I don't have an update for you but, I do have some things to share. While the last few chapters were not as much as a labor as 13 it still took a lot of work because I honestly felt like I had no story left and seriously considered just ending it their like a TV show canceled mid-season.
I couldn't keep the adventure going so,I went back to what I knew which is the coming of age kind of fiction but, as I have said I don't think it will be this way forever. I have a lot of plots and things I want to do but, I can't honestly say I know how to end this I have everything but how this can end. I almost feel like this could only end if I wrote about what happened to every single character until the day they died. One of the things I realized was haltering me was I was making this Juliana's story again but, I realized once I let us go inside the head of Sawyer and Elisa , there was no way this could just be Juliana's story. These sections are really about aftermath and it's not just Juliana who has it but Sawyer too. In a way these chapters are about them looking for closure or trying to figure out how they fit back into their lives.
Inspiration
1. Funny story about Juliana buying the dress. It's based on a true story. I went online to Macy's.com to look for the prices and styles of swimsuits and I came across the dress by mistake and I knew I had to use it in the story. I saw it in an ad but, I wasn't able to find it in the online catalog so, that's why the picture is an ad.
2. Somebody mentioned that I had teenage boys down to a tee. I will say that I got a lot of research and inspiration from watching True Life : I'm In a Summer Share 2. I actually watched it twice and took notes because, I have honestly never lived that kind of life (wasn't much of a party girl) I hate writing a lot of underage drinking but, I guess we all know it happens. I myself was actually surprised by the culture that can exist on beaches, it seems like fun.
3. Not only do I Web Md a lot but, I also Wikipedia a lot and during a rousing game of wikipedia tag (or whatever it is called when you click on link after link in wikipedia until you get to a certain page) I came across an old movie called Baby Doll which is about a 19-Year Old girl who is a year into what I assume an arranged marriage to someone older.,I myslef have not seen all of it but, I saw a clip and have been basing Juliana's voice slightly off of Carroll Baker in this film, I also use Baby Doll (Carroll's character) as some inspiration for Julinana for her look of innocence just in the way she carries herself but, in reality she isn't at all.
I love your inspiration post Shawna, your research looks like it would be a lot of fun. Even though it's a homecoming dress I'm buying it.
ReplyDeleteWow, what a perfect voice for Juliana I certainly see it. It the Sicilian guy the one she marries ?
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed United Light and can't wait for your big announcement, will it be the 40 and fabulous post ?
The dress is darling ! Please don't cancel United Light without a season finale. LOL
ReplyDeleteI love the balance of story switching, it's like the Violet is the Epilouge but you're not Harry Potter'ing it. I don't know if you know what that means.
ReplyDeleteLook, we are posting together ! Isn't that fun. Well I'm posting while Jenny is watching me type away ! I went to buy that dress for my daughter's homecoming (she has a boyfriend (:) and it's so funny her Aunt had the same dress in her closet. Anywho I hope your big announcement comes up next. Just reading how those teen boys live makes me glad I only have daughters !!!!!
ReplyDeleteI love seeing how Juliana fits back into Elisa & Sawyers life, it's what I'm reading for.
ReplyDeleteI think we were all afraid of a cancel but would you say one could stop reading at the Violet font and have a gauge (sp ?) of your overall theme ?
ReplyDeleteMacy's.com > Juniors > Dresses and then you scroll down. I found it online before you posted, Did Juliana pay the full 89.99 for it ?
ReplyDeleteI'm interested in how Elisa being a Criminal Justice person feels about Sawyer's activities, I feel like she wants to say something but hasn't.
ReplyDeleteIs your big announcement going to be that United Light is canceled ? I'm so scared.
ReplyDeleteThat movie clip was perfect for the Juliana inspiration. Does Elisa have any aftermath. I would say her story is the most clean cut of the two main characters. Although Cortland is an interesting character.
It's weird I thought that the best thing for Juliana as the story went on was for her to be with her parents but maybe there is something else out there for her even if it isn't the most savory thing in the world.
ReplyDeleteI hate calling things but I'm guessing there is officially no Sawyer/Juliana
ReplyDeleteDoes Sawyer know how she got the money or does it not matter anymore ? I think Juliana should write a memoir and could make some big money.
ReplyDeleteI know he "thought" it but I hope Juliana finds out how much Sawyer cares about her, I bet they would be great friends.
ReplyDeleteLove Carroll Baker, she is so perfect for Juliana. I can't help but to LOL at you taking notes while watching TV but it really worked out.
ReplyDeleteI'm sensing the end, please cushion the blow ))):
ReplyDeleteI love post like these it's like seeing through the writing in a good way, since it can't all be visual. Was there any Inspire-pictur-ation for Flag ?
I like how coy Baby Doll (BTW, what the heck kinda name ?) is being with the guy in black, very intriguing. I can see that as how Juliana treats the "Johns"
ReplyDeleteI love Wikipedia Tag, I always play with Gatorade. Where 14 & 15 as hard as 13 ? I'm glad you didn't get all FOX on us Shawna
ReplyDeleteI finally caught up and I noticed that the dress is a violet color, hmmm.
ReplyDeleteCan we get some insight on how you find the music inspiration, I loved the choices for the last chapter. Or should I ask what phase of the writing process does it fit into.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteLinda-- I know, *sigh* I miss those days of homecoming. The dresses are so pretty nowadays! I love to share my inspiration.
Maylights -- No actually the story is about a girl who is in a love affair with her husbands main competitor (the sicilian) the other man is her husband. It's very steamy by 50's standards.
Laura -- I won't, I could never do that to myself no matter how tempting it would be to leave things up in the air for me to come back to in a few years.
Carleigh -- I am a nerd, I do know what it means. I get the same sense.
Jenny & Gabe P-- *waves* if anything looking at how teen boys makes me afraid for teen girls ! The dress is at Macy's, it's a bit young for me but, if anyone can pull that off it's your SIL.
Petite_B -- I'm glad but, I 'm not sure Juliana fits into their life.
Tabby -- I would say the good vs evil theme is over with in United Light but, it creeps back up occasionally.
Trichelle -- No, she paid 67.00, she got it on sale. Glad my descritption was good enough.
Harley-- Like in S&A, Elisa has a new perspective on life after being with UL and she is trying to be happier and not dwell on things she can't change.
Tina Roderick-- Yes, it definatley is (for now . . . ) Cortland is defintley interesting.
Lili_pad- I don't know what is best for her either but, she does have many options open to her.
HeapsofLace-- I know as much as you all do, nothing is ever official.
Tinkerbell-- He knows but it is in the back of his head. I don't see Juliana writing a memoir just yet. You actually gave me an idea . . .
Kandi -- I think he thinks she knows that already.
ReplyDeleteGCS_FTW-- I saw a recent inteview with Carroll Baker and was disappointed to hear she doesn't actually talk like that. If it helps once I was watching it online whilst taking notes.
Flag_Morton -- I have no idea why you are all obsessed with Flag, he was just a minor character. So, no there isn't an inspiration.
MakeMeLALA-- I think it is a nickname like in Dirty Dancing (RIP Sawyze). I know I could not believe how this was exactly what I was looking for when I found it.
SawLisa_Land -- 14&15 actually kind of came along nicely because I had a direction I wanted to go in. I need to give my chapters names because it is getting hard to memorize all the numbers.
Julie R-- No relation, I promise ! Just the universe telling me I am going in the right direction
BlueStars -- I'd love to, I'll make a post.
Thanks for the love !