Saturday, July 31, 2010

Against the Wall Outline

Scene 1:  Trouble Begins
Hannah (MC) is angrily trying to find an outfit for secnod day of museum hopping.  Sent on trip by parents against her wishes.  Paired up with museum/art geek.  She rants  about the hot weather, walking and being paired up with Ian before meeting everyone in the lobby of the hotel.

Scene 2:  Walk to Museum
Walks 10 blocks to museum and converses with Ian.  He can't understand why she is there and she can't understand why he would want to be there.  She  explains situation at home that landed her in NYC.  She is hateful enough that Ian shuts up

Scene 3:  Entrance to Museum
Ian starts spounting off info about the Intrepid Museum and the piece of the Berlin Wall outside the entrance.  hannah stops in front of the wall while Ian walks on.  Hannah swipes her hand against the grafitti covered piece of wall and comments on its ugliness.  Suddenly she is gone.  Ian looks back and can't find Hannah so he assumes she went back to the hotel.

Scene 4:  Hannah meets Ivonne
Hanna just appears on doorstep of shop.  Old lady yells at Hannah about outfit.  Ivonne hears the comment and pulls Hannah inside where she gives her clothing.  They have a discussion about time and place.  Ivonne expresses fear of being reported because of what has happened to her family.

I've had the outline for quite some time.  These are just the first four scenes that I am currently working on.  Will update my progress in a day or two.

Friday, July 30, 2010

Realism in writing

I think the best compliment I've had about my writing came in an email from my cousin the other day.  We recently re-connected and I told her about my reading and writing blogs.  She went to the writing blog and then emailed me.  She was trying to give me some advice on my "family situation".  She had read a couple of the character profiles and thought I was writing about problems in my family and so she was trying to advise me.  I contacted her and she seemed relieved to find out that what she was reading was part of my book.  I told her it must have been pretty realistic for her to believe it and she told me it was.  Writing is great.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Small Town Secrets

Took out my half finished manuscript.  This was one I started right after I finished my first manuscript.  This is the story of a young boy who is killed.  As a ghost he must help the other ghost boys find and expose the person who is running young boys off the road.  This is one my mom doesn't like because it is a ghost story.  My students loved it because of the detail.  Can't wait to do more work on it tomorrow.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Against the Wall

Spent a large part of the day doing background research on my historical fiction book.  It is a time travel story.  A teen visiting New York touches a piece of the Berlin Wall and finds herself transported back into East Berlin. I have finally gotten my research all organized and my outline completed.

Monday, July 12, 2010

Steps To Courage

I have spent the last 2 days working on my first manuscript.  I finally finished the 2nd edit of this book.  I hope to send it out again in the next week or two.  I want to re-do all of my queries.  They were not quite up to a standard they needed to be.  I am very pleased.  I managed to add an additional 1,460 words to it today.  I am pleased to be making progress.    I also pulled out Small Town Secrets and started re-working the beginning.  It had a sticking point.  I reached a point where I was not sure how to resolve a problem.  I have since thought of a solution.  It feels so good to be writing again.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Steps to Courage

I started re-editing my first book and managed to get the prologue worked out and two pages of the first chapter.  Most people would think that this would be nothing.  However,  I had to add a prologue to set the story up properly.  The first chapter really needed a good hook.  My first three chapters introduce the three main characters, a chapter for each.  From there we get into the meat and potatoes of the story. 

Premise:  Three teens working on  community service hours for school find themselves in the Twin Towers on 9/11 where they are forced to face their past if they are to survive the present.

Please respond and tell me what you think of this premise?

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Preacher's Kid entry #8

Rosa Bonita - Mother of Frankie and Tanya, wife to Jose

The happiest memory I have is when both of my children were born.  They filled a void in my life.
My saddest memory was when Jose found out Frankie had been suspended.  He went ballistic.  He wouldn't let anyone explain.  he knew what he'd been told and he didn't need to hear Frankie's side.  After all Frankie was just a teen.

I don't want anyone to find out that my family is falling apart.

I'm a likable person.  I'm helpful but the thing that stands out is the way I listen to anyone who needs an ear.  I just don't seem to be good at being a peacemaker in my own family.  I'm not good at organizing things.  Come to think of it, according to my husband the only things I seem to be good at is keeping the house clean and putting a decent meal on the table.

