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What I'm writing in YEAR OF THE DOG

I just finished writing Year of the Dog ! It had a massive plot hole that I had to fix which turned out to be more work than I expected. Here’s a snippet: “Hey, Auntie Nell.” He wrapped his arms around her, bussing her on the cheek and breathing in pikake flowers and shortbread cookies. And suddenly he was nine years old again, and her solid presence had made his chaotic world stable once more. “What are you doing here?” He usually took her to dinner on Wednesday nights, but today was Tuesday. The edges of her smile faltered a little before brightening right back up again. “What, I can’t visit my nephew?” She angled around him to enter his home. “Is this your new house? Looks lovely.” Which was a blatant lie, because the fixer-upper was barely livable, much less acceptable to a neat-freak like his aunt. She also left four matching pink and purple floral suitcases on the stoop behind her. Only then did Ashwin notice the cab driver standing slightly to the side of the walkway. “Can ...
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Drained of creativity, 13 Going On 30

8/23/04

I feel utterly drained of creativity. This second wip is so hard to write. THE CORINTHIAN RULES practically wrote itself, but plotting THE EPHESIANS LIST is like pulling teeth. I'm so anal-retentive, I feel like I have to have everything laid out and outlined before I start writing, because who wants to go back and edit 200 pages if you suddenly discover a plot twist to set up for? But my friend Sharon Hinck suggested that maybe I'm just trying to force it, and I should try writing without knowing the ending. Well, I sort of know the ending, but I'm trying to figure out an interesting and unusual way to show it happening. Bleck. Okay, relax and try to let the creativity flow...without falling asleep in your chair...

I just saw 13 GOING ON 30 with Jennifer Garner. Such a cute movie. Not much moral take-away, but very entertaining. The hero, played by Mark Ruffalo, is perfect—not stunningly handsome, just kind of an ordinary guy, but appealing nonetheless. My husband and I laughed our heads off at some scenes. I totally love Jennifer Garner as a comedic actress. I can't wait for the new season of ALIAS to start.

Gotta get some writing done. The dreaded synopsis. The horrid outline. Yah, yah, yah, quit your whining...


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