WLHYL Update & Snippets
This weekend marks the first anniversary of when I finished the first 150,000 word draft of When Life Hands You Lymes. I can still picture exactly where I was when I typed those two words, The End, and closed my laptop with a satisfying thud.
It was August before I started into the edits in earnest, and other than taking November off to do NaNoWriMo, I've worked fairly steadily for the last nine months at crafting WLHYL into a real book instead of a rough draft.
I've cut out nearly 52,000 words already, wiggled the plot around, added a new character, changed the direction of another character, and learned a ton about writing and editing and books in general. Madalyn's story is one that has become quite familiar to me and sometimes it feels like we're old friends.
I'm currently going through the second half of When Life Hands You Lymes (the part that was going to be the sequel), and despite it being wordy, I'm having a lot of fun. These edits are the first time I'm going through and rereading this part of the book, and the characters are actually quite amusing.
Darrick, who is the main character's brother, will probably forever remain one of my favorite characters. He doesn't alway say and do the right thing, but he does try and which I think is very commendable. I also enjoy the banter that goes on between him, Madalyn (the main character), and Julia, Madalyn's best friend.
Here are a few snippets for y'all to enjoy:
Snippet #1:
“I’m not sure if I’ll enter the contest after all.” I didn’t turn around to look at Julia. I knew she’d be hosting a death glare.
“How in the world can you say that?” Julia took my shoulders and spun me around. She’s shorter than me, but a lot stronger. “You need to stop over-thinking this and stop worrying about it and just finish up your song so you can enter it.”
“So you’ve said already.”
“I have news for you.” Julia looked angry. “Every single time you stall with your music I’m going to give you the same speech. Hopefully one day it will finally enter your thick skull and make some kind of dent on your brain so you start believing it.”
“Sounds like rays of sunshine in here.” Darrick entered the room and his eyes widened when he saw Julia standing on her tip toes practically shouting in my face. “I always love it when I walk in a room and hear people talking about denting their best friend’s brain.”
“She doesn’t want to enter her song in the contest.” Julia crossed her arms and turned to Darrick. “So, if you’re going to help me talk some sense into her you’re welcome to stay. If not, I think I might hear someone calling your name in Grant.”
“What’s going on Madds?”
“I’m freaking out.”
“Is that new?” Darrick asked.
“You’re not helping.” Julia glared at Darrick.
“Last I checked I’ve been Madalyn’s brother all my life.” Darrick’s words were soft; Julia took the hint, nodded at him, and took a few steps back.
Snippet #2:
Darrick walked into the office and glanced around. “Are my eyes deceiving me or is it true that not no one's working?”
“We’re taking a break.” I stretched. “I filed the rest of the progress reports for Dad, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“Me, worried? Darrick shook his head. “I don’t worry.”
“Good for you. Now am I missing something or are you standing there not working?”
“Just taking a little break to chat with my favorite younger sister.”
“I feel honored.”
Snippet #3:
“Am I the only one mildly freaking out here?” Julia asked.
“You won’t be if you don’t settle down.” Julia’s pacing was getting on my nerves. “You do realize nothing is accomplished by walking back and forth over the same stretch of carpet for twenty minutes straight, right?”
“If I sit down, Madalyn, I am going to explode.”
I grimaced. “The carpet was just cleaned.”
“There’s this thing called tact.” Julia continued pacing.
“Let me guess, it’s a little sharp object used to poke annoying people who won’t calm down?” I hid a grin as Julia narrowed her eyes at me.
“That is a tack. Tact, on the other hand, is a very needed element in anyone’s life if they want to survive socially.”
“Oh, I get it.” I nodded. “You’re wondering if I could give you lessons on how to be tactful?”
Julia groaned.
“Lesson number one, if your best friend tells you they might explode, don’t mention the carpet.” I gestured at the floor. “It gives the impression that you’re more concerned about the carpet than you are about them.”
“Can you believe I’m actually nervous?”
“About getting the carpet messy?” I shrugged. “Just don’t explode and you’ll be fine.”
“Can you just be serious for a minute?” Julia flopped herself onto our bed.
“One-one-thousand. Two-one-thousand. Three-one-thousand.” I glanced out the window as I continue counting.
“What are you doing?” Julia glared at me.
“I’m working on being serious for a minute. Sixteen-one-thousand. Seventeen-one-thousand.” “You’re incorrigible.” Julia growled out the words.
“Thank you. I’ve always wanted to be encouraging to someone.”
