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Published Letters: 2203
Editor's Choice: 24
...is exactly how is a child supposed to really play with them? Given how expensive they and their accessories are, how would any parent feel at ease letting their kids haul a Samathan or Abby off to a mudpie-making session--or putting them in a wagon or automated truck for a ride-crash-and-burn? And if I were a kid, it would be a real buzzkill to have my parents constantly hovering over my shoulder warning me not to do this and this and this and this ad infinitum with said toy. Is it one of those situations where parents fuss so much over AGs that the kids just give up--leaving the parents to give a sigh of relief as they tuck the doll away safely as a collectable?
1) ...one of the best books on various writing fears and getting through them out there. My copy (which stays by my computer and writing space) has helped me through any number of hitches.
2) I'd recommend Panera instead of Starbucks for a writing refuge, however. For one thing, there's more space and comfortable seats/booths to work in; for another, the wireless is free. ;)
...getting a complete first draft down before letting anyone see it. As the excellent M. Lamott would note, a first draft is where you are still feeling your way and letting your story take shape. Criticism (or praise) at that point can throw you off your stride and mess up your focus. (As well, you have enough insecurities/fears to struggle with without adding other people's opinions to the mix just yet.) "Get it down--then fix it up" is writing advice that helped me immeasurably.
