February 2012
19 posts
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WatchOhhhh you guys I have turned into a social networking zombie.
My MindFi is on the brink of FAIL.
Going dark(ish) today to get back to the words on the page. After all, we’re headed into one of my favorite parts of the plot…
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Plot Poll #10: Where the EFF is Neal?
(Catch up on the plot here. Meet Tess, Kee and Neal here.)
Tess scurried into the bedroom and hit the floor. Cheek to carpet, iPhone clutched against the other ear, she scanned furiously for the piece of paper that would make everything okay.
Nothing. She imagined how pathetic she must look at that moment, a giant, flailing filet of sole.
“No note.” She sighed. “I’m an...
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Recipes Attempted Last Week While Avoiding Abject...
When the writing gets rough, the tough get cooking.
BREAKFAST Pear Almond Muffins
dairy-free ricotta substitution produced questionable crumb
Blueberry Amaranth Quinoa Porridge
one-eyed, one bored blind purple porridge eater
SIDES Faux Spaghetti
otherwise known as high-maintenance zucchini
Roast Carrot and Avocado Salad with Lemon and Orange Dressing
okay, I didn’t really...
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What Do You Call Your Lady Bits?
Fine readers, below you will find Sex Scene, Take Two.
(Take One is here. Catch up on the action here.)
Definitely an edit as opposed to a rewrite, which may disappoint some of you, but reflective of your comments nonetheless. Some feedback I chose to ignore or temper, based on my intentions for the scene and how this moment works in the context of the rest of the book.
Here’s what I...
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Naked Commentary
First, a frisky funky THANK YOU to everyone who has rated and commented on the sex scene so far. It can be very challenging to give constructive feedback, especially on such a loaded topic (heh heh). But you all found a candid and thoughtful way to express yourselves. Criticism like this is a form of love, and I feel very loved right now.
The beauty of this Unreliable project is that I can...
January 2012
20 posts
9 tags
Plot Poll #9: Rate My First Sex Scene.
PREFACE
Nothing ushers in that holy shit I don’t know what I’m doing feeling faster than trying to write a sex scene.
In fact, everything about the last few weeks has reminded me over and over again that I don’t know what I’m doing. Which was the whole point of this blog, I say to myself.
Right?
See, the problem is that I want everything to be perfect for you. I...
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So...about that whole sex thing...
I’m struggling a little bit with the, um, terminology.
How graphic are we thinking here?
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Dante's Lesser-Known Inferno For Novelists
Abandon All Hope, You Who Enter Here.
FIRST CIRCLE: LIMBO
I have this, like, really really good idea. I’ll just think about it constantly for several years, take lots of brilliant notes and tell all my friends about it so they can admire my genius.
SECOND CIRCLE: LUST
My book tour is going to rock! I’m going to charm the shit out of Jimmy Fallon. And maybe Ryan Gosling too.
...
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Plot Poll #8: Do You Buy It?
(Catch up here. Meet Tess and Neal here.)
They’d been sitting on the terrace of Neal’s hotel suite for hours, chatting easily to the metronome of the crashing waves. It was one of those perfect Los Angeles nights – just cool enough to borrow his delicious double-knit cashmere sweater, a light Santa Ana breeze giving subtle movement to her hair. Tess hoped she looked as good as she felt.
“So...
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Mid-Date Check-in: Tess & Kee
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Plot Poll #7: Define Tess and Neal's Sexy Time.
TESS AND NEAL’S SECOND DATE, PART 2
(Part 1 is here. Who are Tess and Neal? Click here.)
Tess’s stomach dropped as they lifted off. She clamped her eyes firmly shut and willed herself not to barf.
The basket creaked ominously as it assumed their full weight. She scrambled to find her footing against the wicker, suddenly thankful for the hiking-appropriate footwear. Dogs barked at them...
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The Unreliable Process
…it sometimes yields unreliable results.
For instance, I promised to post part two of Tess and Neal’s date this week. But then they ended up on a hot air balloon ride, and I’ve never been on a hot air balloon ride, so I frantically asked articulate friends to describe it for me, and that took awhile, and now it’s the Friday afternoon before a three-day weekend. And the...
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Research To-Do List
1. Ride in a hot air balloon.
2. Read Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City.
3. Meet with this guy for a few more tales of the city:
4. Get lost in the aisles at City Lights. Again.
5. Call Lieutenant Mary Petrie, SFPD.
6. Eat pelmenis at Katia’s Russian Tea Room, preferably on a Saturday when the accordion player is jamming.
7. Shoot more guns.
