Last night I spent a couple of hours online with a fellow mystery writer.  We had a brainstorming/critiquing session, something we haven’t done for a while.  At the end of the session, I sent him my current manuscript.  He got back to me today.

     It looks like I’ll be surgically removing a few scenes.  I keep a file for each book where I stash rejected scenes, characters, dialogue.  One never knows if something from one book will work better in another one.

     Unlike some of my readers, my dear friend always kicks my ass.  He knows I can do better.  I do the same for him.  We don’t want the warm fuzzies from each other.  We want better writing.  We DEMAND better writing.

     Tonight I’ll tighten, tweak, slash and burn my book.  Odds-on I will bang my head on the keyboard more than a few times and shake my fist at my friend.  When I’m finished, I hope I can sail through to the end and produce an exceptional book that you all will enjoy.

     While I’m groaning, whining, screaming in frustration, and performing the needed surgery Dear Hubby will be watching TV pretending he doesn’t hear my complaints.  The pups will snooze in their favorite spots waiting for the tempest to pass.