It's expecting to be permanently infatuated that causes all the trouble

And, Betsy nails it. That's my problem with the whole Peter Pan reader out there: I keep wanting to tell them to grow the hell up, because the sex is better when you grow up, anyway.

And you don't want a spark burning that bright forever. The only thing that genuinely winds up burned when that happens is you.

I gotta say I don't mind those readers, because without them, I'm pretty much spitting into the wind.

It's not realistic, but fantasy (in this case the fantasy of perfect, true romance) is sometimes the only thing that gets you through the night.

It's not realistic, but fantasy (in this case the fantasy of perfect, true romance) is sometimes the only thing that gets you through the night.

Makes sense, and more power to them. I'm not dissing it - I'm just saying I'm not usually in that particular section of the bleachers. Might be my own history talking, but I keep wanting to ask, guys? What happens when your sweetie hits forty and grows ear hair? Do you put on a chastity belt and wait for (ack pTOOee!) Fabio to show up?

I don't know. Maybe I'd sleep better at night if I could buy into it for more than a few minutes at a time. But truth to tell, I didn't have any more sense of it at sixteen than I do at fifty one.

I like a happy ending, but I don't need it. Even if I expect the Watson case to come out different every time.

Hi all. I know this is mainly a thread for fiction writers - but:

I've now received feedback from an editor on my book. The verdict was:

1) Content great 2) Style - amazingly well written and lively 3) Organization - sucks. (I paraphrase)

Still that's not bad is it? I mean that means another shitload of work, but if the content is good, and the individual paragraphs are good, they are just in the wrong order that's not all bad. Please tell me this is the time to get stoked, not discouraged.

Nothing at all to get discouraged about, TB. Organisation is mainly cosmetic. Were there suggestions about arranging it?

I have a rough draft of a piece from my new book, if anyone has time to beta. I'm feeling that it's a bit hackish in that it doesn't seem fluid to me. I don't think I'm making my point well, never mind eloquently. And I've been beating the shit out of this thing all day. Seems time for a fresh pair of eyes.

I'm not dissing it - I'm just saying I'm not usually in that particular section of the bleachers.

Oh, I know. I was just saying, I have to be grateful for them.

Please tell me this is the time to get stoked, not discouraged.

Definitely be encouraged! Rearranging isn't as hard as it seems.

I have a rough draft of a piece from my new book, if anyone has time to beta.

Happy to, if you want to send it to my profile address. What's this one about?

Allyson, you know I'll beta anything you want to send. Yes, please.

I wrote three thousand words on London Calling last night. Started out as clues and plot stuff and became a very complex interweave of undercurrents between the characters, including Patrick Ormand (there are those here in the Patrick Fan Club), and JP's realisation why he's never going to be able to trust the guy completely.

Nic liked it. I got two hours, back and forth to feed our feral cat colony in San Jose, about why the chapter works on different levels.

I love it when that shit happens subconsciously. I also love it when I type a word like "subconsciously" and then wonder why it looks misspelled, no matter what I do to it.

Amy, BTW, have you got more for me to look at? Am reading erika's at the moment, in between holiday stuff, so things are taking me a bit longer than usual.

Amy, BTW, have you got more for me to look at?

Not at the moment. I started work on the new under-contract book, but I don't really need feedback on that. Or not yet, at least.

I want to revise some of the last thing you read -- the chick lit thing -- and maybe add a prologue, and then do the next chapter, but that won't be until maybe over the weekend. Then I'd love for you to read it. If the Epic thing doesn't fly, I want to send the chick lit out next.

I love it when that shit happens subconsciously.

Me, too. I had a lightbulb moment with regard to the characters in the new book, as I lay in bed the other night. Was just mulling the theme, and what connects them (and also where they conflict), and had that "Aha!" moment where I totally got the thread that ties everything together.

At least, I hope it does.