OMG! While talking with Crystal today, I jokingly stated a new solution to my plot woes. I wasn’t serious, just giving the various answers to a head-banging-against-the-wall question. Well blow me down! She jokingly said, “why not” and I started to wonder.

Why indeed not.

It’s not as exciting to discuss in this post without the details, but I can’t give my secrets away. Suffice to say, I have to rearrange a large portion of the plot, but Oh. My. God.

Then, of course, I spend most of my day tweaking blogs and dealing with home life. It’s cool today, and I should have spent the day writing like a fool. Oh well, nothing to bring back those hours now. I also started reading my mentee’s, Jewel Alexander, story. At least that is something productive.

I have approximately an hour, maybe an hour and a half, to get something done before I pass out. That’s the way it always is too. I get nothing done all day and then suddenly get a burst right before bed, which keeps me up much later than I should be, which in turn has me waking up much later than I should be…and on and on.

Ok, so I’m getting off now. Nite!

I didn’t get back to Nerina.  I spoke with my mentor about the Stiletto contest, and she suggested I put Nerina and Brody on hold, since the Stiletto has a deadline.

The last couple of days have been interesting.  I’ve been brainstorming my new idea and learning tons over at the Q&A on divas, with the chick lit authors.

I’ve realized that I’ve prejudged the genre.  Those bubblegum pink covers definitely mislead.  Plus, the notion is that since chick lit is “dead”, it is actually evolving, and there is a chance to help steer the direction it travels.

I’ve also remembered that chick lit involves the heroine’s journey, which I love.  I prefer writing first person, even though I do enjoy the romance.  We’ll see.  I really need to learn to not care which “genre” I write in.  I just don’t want to sub something to NY that is not a part of what I want to write for years to come.

Well, today, Nerina and Brody have their first face-to-face in over four years.  She was surprised at first, then, for a moment, she allowed herself to believe he was there just to see how she was doing.  That quickly faded when she learned he only needed a question asked, in relation to a story he’s writing.  Needless to say, she became rather angry.

9 pages is what it equaled.  Well actually 10, but 1 I wrote yesterday.

I notice I tend to jump things.  In a rush to put down everything I see or hear, etc. I overlook the emotions a lot.  I kept that in mind and tried to go slow for this scene.  I think it turned out ok.  It may need more layering later on, but it felt pretty complete.

It took me all day though.  And I still hate writing physical descriptions, cause they come out as a laundry list, and sexual arousal, because it comes out sounding fake or forced.  Grrrr!  The arousal I believe comes from fear.  I believe I can’t write good sex scenes, so anything that relates must fall under the same category, hence, a forced scene.  I’m not too worried though.  I will learn.

So yesterday, I felt like writing nadda.  I brainstormed the new book Tuesday night, and woke up Wednesday morning with it on my brain.  It resulted in my not thinking of much else.  And on top of this, the scene I should have written yesterday wasn’t coming to me.  It was boring, until the last couple of sentences–or was going to be.  Brody follows the lawyer and where he ends up makes Brody curious, but the actual following is snooze city.  Instead of writing it, I started the next scene, when Nerina heads back to the office and spies Griffin talking with some stranger.  But I had trouble wrapping my head around them and away from Aubrey, Nick, Laurel and Tori.

I managed to write 2 pages and gave up.  So, today meant double duty.  I brainstormed more last night and woke up this morning fitting in another puzzle piece, but I was determined to work past it–to see if I could.  Like, “do I have the ability to be a genuine, professional writer” or “will I continue to not meet personal goals and therefore not meet professional ones some day”?

So, I pushed away Aubrey and the gang and concentrated on Nerina.  I finished her scene with Griffin, then went back and “wrote” Brody following the lawyer.  It only ended up being two pages, which is fine, and I guess I could go back and layer in almost losing him or something semi-exciting, but it would only be filler and not pertinent to the story.

But either way, I wrote 7 pages today–wahoo!  And my next scene is Nerina and Brody meeting face to face for the first time in four years.  I really need to make this one full of all the anger, arousal and sadness Nerina is feeling upon seeing him.

Now I’m able to get back to Aubrey and the gang.  I can finally write down what came to me this morning.  If I still remember it.

I’m really glad things worked out how they did today.  I learned just what I have in me, and I likie!!!

Yay!

I finished the scene from yesterday, an additional 3 pages, and the new scene for today–8 pages total, and it’s only 3pm.  I’m so glad I pushed forward, because I started the day not wanting to write.  Yesterday’s scene as Brody with the lawyer.  When I tried getting back to it today, I struggled.  So I decided to skip forward, write the scene with Hilary telling Nerina she believe her daughter isn’t her daughter.  It was difficult because of all the emotion it involved, but easier because I knew what needed to be conveyed.

Then when that was done, I went back to Brody.  I then realized he wouldn’t need to give the lawyer all his bogus information, so I had the lawyer ask for a meeting with Brody and his “wife”, which rapped up the scene and got me out of the struggle.  I’m happy!

I have also been thinking about the next book I write.  Yes, I’m only 3 chapters into this one, but it dawned on me a few days ago, then when this one is finished, when the mentor program ends and the next quarter arrives, I won’t have time in between to brainstorm (or re-brainstorm) and plot the new book.  So, I need to start now.  This actually brings me much glee, as opposed to the horror it may bring some, because the next book is going to be my psychological thriller, and I’ve been wanting to write this one for months now.

Originally it was about a 17 year-old girl and her family, friends, love interest and someone talking her, but I started thinking before sleep last night, and what if she’s 19 and just finished her first year in college?  I need to go back over why I wanted her to be a teen to begin with, but her being an adult put my conscience at ease.  The original romance was going to be sweet, but no sex.  I now want the option of including a love that includes sex, and I don’t want it to be a first sexual encounter.  It’s been way too long since I was a virgin, and I don’t care for writing or reading about virgins.

It doesn’t mean 17 year-olds can’t have more than one sexual partner, or 19 year olds can’t be virgins, but it gives me a bit more leeway, PLUS, I’m a mom of a 13 year old.  I just don’t want to write about a teen having sex, even though it happens all the time, even though I don’t mind reading or watching about it and even though I was 17 when I lost my virginity. 

Anyway, pages done for today and new idea on the brain.  I’m feeling good about it all today.

The other day on RD, I posted how easy it was writing 5 pages a day. LOL Yeah, I should have known better.

Today, I’ve struggled and have only accomplished 2 pages.  I realize now that when I’m in the mood, it’s ok to do a little more, because there will always be days like this.

My head is pounding, so I doubt I’ll get any more finished, but that means 8 pages tomorrow–or at least the last three of this scene.

Last night, I ended up writing an extra 5 pages, yay!  I’m so glad because I haven’t written squat yet today.

I went shopping, dealt with some issues on Divas, and now feel very lazy.  It’s 4:30, and I haven’t a clue about dinner.  My son is sick, had a 101.7 degree temp last night and 100 earlier today.  I don’t really want to cook, if he’s not in an eating mood.  His appetite dwindles a lot when he’s not feeling well.  My daughter is old enough to grab something, so maybe it’s a cereal night.  I just bought Raisin Bran and Blueberry Morning–YUM!

Maybe I’ll get some writing done later.  I don’t have much else to do.