Thoughts...

It's 1:34am and I've been writing for about 6 hours now, although I did take a short break to watch Spooks (MI-5 in America) Series 1, Episodes 1 & 2 (fast-forwarding through the non-Tom Quinn parts). Now I'm happy :-)

I've revised the first 30 pages and have had some disappointments about things I really liked that had to be cut, but it's going well anyway.

I play in an orchestra in the summers and we do 2 concerts - I think I've decided not to play the first concert, which is July 8th. It's all Bizet this concert (blech). I blew off rehearsal tonight to go home and write. Much more enjoyable than Bizet (blech). I should play though, because I only get to play in the summer and I miss it the rest of the year. I just wish we played better music. It's always patriotic, cheesey, crappy stuff like Bizet. What to do, what to do?

I've decided to include some character sketches as teasers for the book in my blogs. The first is the female main character:

Elizabeth Jane Hennessey, 22
Prodigy, cello
Attended Bev Hills schools, auditioned and accepted to LACHSA music department in 9th grade, where she was valedictorian.
Began playing cello at age 6 after 2 years of begging. Was at concerto level at age 10.
First solo performance at 12. First solo recital at 14.

Auditioned and accepted into American Youth Philharmonic (not a real group) (for 14-22) at 11, principal (youngest ever) at 16.
Auditioned and accepted into music conservatories all over the US. Intended to go to Curtis.

Is a creative writing major at Ralston University (not a real school). Her mother wouldn't pay for her college if she majored in music.
Had an ear infection at age 3, her mother beat her until she passed out so she’d be quiet, but she doesn’t remember it. That was the first beating of many.
First kiss was at age 13 behind a tree at Horace Mann. Didn’t kiss another boy until she kissed Ian, whom she met at LACHSA. Didn’t like Ian in 9th or 10th grade, but he won her over at the beginning of 11th grade and she kissed him first at a school dance. The next day, he bought her a chocolate rose from 7-11 and they were “going steady”.

When Elizabeth tried to explain to her mother what it felt like to play in an orchestra, her mother told her she should seek help for her addiction and wantonness.
Dating Chris O'Neil (the 2nd violinist in her quartet), but is in love with Jack Franklin (the 1st violinist in her quartet), who is Chris's best friend.