My best friend would say I look young for my age.  I'm well dressed with just the slightest touch of gray framing my face.  My figure has always been trim.  I don't think I look like I'm 37 years old.

The thing that really bugs me is how my husband won't let anyone tell their side.  Once he sets his mind to something being the truth you can't change his mind.  For this reason I'm afraid my husband and son have gone beyond repairing their relationship.

When I look in the mirror I see someone who wants more security and understanding in the lives of her family.  I see someone who feels helpless to save her family as it is slowly sinking out of sight.

The most embarrassing thing was hearing the ladies of the church talk about Frankie's suspension.  It was so embarrassing because they had gotten their information from Jose.  They pitied me for my "problem child".  Jose had explained the problems we had been having with Frankie.  None of them asked my opinion or my side or my feelings.  It was decided that what my husband said was gospel so no need to question it.

One thing I want more than anything in the world is for my husband to stop being so judgemental about Frankie and to see who he is before it is too late.  I want him to take a good look at our marriage and see how we are no longer a couple we are just two people who live under his rule and his decisions.

Monday, July 5, 2010

Preacher's Kid entry #7

Jose Bonitas - Father of Frankie & Tanya

My happiest memory is the day I became a deacon in my church.  I felt like God was finally using me in the church to help others.  My saddest memory is when my son Frankie made the decision to let his life just fall apart.  I don't know what to do with him.  I guess there isn't much so I've just given up.  He'll change if he wants to.

I don't want anyone to find out that even though I can solve problems at church for other families, I can't solve problems in my own home.  The one thing I'm not very good at is solving my own problems.

My best friend is my wife. She would describe me as handsome, caring, a good provider and always ready to help.

One thing that bugs me is the excuses my son always makes.  He seems to have no respect for anyone in the family anymore.  I am afraid I'm losing my son to the dark side and I don't know how to help him.

When I look in the mirror, I see someone who is successful in what they've tried to accomplish.  I see someone who wants more out of their relationship with God.  I see someone who puts God first not matter what is happening in the family.

The most embarrassing thing to happen to me was getting a call from the principal of the school telling me my son was suspended.  It didn't help that the principal is a member of the church and I am his deacon.  I knew this would be all over the church before I could do any damage control.

The only talent I would want would be to serve God in any capacity.  to have the love for all people and be able to help them find a solution to their problems.

I really like where I live.  I grew up in Puerto Rico.  I have the best of all worlds.  I am close to the beach, yet live in a small farming community

I really want to have a good relationship with my whole family.  I work with people from the church yet can't reach or guide my own family.

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Preachers Kid Entry #6

Frankie Bonita - Tanya's brother

My happiest memory is the day my dad took me fishing for the first time.  I was about 7 at the time and we got up real early.  Mom fixed us pancakes so we wouldn't be hungry.  Dad had taken  off work just so we could go fishing.  I had never fished before so dad showed me how to bait my hook.  I caught a small white fish.  It was so small I had to throw it back.  Dad took a picture of me holding that fish before I threw it back.  He just kept telling me how proud he was of me.  My saddest memory is the day I got suspended.  I saw the disappointment in my dad's eyes.  I hurt him so much that he stopped talking to me.  I don't think he'll ever be proud of me again.

Everyone thinks I'm a bad boy, party animal.  I'm not.  I'll drink the occasional beer with the guys I hang out with but I'm really not into the party scene.  I am a very outgoing person so I make friends easily.  I can easily talk people into doing what I want just because I'm "Mr. Sunshine".  However, I'm not very good at communicating with my parents.

My best friend would describe me as someone who has got it together.  I'm 5 ft. 10 with  black wavy hair.  I don't look anything like my sister.

One thing that really bugs me is the way my father won't talk to me.  If I bring friends over he'll chat with them like they are his best friend and act like I'm not even there.  Sometimes I think he wishes I wasn't.

The only thing I'm really afraid of is that I'll screw up so bad my parents will hate me.  it's bad enough now.  I'm not sure I could take much more.  Often I think of suicide.