* * *
Which character sounds like the most fun to you? Darrick, Julia, or Madalyn?
It was August before I started into the edits in earnest, and other than taking November off to do NaNoWriMo, I've worked fairly steadily for the last nine months at crafting WLHYL into a real book instead of a rough draft.
I've cut out nearly 52,000 words already, wiggled the plot around, added a new character, changed the direction of another character, and learned a ton about writing and editing and books in general. Madalyn's story is one that has become quite familiar to me and sometimes it feels like we're old friends.
I'm currently going through the second half of When Life Hands You Lymes (the part that was going to be the sequel), and despite it being wordy, I'm having a lot of fun. These edits are the first time I'm going through and rereading this part of the book, and the characters are actually quite amusing.
Darrick, who is the main character's brother, will probably forever remain one of my favorite characters. He doesn't alway say and do the right thing, but he does try and which I think is very commendable. I also enjoy the banter that goes on between him, Madalyn (the main character), and Julia, Madalyn's best friend.
Here are a few snippets for y'all to enjoy:
Snippet #1:
“I’m not sure if I’ll enter the contest after all.” I didn’t turn around to look at Julia. I knew she’d be hosting a death glare.
“How in the world can you say that?” Julia took my shoulders and spun me around. She’s shorter than me, but a lot stronger. “You need to stop over-thinking this and stop worrying about it and just finish up your song so you can enter it.”
“So you’ve said already.”
“I have news for you.” Julia looked angry. “Every single time you stall with your music I’m going to give you the same speech. Hopefully one day it will finally enter your thick skull and make some kind of dent on your brain so you start believing it.”
“Sounds like rays of sunshine in here.” Darrick entered the room and his eyes widened when he saw Julia standing on her tip toes practically shouting in my face. “I always love it when I walk in a room and hear people talking about denting their best friend’s brain.”
“She doesn’t want to enter her song in the contest.” Julia crossed her arms and turned to Darrick. “So, if you’re going to help me talk some sense into her you’re welcome to stay. If not, I think I might hear someone calling your name in Grant.”
“What’s going on Madds?”
“I’m freaking out.”
“Is that new?” Darrick asked.
“You’re not helping.” Julia glared at Darrick.
“Last I checked I’ve been Madalyn’s brother all my life.” Darrick’s words were soft; Julia took the hint, nodded at him, and took a few steps back.
Snippet #2:
Darrick walked into the office and glanced around. “Are my eyes deceiving me or is it true that not no one's working?”
“We’re taking a break.” I stretched. “I filed the rest of the progress reports for Dad, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“Me, worried? Darrick shook his head. “I don’t worry.”
“Good for you. Now am I missing something or are you standing there not working?”
“Just taking a little break to chat with my favorite younger sister.”
“I feel honored.”
Snippet #3:
“Am I the only one mildly freaking out here?” Julia asked.
“You won’t be if you don’t settle down.” Julia’s pacing was getting on my nerves. “You do realize nothing is accomplished by walking back and forth over the same stretch of carpet for twenty minutes straight, right?”
“If I sit down, Madalyn, I am going to explode.”
I grimaced. “The carpet was just cleaned.”
“There’s this thing called tact.” Julia continued pacing.
“Let me guess, it’s a little sharp object used to poke annoying people who won’t calm down?” I hid a grin as Julia narrowed her eyes at me.
“That is a tack. Tact, on the other hand, is a very needed element in anyone’s life if they want to survive socially.”
“Oh, I get it.” I nodded. “You’re wondering if I could give you lessons on how to be tactful?”
Julia groaned.
“Lesson number one, if your best friend tells you they might explode, don’t mention the carpet.” I gestured at the floor. “It gives the impression that you’re more concerned about the carpet than you are about them.”
“Can you believe I’m actually nervous?”
“About getting the carpet messy?” I shrugged. “Just don’t explode and you’ll be fine.”
“Can you just be serious for a minute?” Julia flopped herself onto our bed.
“One-one-thousand. Two-one-thousand. Three-one-thousand.” I glanced out the window as I continue counting.
“What are you doing?” Julia glared at me.
“I’m working on being serious for a minute. Sixteen-one-thousand. Seventeen-one-thousand.” “You’re incorrigible.” Julia growled out the words.
“Thank you. I’ve always wanted to be encouraging to someone.”
* * *
Which character sounds like the most fun to you? Darrick, Julia, or Madalyn?
No comments have been added yet.
