I set out over a year ago to pick up a pen and paper and begin the tedious task of writing a novel. It was, after all, the one desire I had that had never faltered in all my years. While in the process of writing it suddenly hit me...A wonderful, devilishly wicked story concept. I had never seen or read anything like it and wondered who I could trust enough to run the idea past. Ah-Ha! My best friend, of course. So, that is exactly what I did, and guess what? Turned out she had a natural ability for story development, we were definitely on the same page and she could type...A partnership was born. Everything did not fall into place overnight but it did eventually fall into place. We each found a unique strength and fit in our shared writing abilities. We did, of course, argue and sometimes fight. Once or twice we even talked of absolving the partnership and throwing in the towel, but never did. We were determined, each for their own personal reasons. The fruit of all that labor and months of growing pains became CRUELTY TO INNOCENTS, our debut novel.
Now, tucked neatly away, are hundreds upon hundreds of hand written pages ( Yes! I hand write all my work). The memory of the amount of Ibuprofen I consumed in an effort to battle the hand cramps that would always accompany my writing process and a few extra pounds gained while indulging in Swiss Cake Rolls (writing fuel) was little price to pay. Notebook, pens and Swiss Cake Rolls, and I am ready to work, and my partner is always ready to type.
Perhaps one day I will learn how to type and the process will change completely, but as I understand it, you don't fix what isn't broken. I think I will just stick with my co-writer, my hand cramps and my Little Debbie Swiss Cake Rolls.
Little Debbie's are made in Chattanooga, TN. After my mom graduated high school she worked there. This was in the late 50's. And she met Little Debbie, she was the owners granddaughter and he brought her on the factory floor to meet the workers.
ReplyDeleteMy aunt was in mgmt with them for decades and one uncle drove a Little Debbie tractor trailer. He always carried big brown grocery sacks full of individual Little Debbies in the cab with him. He said he'd jump out and take a bag into the guys working the weigh stations and he was never once over weight on the truck scales!
Swiss rolls are a close second to Nutty Buddies!
Making a writing partnership work isn't an easy thing to do! And if it works, don't try to fix it, just don't hold the pen so hard when you write and take smaller bites of the Swiss Cake Roles.
ReplyDeleteBut heck, when you really do well, the handwriting stamina will pay off during book signings and if you do put on a few pounds with every book, eventually you'll be able to afford a trainer to work it all back off.
Sweet post.
ReplyDeleteMalted milk balls are my thing. . .
OH man, I can't believe you hand write your stuff. I get a cramp writing a little greeting card note! LOL.
Write on, my friend