When I look in the mirror I see someone who tries to act cool and carefree on the outside.  I see someone that has a different face and persona for each of the groups he's with.  But I also see someone who deep down is screaming out to be loved.

The most embarrassing thing to ever happen to me was when I got caught cheating.  I wasn't asking for the answer, I was asking for a formula to help me solve the problem.  I had left my formula sheet at home.  It didn't matter I was talking during a test.  When the teacher started yelling at me I was so embarrassed I just reacted.  I dumped my desk over trying to get up real quick so I could leave the room.  He told the principal that I got violent and threw my desk.  he's the teacher so everyone believed him.  I couldn't believe that none of my friends stood up for me.  Some friends huh?

I really don't have an ideal home or place to live.  I don't want any pets.  That's something else for me to take care of an my plate is full right now.

If I could have any talent, it would be the gift of art.  I sketch sometimes, especially when I'm upset.  I used to like to paint, but that was when my dad encouraged me.  Not much reason to paint now.

I think the one thing I want more than anything else is to feel forgiven and loved.  I don't think I'm ever going to find that.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Preacher's Kid Entry #5

Tanya Bonita - 15 years old

My happiest moment was when Jacob asked me to the Christmas dance at school.  I know he and my brother are friends but I think he is so hot.  More importantly I love the way he's not afraid to show his relationship with God.  My saddest memory is the day my brother got suspended.  He and I used to be so close.  He would tell me everything.  Whe he got suspended mom and dad came down on him so hard that he just shut down.  Now they act like they're afraid of him. 

I don't want anyone to know that I have OCD.  I wash my hands with water or hand sanitizer constantly.  They just think that I want to make sure my hands are clean.  I'm a very shy person.  I think this suits my personality because I can sit back and really look at people instead of joining the crowd making snap judgements.  This is how I know what's really going on with my brother when everyone else thinks they have him figured out.

One thing I'm not real good at is making friends.   I have a small group of friends that I am real tight with.  I am easy to get to know.  I just am not aggressive when it comes to making new friends.  If I am with a friend and someone introduces me to someone else I am good to go.  I just can't walk up and make a cold contact.

My best friend Julie say's she's envious of my honey colored hair.  She said it's not fair that I have this golden brown skin from my Puerto Rican side and then have the blue eyes and honey colored hair from my dad's Cuban heritage.  My dad's mom was Cuban and I get it from her.

Something that really irritates me is the way my parents act like everything in our lives are perfect when they are around anyone from church, but then they act totally different at home.  This must bug my brother too because he becomes even more rebellious.  I'm afraid I'm going to lose my brother.  I see him changing so much and no one is doing anything about it.

If you were to look in my bedroom you'd get a pretty good idea about me.  Everything is super organized and minimal.  I have a couple of pictures of mountain scenes on my wall but not much else.  My colors are cream and periwinkle with a splash of pink and yellow thrown in.  My desk is organized like a little mini office.  I have trays for papers and a complete desk set to hold pens, pencils, stapler, tape dispenser and sticky notes.  I don't know if this is a condition of my OCD or not.  I make lists for everything and actually check them off.  When I see myself in the mirror I see someone who is neat and organized and ready for anything.  Okay maybe I go overboard a little bit. 

The most embarrassing thing that ever happened to me was when my family went to welcome the new preacher and his family.  It was raining out and we were running up to the porch.  I slipped, tripped over Jacob's foot  and then actually landed right in his lap.  At that point I just wanted to be at home curled up in my room with my kitten.  I have this kitten I named Snickerdoodle.  She's a golden calico.  I named her after my favorite cookie.

If I could have one talent it would be singing.  I like to sing and actually I'm quite good.  My shyness makes it difficult to sing solos in front of people.  I guess if I could have any one talent it would be the gift of music with the confidence to go with it.  I would also live in the Great Smoky Mountains if I could.  I'd love to live back in the hills and live off of the land.  I'd sit outside in the morning with a cup of coffee and watch the sun burn the haze away.  I feel closer to God in the mountains.

The thing I want more than anything in the world is my parents to stop what they are doing and take a good look at my brother and see how he is hurting.  I would want them to try to save their relationship with him before it is too late.
 
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