A page taken from my writing journal, 9/17/13
Joe and Rosie are at MGH in Boston, heading into the Wang Building. Joe has been to the ER at MGH while on duty many times, but never in the Wang, never up the elevator. He was referred by his PCP to a neurologist, to a "Movement Specialist." Seems like a lot of fuss over a bad knee. But he's going. He's going for Rosie. She made the appointment.
Here we go into the meat of the story, Lisa. It feels like it took a long freakin time to get here, and there is still a long way to go. Keep going the way you're going. I think the thing that has you worried is fitting Katie in. She's essential. The kids need their experience and voice represented in this book. Huntington's Disease is a family disease. It affects everyone, every generation. But how will I give Katie enough to make her important and yet not a distraction? Her story needs to stand alone, and then it needs to find interplay, connection with her dad's story. How will their journeys intersect and impact each other?
I'm not there yet, so all this worrying is about something that hasn't happened. Now you are with Joe, and he is at the neurologist at MGH, and that MUST happen no matter what. So go there with him, Lisa, and find out what happens. Be open, be vulnerable. See it, feel it, moment to moment, and infuse it with real information from your research. Tell the truth.
I am so much looking forward to reading this book. I have loved all your books. As a girl who grew up in MA, and lived there until 5 years ago, and also as a massage therapist with a strong interest in neurology, your books just feed me.! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteJanet K
Thank you so much for sharing your writing experiences with us. As a writer struggling to find the right components that make up my voice, I needed to be reminded that the story is key and enlightened to realize that following a character wherever he or she may lead is crucial.
ReplyDeleteLove the idea of a writing journal...I keep a To Do list handy so as to drop my distractions somewhere but I like the concept of getting the ideas in my head down even if they aren't fully developed.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea to write like this to process what you're doing in your books. Thank you so much for sharing, Lisa. This is great!
ReplyDeletebeautiful, they will take you there
ReplyDeleteand you us
thank you
love :-)