Heading to the home stretch with Mayden… time to pay attention to pace, structure, and the big question Mayden poses! Enjoy!

Hey all you Mayden readers… Hope your writing is swimming along! This video was shot in the summer, but I decided to wait just a little to create the draft map I speak of here, so even though it says we are on chapter 17, we are actually on chapter 22 when I am doing this ~ It is really worthy when you start to have lots of story details (all of which can change in a second draft, remember). Enjoy!

“Thanks for coming,” Michael says to me from across the restaurant table, “I wanted to talk to you alone.”

Immediately, my gut takes a dive. I don’t have any idea what it is he is going to say next. I only know I’m not going to like it. In fact, I’m going to hate it. It’s good we are in the farthest corner table, out of earshot of anyone here unless a waiter comes over, which none have so far. Maybe Michael told them to leave us alone. But why? And why does it feels so dire all of a sudden? Already I feel tears starting to form behind my eyes, which is just so ridiculous.

“You’re leaving,” I blurt out, having no idea where it came from. Just one of those things I know before I really know it.

Michael nods. “Saturday night.” Read the rest of this entry

Something isn’t right. I can’t say what, for sure. But something.

It isn’t Bea, even though she is banging around in the kitchen, upset about something she won’t talk about. It isn’t Dad, who is sitting here at the table, reading the newspaper and ignoring everyone else. Or Sally, who is eating her hot cheesy grits in stony silence. Or even Michael, who should have left for practice an hour ago, and hasn’t said a word as to why he’s joining us for breakfast.

It’s just… something.

“I have an idea, Julie,” Dad says, without laying down his newspaper.

“Okay,” I say.

“We will need your help, Michael,” he continues. Now, he puts down the paper to look at Michael, who is all ears.

“We?” Sally says. So I guess the idea is news to her, too.

“Your Aunt Helene will be coming back just before you return to school, won’t she?” he asks Michael. Read the rest of this entry