I just finished the ending!!!  I just wrote “The End.”  I am sooooo psyched!!!!  But – there’s a lot of work ahead.  I keep each chapter in separate .doc files.  Now I’ve got to combine them into one large document.  Then I’m going to let the MS bake for a few weeks.  It is going to take a LOT of gumption not to touch it but I think I can do it…

So what will I be doing with all this free time?  I’ll be doing some beta reading for critique partners.  Reading books on craft – like editing and description & setting.  Reading for pleasure.  Maybe watching some tv.  Plotting the next book in the series.  But above all else, spending some quality time with the family and not feel guilty about not using every minute of “free time” to work on the book.

Then, in a few weeks, I’ll look at the MS with hopefully fresh eyes and mind. 

Wish me luck…

This is something I’ve experienced on just about a daily basis since November 27, 2009.

Book Brain: \ˈbu̇k\\ˈbrān\ – noun –

1.  The state of being all consumed by your WIP:  The house was on fire but I didn’t notice because of my book brain.

2.  Appeared lack of focus because a scene or dialogue is playing in your mind:  After a family dinner, my dad commented to my mom that I didn’t seem like myself.  In actuality, I was just distracted due to book brain.

3.  Continuous distraction due to thinking about what to do next with your MS or looking for ideas:  Because of my book brain, I didn’t notice Will making paper airplanes out of a piece of paper full of notes for my MS.  depleting the M&M dispenser in my office.

It’s gotten slightly better, now that I have things plotting done.  However, I still constantly run scenes through my head, trying to make them better or think of better ways to do it.  I always am looking for inspiration as to other story ideas or studying people for real life characterization.  I was at a Braves baseball game with a notebook in my lap taking TONS of notes.  Now that's a little crazy if you ask me - but if I don't write it down, I'll forget.  Luckily I just got this fancy new phone and have downloaded some cool apps for taking notes.  Maybe it will make me less obtrusive.

Anyone else out there have a pet name for your distraction due to thinking through your WIP?  Any cool ways you take notes, unobtrusively?

It’s Friday.  One of my favorite days of the week!!  I thought I’d try something new on Fridays for the blog.  I’m going to share “Feel Good” things from the week that either I heard about or happened to me. 

It makes me happy that my daughter is beyond excited to be going to her first sleep away camp next week.  I never did sleep away camp as a kid, so can’t wait to hear all about her adventures.  I wish I could go to camp…

My daughter also just learned a back walkover on the beam – an amazing feat that she is now confident enough to try on her practice beam in our living room.  She totally rocks and I am soooo proud of her.  Hopefully at her gymnastics camp – she’ll learn a few new skills to add to her gymnastics repertoire.

This is our third year hosting a soccer coach from Great Britain for the camp my son does every summer.  This week, we had a really nice guy named Bekim.  It’s so fun hosting a young person from another country.  Which has given me another story idea…

In writing news… I finished a class last week on Writing Body Language and Dialogue Cues.  Any of you writerly types who hasn’t done so, should check out Margie Lawson.  She’s totally awesome, enthusiastic and just a wealth of knowledge.  Check her out her website ==> here.  I am not sure when she’s offering the class again, but you can buy the lecture packets.  I can’t recommend it enough.

I know I sound like an mp3 player on repeat – but seriously… I’m almost done with the novel.  Brad has been helping me hash through the last few scenes.  I just have to write them.  My dilemma is that there are a few ways to get to the end so I find myself analyzing and analyzing and analyzing the various scenarios.  Trying to come up with the best option.  Which tends to lead to some other things I hadn’t thought of.  I have to give major LUV to Brad as he’s my biggest cheerleader at the moment and has a tremendous vision about the end.  Yes – he ROCKS!!!  And I let him know. 

Happy Weekend to One and All!!!