Even though my writing buddy knows almost everything I do about my book, I can still talk to her about it. I can go through every event and explain how everything works out. This helps so, so much. I can refocus on the main points for the book I'm writing, make it more complex, and add in more connections between events. All of those come together to clear it all up for me. I can talk all around the area that is holding me up until I come up with some solutions (with my writing buddy's help of course). Before I know it I've got 5 solutions and the only problem I have is choosing just one.
Other positives of having a 3 hour long McDonald's lunch trip are:
- People watching: Literally, everyone is at McDonald's and that means every type of person imaginable (Hello Inspiration, yes, it's me again. Thanks for having me)
- Free drink refills: Yes, this rocks when you're a college student and need to save your cash supply, or just in general need to save your cash supply.
- Wi-Fi available: This could mean distractions, but if I go with a writing buddy, I find I can keep on tract much more easily.
- You can sit there as long as you like with not a single crazy look, not very many crazy looks from other people.
Having someone else listen to your plot lines, characters, ask questions, make suggestions, and show actual interest in this massive part of your life does a huge thing to your self esteem and confidence in writing. Having a writing buddy is priceless and I'm sure it would have taken me ages to finally do anything with the stories I had floating around in my thoughts if my writing buddy hadn't encouraged me. So much of doing this writing thing is stuff a writer must do by her/himself, but there are some areas where having other people go with you on your journey is a possibility, having a writing buddy and critique group are the most talked about and some of the most worthwhile, more on that in a later post.
Of course, you could choose any place to go. Perhaps a place with better fries. Maybe the fries different in different parts of the country (or world), but the ones here are always soggy and thin and if they're not, then they're hard and thin. What it comes down to is the fries are thin, little soggy/hard things that would be easier to eat with a fork and resemble hash browns because they are so wimpy. if I wanted hash browns, I'd order them. It's as simple as that. But, enough ranting...
Do you have a writing buddy you can talk things over with? Are they awesome at getting your mind in shape and out of a rut? And most importantly, what is your view on the McDonald's fry?
15 comments:
Sausage Biscuit with Egg and a small coffee is a guilty pleasure of mine. My daughter likes the playground.
I kind of like their fries. I don't like BigMacs.
I like their milk shakes! But the fries, not so much. I have two writing buddies, but we don't meet in person, we email a few times a week. They are wonderful and always raise my spirits when I'm down in the dumps. Great post! I totally indentify with you.
My hubby gets the brunt of my book talking. He asks the tough questions and doesn't let me get away with anything.
I don't really have a writing buddy like that, but my husband lets me use him as a guinea pig. He's great at fixing plot holes too! I'm so glad you have someone like that. Truly invaluable!
I'm not a big fan of McDonald's, but my daughter loves Chicken McNuggets so we go once in a while. I have a friend I can bounce a lot of ideas off which is wonderful. She doesn't write, but she's an avid reader of every genre so if I need plot help she's my go-to gal.
Other than my hubby? Well, um, there are these two nice ladies who started a critique group with me recently, and they will be filling that role for me soon! ha ha :-)
My writing group in North Dakota met in a McDonald's once. Ronald stared at us the entire time, from this perch at the kids table, a suspicious and disturbing smear of white...paint? in a not altogether wholesome place--eye level.
We never returned.
That being said, I use my husband as my sounding board for stuff like that. And I can only talk about what I've already written, as opposed to where I plan to go. But he's not always the best listener. I do have a beta who gets an email with every chapter as its completed (first draft) and he does an amazing job in keeping up with the story and letting me explore my characters via our chats. Unfortunately he lives 1500 miles away, so going to McDonald's is a bit out of the question...
I love my critique group. They are priceless! BTW, I haven't forgotten about your tag. I'll get to it, I promise!
First McDonalds--I have a weakness for the Egg & Bacon muffin/hash brown/coffee breakfast deal, especially on hungover mornings. And yes, I put the hash brown inside the muffin! So. Good.
And writing buddy--I don't have one yet, not one whose work I read too, but I have lots of friends and family giving me feedback.
Can't stand McDonald's. I've hated it since I was a kid because they didn't have fry sauce. I only like their strawberry milkshakes and I definitely don't need those. I spent an interesting hour people watching at a Tire shop while they replaced my tire. Talk about all walks of life. Your right though McDonald's is a great place to people watch.
I also enjoyed your not so much kissing scene from yesterday. An unplanned I love you is the best. I've seen your face on others blogs so I clicked over her and realized I'm already a follower. Guess I need to come by more often.
McDonald's is a great place to people watch. I rarely go there, though. I have a few writing buddies who have helped me through my stumps and dark writing roads.
Great post!
I meet with writer friends at Starbucks, but there aren't any free refills. :(
As far as McD's fries, they're usually just about perfect. Maybe it's your local McD's... :-)
Surprise for you over at my blog!
My writing buddy is my sister, Suzette Saxton (of the Querytracker blog). She's amazing. There is no such thing as writers block when we get our brains on the same page. Writers rock.
Oh McDonald's fries dipped in vanilla shake, yummmmmers
My crit buddies rawk. They live too far for a McDonald's trip though :(
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