Reverb 10: Day 20 - Beyond Avoidance

December 20 – Beyond Avoidance.
What should you have done this year but didn’t because you were too scared, worried, unsure, busy or otherwise deterred from doing? (Bonus: Will you do it?) (Author: Jake Nickell)

I wasn't as outgoing as I could've been this year because I was still uncomfortable in my process of building up self-esteem. I thought myself too fragile to be on that social landscape, but now I realize I was selling myself too short, again. I found that out going to my reunions. People really do want to be around me and know about me and that was a cool thing to realize. However, there was a safety net there because I'd known (of) these people before. The trick is now to put what I'd learned there into practice among complete strangers. It has to happen sometime, especially since I want to ultimately make my living as an author.

Manna Tree nee Lemonade nee NaNo '06

lol, I's a dork!

Today I sent poor Stephanie multiple e-mails asking her about a new title I'd thought of for the story. I liked what she was going for with Lemonade, and as I was writing this current chapter I realized what was probably going on. It's really sad that it takes my readers to enlighten me on things, or I'll have to read something over and over again before I get it. I know some people think I plot this stuff out and outline all the "deep" things I find. Y'all really give me too much credit! If it's deep it's real deep--subconscious deep! But anyway, after running the title by Stephanie (and hitting another pit stop along the journey!), I think I've decided on the title that'll stick farreal.

Manna Tree

I won't explain too much because the story's not even done yet, but I think y'all can figure out why it's called what it's called.

Let me know what y'all think!

bana

Lemonade

My sis called me tonight and told me she thought Lemonade (NaNo '06) was a very good story. That really meant a lot to hear her say it. She's read just about everything I've written, so for her to single that out like that was a pleasant surprise. It's not done yet, but I guess you never know how a story will be received/affect people until you put it out there.

Just a little encouragement from an unexpected source. Not that my sis wouldn't support me, but for her to go out of her way and say something like that really meant a lot.

Thanks sis!

Lemonade nee NaNo'06

Thanks to Stephanie, a RICH Writer, I now have a title for the NaNo I had been working on in November '06. She suggested Lemonade because the characters in this story, Margot and Cole, have certainly come upon some hard, sour times, and yet they come together and forge a relationship that turns those sour times into something very sweet.

She gets mad props for that one! I thank her, too.

Speaking of which, I'm surprised by the feedback I'm getting for the story. It's different from my others, and Trust Fall . . . sigh . . . I still am not quite sure about that one yet. I do love Margot and Cole, though. There's something so pure about them, so bittersweet and beautiful. This isn't to say I don't love my other characters. They all have special places in my heart, but this is the first I feel I'm watching the story unfold as I write instead of the other way around. In my other stories I always had a vague idea what would happen and how things would be resolved (notable exception is Trust Fall. Rosalyn *sigh* help me help you!) , but with Lemonade, I'm enjoying their journey. I need to get a vague resolution in my head, however. I don't have the stamina (and neither do readers!) to turn this into a soap opera saga. That would be awkward trying to get it published!