Saturday was the official end-of-Mentor-Program picnic in the mountains.
I gave my mentor, Claudia Mills, a little plaque that included this:
CLAWDIA
This morning I ran on the trails and fell.
But it was the best fall, ever.
When I told Zebu that, he asked "Did you stick it on the dismount?"
I did!
Today I start my new plan for BIRD BRAIN,
which is to rewrite chapters from scratch.
I’ve been working on voice/characterization but it feels as if I’m
nickel and diming the story.
So….time to get serious and write it anew.
Zoinks.
I hope everyone’s Monday is off to a stellar start, and that the week just keeps getting
better and better.
Tracy Abell 
Good luck!
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Thank you, Meredith. I’m going to need all the good thoughts I can muster.
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Tracy, sending your cheers and courage as you face the blank page. I’ve been there. Um, I am there. It’s not easy. But… we can do it! And it’s sometimes the only way to go.
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I appreciate your cheers, and send some back your way. It isn’t easy, and yesterday didn’t go quite as well as I’d hoped. But it does seem the only way to go.
Courage!
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Great plaque! And brave you, to be rewriting from scratch. I’m doing some of that myself. It’s exciting and scary… and I think it’s paying off.
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I’m glad it’s not just scary for you, but also exciting. And that it’s paying off. I haven’t reached that point yet but will keep at it in hopes of breaking on through to the other side.
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whoohooo! for new starts.
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Could you come over and whoohoo next to my ear? I need a little pick-me up as I face this daunting task.
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Go Tracy! Go Tracy! You Can Do It!
I send you sparkles across the divide. They are magic sparkles. They will give you the umph you need to write that story, show it who’s boss. Hugs!
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You are the very best. Thank you so much. I wish you could see my smile.
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😀
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A big cheer for everyone doing the blank page fandango! You can do it, Tracy.
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I like that…blank page fandango. I’ll dance with you, as long as you don’t mind me stepping on your toes now and again. Remember, I’ve got enormous feet.
You can do it, too, Laurie. One, two, three….GO!
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No more falling! (Even if you do stick the dismount)
I trust you’re okay, though 🙂
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No more falling sounds good to me. As always, it happened so quickly I didn’t know what was going on until I was down. But no skinned palms or knees. Still, no more falling!
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Good luck with your rewrite! Sometimes that just works better than tinkering with it.
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Thanks for the good wishes, Karen. The tinkering was working so it seems like overhaul time. But, oh, I wish it was coming a little easier.
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Ooh – sorry you fell, but I’m glad it was epic! About the writing: you can do it. I have faith.
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As falls go, it couldn’t be much better. Isn’t that odd? But as far as the writing, yikes. Not so sure right now. But I always, always appreciate your faith in me, Kelly. Thank you.
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You have one of the strongest work ethics of anyone I know, Tracy. I’m positive you’ll not only get this done, but that it will shimmer and glisten once you do!
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I can’t tell you how much that means to me right now, Kelly. Thank you so very much.
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Ooh – pop over to ‘s blog, where she posted a link to an encouraging post from Neil Gaiman!
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I just read it. Thank you! One stone/word at a time.
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