03 July 2019

Country Music, Chest Hair, & Cupcakes

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Someone please tell me how it's July already! And how I'm still not done with this book! I am making progress, though. I finished Chapter 26! I had a staycation at the beginning of June and spent every single day (mostly) working on it all day long (mostly). Boy was it difficult! I had two super intense scenes in the same chapter because that's the kind of masochist I am. But it's done! And it's not terrible! I think? It has some killer lines. I think it has the most important line in the book. And I gave it to Jordan's mom of all people! She doesn't deserve it! She's terrible! Oh well...

So I'm winding down with this book. Too bad the ending is the hardest part to write. I'm trying not to force it, just let the ideas come to me in their own time. I know everything that has to happen in Chapter 27 so once I actually sit down and WORK ON IT it'll get done pretty quickly. I wish I could be on vacation all the time (you know, as long as I was getting paid). I think I will end up having 29 chapters. I wanted to push it to 30 to have a nice even number, but as my husband pointed out to me, the word UNEVEN is in the damn title of the book *facepalm*. Plus 29 feels like such an uncomfortable number to me. It's perfect! 

Anyhoo, moving on to this month's optional question: What personal traits have you written into your character(s)?

Oh! This is a fun one! So I pretty much have nothing in common with Jordan. Maybe that's why I like writing him so much. We really are polar opposites. But in a book where pretty much everything has some sort of hidden or symbolic meaning, I've found that Jordan has a few random dislikes just because they're things I dislike, like country music and chest hair. I just don't like these things. I couldn't force Jordan to like them. I'm sure there are other things that I dislike that Jordan could like or dislike, but these were the only ones that came up in the story. 

My second most important character, Tom, bakes a lot, which is definitely something I like to do. This may be a chicken and egg situation, though. I did take a cake decorating course when I was 13 so I've always been interested in baking, but my signature nowadays is definitely cupcakes. But I only got obsessed with making cupcakes after writing about a cupcake that Tom brings Jordan in Chapter 3. So being obsessed with cupcakes is just because I'm obsessed with my own book...

One of the things I would love for someone to ask me if this book is ever published and anyone actually reads it, is "are you more like Jordan or Tom?" To which I would say, "lol I'm Eric." Eric is Jordan's best friend and is a shy nervous wreck. I don't think I'm exactly like him, but I'm definitely most like him. Another thing I think we have in common is being really passionate about something (for Eric, it's music) but being terrified to share it with the world or even people we know. 

Oddly enough, it's Jordan who gets Eric out of his shell and showing off his talent. Hopefully he'll do the same for me. You know...if we can FINISH THE BOOK! He's a good friend (when he wants to be) but he's a terrible muse. Don't tell him I said that...

24 comments:

  1. Yes, how did it get to be July already? Time does fly. Sounds like you're making excellent progress! While I'm not like my main character in most ways, we do have a few things in common. It's kind of fun to write my likes and dislikes into different characters.

    Cheers - Ellen

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  2. Good for you for getting all that writing done!

    And I can't believe it's July already either....

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  3. It sounds like you're progressing at a steady pace, and that's great! Keep it up and finish the book!!

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  4. Congrats on making so much progress. And smart move not to stretch your book into an unnecessary chapter. It would slow the pacing for no reason. Good luck with your ending. I don't have a clear enough idea yet of my own climax.

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  5. I hear you about it being July already. Even though I've been making good progress on my story, it was still a shock to realize we're half way through the year. It seems that no matter how much more quickly I write, I still have to write even faster. It's like a treadmill that keeps speeding up.

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  6. Making progress is all that matters. But, yeah, I can't believe it's July already, too. It seriously feels as though every month is going by faster and faster each year.

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  7. Three more chapters to go then - awesome!
    You and Jordon are wise to dislike country music.

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  8. I loved the title of this post! Just ew, but intriguing. I'm not a fan of chest hair, either, but I did listen to country music as a kid (my dad's a fan of folk to country type country music and my mom's a fan of folk). Both of my daughters hate country music. If it tells a story, it might be okay, but when it gets into drinking beer and loving trucks, ew.
    I love cupcakes! :)
    This post just made me laugh and nod and laugh again ... sorry if my comments are random.

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  9. Sounds like you're feeling fully invested in your characters given your irritation at using your best line with an odious character! I hear you on disliking country music.

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  10. You will finish this book, I know it.

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  11. I hear you on the HOW IS IT JULY ALREADY front. And also disliking country music. My characters will likely never be a fan of it, either.

    It's great that the chapter number of the book works out so nicely for the story itself. :)

    And you'll definitely finish this book. I know you will.

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  12. That might be why we call them our babies. A part of us is in each one. :-)

    Anna from elements of emaginette

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  13. I know, July already! The weeks seem to slip by so fast! I'm glad you've been making progress, having a block of time to write is great and it is what I am hoping for soon. The luxury of being able to sit and concentrate on my manuscript without having to dash off to the day job is bliss! Good luck with tying up the ending of your story.

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  14. Sounds like you're doing great! Hope Jordan cooperates with you and gets you to taht finish line.

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  15. I feel you on the passage of time! Heh, I do hope your muse does help you finish the book. I mean, it is about him, right?

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  16. LOL, country and chest hair is hilarious. It gave me a chuckle. LOL. You are so close to finishing. Well done!

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  17. I hear your pain! What does it take so darned long, and why can't the ending just write itself? After all we've done most of the hard lifting already. Sheesh!

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  18. Congrats on your progress! That's great. And this post title is hilarious LOL. Happy 4th to you. :)

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  19. Congrats on progress. Happy July 4th and IWSG!

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  20. People ask me all the time which of my heroes I am most like, and I'm like, um, all of them and none of them? @mirymom1 from
    Balancing Act

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  21. All those words and all I can think about is wanting a cupcake.

    Good luck pushing through to the end!!

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  22. The end is in sight! Keep going. I like that you've absorbed something from your characters, too. It works both ways.

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  23. so, finish the book yet? haha
    don’t worry, it’ll happen!
    been great chatting with you on twitter—so glad you joined us!

    Tara Tyler Talks

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