a meaningful holiday with close relatives. I believe this time of year must be especially hard for those without family, or those who are away from their loved ones. We should all try to be aware of those people who don’t have anyone to share this special day with, and include them in our plans if we can.

Donnie Williams has no family, and sometimes as I write the story, I forget what that might be like for him.

I’m going to try to keep the lonesome part of Donnie prevalent in my mind, and also do the same for the real people in the same situation.

Thanks for reading,

Joe Nichols

Fighting Human Nature

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            TRAILS END- The Novel

                                                           Fighting Human Nature

Taking responsibility for the path of your life is hard work. It’s more convenient to make excuses, blame circumstances and other people, or concede to “It’s just my bad luck.” Seeing only the negative side comes easy. It takes real effort to guide yourself in a positive manner, accepting what comes your way, and dealing with it.

In chapter nine of TRAILS END, Donnie finds proof that he is a failure because of the Palomino horse bucking him off. Robert Jarrett’s wife, Allie, delays the home school lesson to present a different point of view to the young cowboy. It’s a turning point in his life and a foundation he turns to forever.

Have you ever had to face the truth to yourself? I think realizing there is always someone worse off than we are, goes along way in accepting our bad situations and motivating ourselves to dig our own way out. I hope that you, like Donnie, can find solutions to your problems, and be happy everyday.

Check in next Wednesday,

Joe

The Value of Monetary Objects

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TRAILS END – The Novel

The Value of Monetary Objects

Our society puts a lot of emphasis on status demonstrated by our possessions. Although our priorities in life should really focus elsewhere, some items can have a profound meaning and importance to us. Having family heirlooms being one example.

I believe the most significant gift a person can give you, is something that means a lot to them. An item that you know how important it is to that individual, yet they want you to have it. This shows to me their true feelings about you.

In chapter ten, Robert Jarrett gives Donnie his old bronc saddle. A Gold Seal Hamley saddle that is rare and valuable, and also the only saddle Robert rode in his rodeo career. Although he doesn’t allow it to be seen, Robert takes great satisfaction in passing down this possession to the eager young boy.

What do you have ownership of that means the world to you because of who gave it to you?

I have my grandpa’s hammer. He was a carpenter and I think of him every time I pick it up.

I have quilts from both my grandmothers. I see them working on them when I look at their detail and beauty.

My Dad carved a bull’s head out of a block of wood when he was twelve years old. The spurs provided by an old rooster makes the horns. No amount of money could make me part with it.

A man that I looked up to as a kid and still do to this day, has the most fascinating collection of rodeo pictures of him competing in the 1950’s. When I asked to make copies of a couple of them, he gave me the originals.

Can you imagine the emotion Donnie Williams experienced when given that saddle? It’s just part of the story of a lost boy’s journey.

 

Joe Nichols

Dealing with Pressure

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Dealing with Pressure

Do you get things done better under pressure, or fall apart when you’re not prepared ahead of time? When we put obligations off to the last minute, we create the pressure ourselves, and I know people that intentionally function this way. Others have everything organized in advance and avoid all tense situations they can. But what about the circumstances that come to you unexpected and out of your control?

Donnie Williams has a huge responsibility to train Trails End to be a gentle horse for his boss. After the colt starts bucking him off, the fear of failing puts the pressure on Donnie for over a year, and it overwhelms him. How he deals with it, is an important part of the story that reveals his past struggles, and effects his future.

How would you handle it?

Until next Wednesday,

Joe Nichols

HIDING THE TRUTH

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Hiding the Truth

Last week I talked about “Fixing the Truth”. This involves telling a lie until you can get the changes made to make your false statement factual. Such as Donnie Williams lying about his boss’s favorite colt “Doing fine,” when he actually had bucked him off.

Hiding the truth is a physical action to hide evidence. Have you ever done that as a child, or even as an adult?

An injury from doing something you shouldn’t have been doing, can’t be revealed. Besides all the mischief I found as a young boy, my deception continued as a young adult. My parents were not in favor of my rodeo career and several times I hid injuries from them. When I was a kid living at home, I did it so they wouldn’t put a complete stop to my sport. Later, when they accepted my career and even supported it, I did it to save their worry and grief.

The horse, Trails End, puts Donnie in this very situation. Maybe there’s a similar event in your past. If not, I believe the story will still capture your interest. After all, cowboys are real people too. Well, okay, maybe not.

Hope you’ll check in next Wednesday,

Joe Nichols

Fixing the Truth

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Fixing the Truth

 How many of us blur the line between a lie, and not revealing the facts?

When I was a lad growing up on a farm in Kansas, finding trouble was easy. Both my parents constantly drilled me on being honest, and that telling the truth was always best. “Lies will only make things worse and will always catch up with you.” Now there is the truth for sure.

What about trying to spare ourselves embarrassment when the truth doesn’t really effect anyone else? I think that strategy makes it easier to lie about other things. I’d rather be embarrassed.

There is one form of lieing that human nature tries to excuse. We often hide information from people to protect their feelings, avoid worry or anger, or maybe to influence their decisions in the way we think is best for them.

Sometimes we try to stall long enough to fix the situation before the bad news is revealed. This is the situation Donnie Williams finds himself in my novel, TRAILS END. The palomino colt assigned to him to train, is expected to be a gentle horse for Robert Jarrett, Donnie’s 78 year old boss. The colt bucks Donnie off, and he makes no mention of it to anyone. When asked how Trails End is progressing, Donnie claims the horse is coming along perfectly.

Can Donnie “Fix the Truth”? I hope you will want to read the story and find out.

Joe Nichols