While my writing has been a little bit sporadic lately, which was expected for this time of year, I am closing in on the Renata chapters, which feels really good. I think the chapters I’ve written have been tight, and hopefully meaningful for the character. I have one chapter left, and it’s probably the most important of the set. It will completely set the stage for everything that follows it.

Since I’ve spent the last few months in Renata land, I have to say that I miss her counter-part, Ryan, immensely. I miss writing for him and as I suspected earlier, I really believe that he is the one that drives my story. Every now and again, I spend an hour or so going through the later part of my story that is already written to spend time with him and hear his voice in my head again.

Sometimes I fear that Renata is simply delusional in these beginning chapters, and that she completely self-absorbed. I think I’m so freaked out about keeping my word count low that I don’t afford her the time to be concerned about other people, which makes her come off as the most annoying friend ever. As I write this out, it occurs to me that I could definitely fit that into this final chapter I have to write. I could have her recognize at her rock bottom just how bad of a friend and sister she’s been. I could have her start to give a damn about what’s happening in every one else’s life.

Even though I have already written the Renata and Ryan’s first encounter and subsequent romance, I can’t wait for her to actually get there — meet him. Not because I just want to get passed this hurdle, but because I’m excited for her to experience it. It’s fun to write her story right now as she makes all these silly promises to herself that she will not keep, and for her to have no idea that Ryan is coming into her life, or that he even really exists for that matter. She only has the slightest hint of him, but that hint was meaningless at the time and it won’t occur to her for quite a while.

So after I finish this all important final chapter for Renata’s part, I get to write for just Ryan. He too will absolutely have no idea what’s about to happen in his life, or that Renata is coming. I’m so intrigued by writing this part. Since Ryan is going to be in LA, and he’s become a pretty famous guy in the meantime, I’m going to have to do some research, and a bit of celebrity gossip observation, to get an idea of what’s realistic for him. Ever since I gave up celebrity gossip for lent back in 2008, I don’t pay attention to it very much. I forgot just what the paparazzi cares about, and where exactly they like to strike. I will be honest and tell you that I’m not overly looking forward to going back to places like TMZ and the like. It just rubs me the wrong way, which I’m sure sounds odd considering one of my characters is supposed to be famous. Oh well, that’s how it goes I guess.

More than anything, I have to convey that Ryan is exhausted, paranoid, and lonely. And I’ve got to get him on that plane to London so he can meet Renata.

Speaking of London! I am going to London in September for a week. I’m thrilled about this because the majority of my story takes place there, and I so look forward to seeing things first hand. For example, I realized a month ago that I stupidly forgot about customs in my airport scene. I have Renata and Ryan unboarding an airplane, picking up bags, and getting in cars as if it was just some domestic flight. I’ve been through customs before in Ireland, Mexico, and obviously back in the states. I’m sure I could write it off like “They passed through Customs without any trouble,” or something, but I’d love to actually know what that experience is like, and sure enough I’m going to get to experience it and note it.

Hopefully, I can also get away to Oxford for one of those days, since part of my story takes place there as well. There are so many things that I’ll be able to observe and write about in such a better way now. I can’t wait!