I love that concept. Because while much of life is routine and some stressful, it’s fantastic to think of it as just the necessary lull between the special times.
I absolutely have landmark moments in my personal life (e.g., getting engaged and then married, becoming a mother, receiving The Call, seeing my son hit a grand slam to win a playoff game), but recently I realized I have them in my writing, as well.
So allow me to introduce this week’s theme, where we discuss Favorite Lines in Our Books, and to talk about the perfect moment when I knew TOP TEN USES FOR AN UNWORN PROM DRESS was going to “work.”
I was newly signed with agent Nadia Cornier, and trying my best to find the right characters, the right opener, the right fit for PROM DRESS. I’d finally settled on opening that concluded with the main character throwing a pen at the hero's retreating figure.
Suddenly, I saw Rascal (the jerk who’d jilted her days before the prom) pick up the pen. My gut was she’d go all tongue-tied when he handed it to her because I knew she still had a crush on him and harbored secret fantasies of him crawling back.
Instead, they talked. After some discussion as to why she threw the pen, Rascal pounds his fist and offers to go “take care of” the hero for her. Again, I expected her to giggle and blush. Instead, she told him she didn’t want him to fight anyone for her. She added, “But I wouldn’t have a problem with you paying me back for my prom dress.”
I remember my heart thrashing. I realized that Nicolette was not so much the girl I’d been in high school, as the girl I wished I’d been. She wasn’t hindered by what people would say or think as long as her actions felt ethical and comfortable to her. I knew at that perfect moment that I had my direction, my characters, my book.
How about you? Have a perfect moment to share, either in your personal or professional lives?
What I’m Reading: The Secret Life of a Teenage Siren, Wendy Toliver
Tina
Tina Ferraro
How to Hook a Hottie - Spring 2008 Children’s Book Sense Pick
Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress - Finalist, 2008 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence
www.tinaferraro.com
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13 comments:
I remember your fav line, Tina. It's a great one!
I've had lots of special moments in my life but the most recent one was yesterday. My husband surprised me with a beautiful diamond necklace for my birthday. It takes quite a bit to pull one over on me but he definitely did it this year!
Great post, Tina...and I loved that line. I think I was on the train when I was reading the beginning chapters of your book and I hooted. Yes, people looked at me, so I held the book cover up. LOL!!
A diamond necklace, Steph!!! How fantastic!
And Marley, great locomotion promotion for me there--thanks!
Great moment, Tina! And I have to agree with Brad Pitt, I string together those moments and cherish them with my family.
I think my best moment in my career was my first sale and then having GG in my hands. It's one moment you never forget!
I remember that line, too. Even though I already knew it, you set up the line so well that when I read it I got goosebumps. Again. =)
My most recent perfect moment was better than a diamond necklace (sorry Steph). On Friday I tore open a package from my editor and pulled out two actual HARDCOVER COPIES OF OH.MY.GODS!!! My editor stuck in a note that said, "It's a real book now!!!" Boy is it.
Congrats on your copies, TLC. That is an awesome moment. :)
Kelly, hearing that you'd sold GG was a perfect moment for me, too! :)
And TLC, how fantastic that you're now having face-time with your hardcover! Woo-hoo!
Getting "the call" from my agent--coolest moment ever! :)
I'd have to say that the most special moments in my life are those that come upon me unexpected.
Janie
Great uplifting post, Tina.. Happy Birthday, Stephanie.
My greatest moment - Holding my baby daughter for the first time and watching her little eyes check me out.
Love that line, Tina!
As for special moments, Dona was there for the GH win. That was pretty awesome and surreal. It was when I first let myself believe I was gonna sell my book. Up until then, I believed in myself, but at that moment, I thought...the books are getting better, maybe it won't be too long now. So, yay! What a great inspiring post, Tina!
Jessica, yes, I can imagine getting The Call was a life changing moment!
Janie, I agree that the moments we least expect can be the sweetest.
Keri, there's nothing like holding your child for the first time!
And yes, Heather, winning the GH had to be a moment you'll never forget.
Thanks, all!
Yes, there are many special moments being strung together every day. I think of life as an adventure and thrive on the good stuff!
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