A happy memory, yes indeed.

Paradise Found

Water running, gargling. So scared.

He has no reason to be nervous. It's his house, his bedroom. You came because he asked you to, weeks ago; he's been too sick, kicking alcohol, kicking heroin, his missed dialysis, to consider bedding the pretty girl who probably saved his life.

You're nervous, though. You're in vintage velvet; you dressed to seduce him. All you want is behind that bathroom door, brushing his teeth.

In a moment he'll come out, and unbutton those buttons. The only thing on the other side of the door will be the cats.

And the closed door opens.

No drabble ideas yet, unfortunately.

As for the WIP, I seem to have hit a wall. Only managed to get 500 words done tonight and even those were like pulling teeth. I don't have a good feeling about them at all, but we'll see what the re-read looks like tomorrow. I have no idea where to go from here. I know what the end looks like, but keeping with my average chapter sizes, I've 5 chapters worth to write before the climax and the ending and I don't know what to do with them. And it's not just because I'm aiming for 75-80,000 word count; the characters aren't ready for it yet. The protagonist, in particular, still has some growing to do. I'm just not sure how to get them ready.

I'm wondering if it's worth trying to just plug on if nothing comes to me before I sit down to write tomorrow or if should just skip to the climax (but not to my lou, because that would be silly) get it down since that's what's strongest in my head right now and then see if I can fill in the blanks after that.

This has always been my problems with things I write. I know the beginning and end and a couple of the steps along the way, but the spaces in between are what I have a lot of trouble with. At least I got about 2/3 of the way before the gaps started showing themselves with this one.

Kalshane, do you have WIP readers? I find them invaluable.

Kalshane, every writer is different, but in my grand experience of writing two as-yet-unpublished manuscripts, I've had better luck with pushing through more or less in order. With my first book, I skipped around a lot. It took me a long time to finish, and the result was a bit disjointed. The second book I started writing in its current form in February, and I finished my 125,000-word rough draft a little over a week and a half ago, plowing through from Page One to The End in order.

Keep in mind that you'll be editing this thing, so if the character development or whatever isn't quite where you want it, you can layer it in on the next pass through. But really, it's all about figuring out a process that works for you. Writing is the reverse of one size fits all.

But really, it's all about figuring out a process that works for you.

Yep. Gather as much information as you can and as much as you feel comfortable with, and see what works.

Kalshane, do you have WIP readers? I find them invaluable.

I do, but their feedback is very sporadic. Most of the time I have to either blow them away or suck an egg to get any kind of input from them beyond "I'm enjoying this. Keep it coming." Of course, all of my WIP readers are friends who expressed interest in doing this for me, rather than actual critiquers so that's probably part of it.

One of them says he actually has some detailed criticism for me, but his e-mail is on the fritz and he hasn't been able to send it.

Maybe I need to send out an e-mail telling them I'm stuck and asking for input on what there is so far.

With my first book, I skipped around a lot. It took me a long time to finish, and the result was a bit disjointed. The second book I started writing in its current form in February, and I finished my 125,000-word rough draft a little over a week and a half ago, plowing through from Page One to The End in order.

Well, I'm not looking to skip around a lot, just skip to the end and then fill in the blanks when I'm done. But I can see where that could cause a problem.

Maybe I just need to take a break for a bit. I've done 45,000 words in the last 2 months. It's possible I just need some time to recharge, so to speak.

I'm hesitant to do that, though, since this is the first extended writing I've done in close to ten years and I think part of what has helped keep me on course is the fact that I've been making myself try to work on it just about every day.

Most of the time I have to either blow them away or suck an egg to get any kind of input from them beyond "I'm enjoying this. Keep it coming."

Ouch, yes. I tend to be specific about what I need: "Is C's voice consistent? Does the climb in tension work?" etc.

Also, remember - there are times you're going to get "this is really good, keep it coming" because it's good and they want more. But I agree, when asking for something specific - "how do you see this character developing" or something of the kind - being told "very nice" can be tooth-grindy.

My husband, who isn't WIP reading Haunted Ballads but has been right there for every word and nuance of the Kinkaid Chronicles, has a pet phrase, a reference to what George Brett's hitting coach used to say to him when asked what he told Brett - who was hitting .392 at the time - as hitting advice. He said, "I tell him, attaway to hit, George!"

If the section is just right in his view, I'll get "Attaway to write, George." It's become shorthand, code: if he says it, he means it.

And that makes suggestions to the sections about which he has suggestions and feedback stand out, and makes me pay deeper attention to them.

It's taken me a long time to know what to say as a beta, too, Kalshane. I'm very honest, so generally I ask how much people want to know about a specific piece. Like, do you want me to applaud your effort, listen to your dialogue or what? And don't ask for what I "really think" unless you want to know, although I try to temper the bad stuff. It's not that hard to read for Deb, because she brings her A game, mostly. I do often have to look up the history, though, which makes me feel less than qualified to say other than um...nice piano? I'm not a WIP reader right now because I tend to mimic what I last read, and I'm still in edits, and Simon, Pelecanos, the wife, and me don't need a foursome...fucking schizoid book, that would be, although very liberal and proud. ETA: Isn't my tag just forty kinds of appropriate?

Simon, Pelecanos, the wife, and me don't need a foursome.

You want really kinky, spoza, I could ask Ayelet to borrow her DH....

(giggles) The rare writer that's as nice to look at as his words are...there aren't many. One of the few times looking at the photo on the back was, like a *happy* shock. Mostly, it's like, well, his *sentences* are hot(Which could be enough. Meeting Elmore Leonard would make me blush and giggle on that basis, despite his looking every bit of sixty-four, or whatever.)