So…. We started this with a video edit, but it didn’t have great sound~ so back to the drawing board on those videos!  In the mean time, here are my thoughts in writing…

1) Mayden chapters needs to be about 1600-1800 words for a 40 chapter book to have the length I’m shooting for, about 70,000 or so. This has 1200, so it is a little shy.  I’m not worried about it at this early stage, but it is something to keep note of.  Whatever I do, I have to leave the reader wanting more…

2) Mayden’s attitude toward her own clothing was commented on.  Good point–it was not my intention to create a “sell out” character.  Right now, her dress as a whole is not settled for me (you can see that in that I’m having an illustrator make an illustration for me, and wouldn’t you know…it is the clothing that is the sticky issue! That is because SHE is not settled yet (you will find that in writing–life will definitely reflect the story).  It may take quite a few tries to get her right (I’ll try her on like she tries on clothes), so bear with me. 

3) I want to include more about her friends, and definitly her connection to her cat, Scottie.  We need to flesh her out and who a person likes and loves tells a LOT about a person. This will help give her some 3-D.

4) I need to check my facts on medicine routines for nursing homes and the lunchtime routine that will go into chapter two. Boring work, but essential to quality writing.

5) There needs to be more in the way of mood and sensory texture, so weather, taste, colors, the feel of something Mayden touches… all that will be added.  My rule of thumb is there should be a sensory experience on EVERY page–if not many more than one.   This is what pulls a reader into the pages and keeps them turning. Essential!  

Okay, I don’t expect to actually rework these edits until I’ve written 3 or 4 chapters. I’m still getting to know all the characters and settings that will create Mayden.  So that would be a wasted effort right now.  Then again, I could play with them a bit just to see if I can use that process to do the “getting to know you” work.  Hmm… we will see!