life as an author
I read manuscripts to my husband as I write them. He helps me fill in plot holes I’m not aware of and gives general critique that’s pretty valuable. He is my favorite audience because I get his reactions, whether they be tears or chuckles, up close and personal. But sometimes . . .
The other night I wrote a line that struck me as funny. So while he brushed his teeth, I read it out loud to him. This is the line:
“Nothing in the world is as scary as a mentally unstable nice person.”
“Well?” I asked.
“Well what?”
“I thought it was funny. What do you think?”
He spits in the sink and stares at me a minute before saying, “I didn’t realize you were reading to me. It sounded like you were talking about yourself.”
He is so lucky I love him. This may be the only thing keeping me from putting cayenne pepper in his contact solution.
Actually, if you were to do that, it would be very healthy for his eyes. There’s an herbal eyewash solution that contains cayenne.
I know what you mean, though — punishment must take place!
Very funny, Julie.
Tristi, OUCH!
Oh my.
But it is funny, you know.
LOL–nothing like a husband to keep us humble
Hah!!!! That’s hilarious!
For those of us who are male, wives also provide the same ego-reduction, if more gently and with sharper needles.
Lee, that is just funny. I’ll be laughing all day over that. And Tristi, if I REALLY put cayenne pepper in his contact solution, revenge of the cruelest nature would be exacted upon me. I’m sure he’d dump an ice water bucket on me while I took a shower or something like that. So health benefits aside, I think I’ll pass.
You are so lucky that your husband likes to hear your stuff and help you with it. Every once in awhile I force my husband
into listening to my plot problems, but he always get’s this deer in the headlights look. Luckily he drives the carpool every morning. He knows I can’t leave him because then I’d have to do it.
I think your hubby must be related to mine! Do these guys have any idea how lucky they are that we love them and think they’re cute? Do they not realize how endangered their life becomes when they say things like that???
I think “big, dumb dork” has become my favorite swearword – since it’s usually him I’m swearing about!
Hang in there, you’re not alone.
Julie, I attended a writing clinic with you three years ago. You were educating us on how to tell a nail biting story by thickening the plot and throwing lots of problems at the protagonist. I have a manuscript chopped up in lots of little pieces and I can’t decided how much of it to tell in flashbacks or in sequence. I’d love to get your feedback on the frame by frame timeline. Do you have some time to chat in the relatively near future?