Operation "Write a book" Update

As I mentioned in my previous post my friend Laura has been helping write a better story. This chick is GREAT and I'm soooooooo glad that God gave her the brain that He did. It works on a different level than most people's. (That's totally meant to be kind and NOT mean!) When I submit a chapter to her I get it back COVERED (and I mean COVERED!!!) in her handwriting. It triggers two reponses in me.
1.) Omgosh, that is a crap ton of work. I can't do this.
2.) Her wisecrack remarks make is laugh. I love love love to see my reader's reaction to things.

Its not even that her critque is mean, its just in depth. She's forced me to look at my story and characters deeper. I've had to gain a greater understanding of this worldview I've created. I knew I had holes in my story and she's helped flush them out. It is HARDwork!

Another thought... my characters have taken on their own life forms. My main character Sam now listens to music... as often as she can. She doesn't listen to any specific type, its whatever she's feeling at the moment. Sam's best friend Leigh (who Laura was dying for me to give her a flaw, any flaw) has become a very good liar. She does it with ease... and its not that she lies about petty things but more like how the CIA lies. National security depends on CIA lies and in my book, people's lives depend on Leigh's lying abilites. (This does not, what so ever, depict my best friend Heather, in which the character Leigh is based on. Heather couldn't and wouldn't fib her way out of a paperbag!)

I love writing. I always liked to write... but I've found that I love it. I love getting what's in my head out on paper. I can get home from a really bad day at work and type on my story. I will write and write and write until my brain says it had enough! When I'm done with the brain dump, I feel 100% better about my life. The ONLY other thing that does that for me is riding horses. Its very cool to discover these things about myself... and I'm 26! Anyway, stay with me and thanks for reading!! I love you all!