I'm trying something different in forcing myself out of this rut with the current story. I'm just writing nothing but dialogue and will go back and fill in the blanks after I have a complete exchange down.

I've done it before and it's a good way to get the bones of a scene down. Let's see if it works this time.

I hope it breaks the rut.

I'd love to read it, Allyson.

And I love that technique, Barb. I'm sure it will help with fresh perspective.

It's okay to be terrified, Allyson, but please send. We all want to read it!

I'm willing to be an extra set of eyes as well.

1:53am. Done. Out to betaers with thanks! Too late (or early?) to pop cork on champagne.

erika! Can't find your email anywhere. If you're still up for a beta, have your people email my people!

Cool...sending to your profile.

It looks like it jumps from chapter 7 to chapter 10, is that just a numbering error?

I was planning to listen to it on my commute, but my software recorded using Anna (default voice that ships with Windows) instead of Audrey and I can't listen to Anna for more that a few sentences. I'll start listening on my commute home. I'll delete the audio files the moment I'm done listening.

After listening to the whole thing, I'll start going through it in more detail, but I probably can't be as detailed as usual.

I didn't do any writing work last night, DW looked tired and stressed so I did back and head messaging and generally hanging out.

However I think I finally figured out my character arc for Rainier (aka Mr. Not-A-Character-In-The-Rough-Draft). I've decided to cut a section out of the plot and that blew up his arc, so I had to create a new one. Now I wonder if he is necessary at all, strictly speaking the plot would work without him ever coming up, but it would also lose a lot. The events would still transpire, he would still be there in the background, the reader just wouldn't see them.