To Blog or Not To Blog ... You Mean There's a Choice?!

Am I back? Sort of. I’m afraid to swear on Facebook and, with MySpace down the shitter, I needed a new forum for the CKR Diaries; the ride’s comin’ to an end – 2012’s around the corner! – and I don’t want y’all to miss out. Plus, I needed a place to blog because, as many of you can guess, my self esteem needs stroking. I’d do it myself, but…it’s not the same. You know how that goes.

If you’ll hang in there, I’ll do my best to post new material periodically between CKR stuff. I’ve gotta say, though, it’s been fun going through these old entries, remembering how messed up the beginning was (as if the middle has been any different). A lot happens in four years…I mean, FIVE years. Shit! Has it been 5 years since I started this damn book? Our daughter’s 17 now! I’ve seen Kid Rock 2 or 3 times since ‘06. Scott and I are heading out next weekend for our 4th Daytona 500. Where does the time go? (Can we blame Obama?)

Before I post anything else, I’d like to welcome those of you who are reading this drivel for the first time. I hope you find yourself comfortable here and learn quickly that your comments are important to me. They feed my soul (some might say my ego, but Mom taught me they’re just jealous) and give me a reason to keep doing this. I consider it a privilege to entertain you – know you are among friends.

I also need to thank (and kiss and hug and do obscene things to) all of you who, back in the day, read the Diaries as it all happened. We’ve been through a lot together. I hope things don’t end badly like last time, when you tossed my shit out the window onto the lawn, gave the dog to that weird neighbor who always scratched himself, and told the police it was me that…oh, oops…that was somebody else. Sorry.

Whoever you are, I hope I made you smile today. :) 

~ Dawn

CKR: May 2006, Part 1

(Continued from CKR: April 2006...)

MAY 2006

Tuesday, May 2, 2006

Started Chapter 22 today, the one where the main character (a.k.a. protagonist) drives to the concert and gets stopped by the police. I skipped a few chapters because I don’t know anything about radio stations and producing radio programs. My protagonist is a producer/writer and I’d like to include at least one scene where he’s on the job, possibly two, so I sent an email to the general manager of a local radio station, hoping I can at least see what a studio looks like and maybe get some insight as to what the hell my character does for a living. Plus, another interview means another Acknowledgement, which will help promotions once the book’s published.

BOOK NOTES:

A few years ago, I got arrested in Georgia while driving south on I-95. It’s a long story with twists and turns that I won’t bore you with, but the police scene in CKR—despite my changing the charges, the circumstances, and most everything else—hopefully gives an accurate portrayal of the anxiety I felt throughout the strange ordeal of being caught red-handed for something I didn’t mean to do, then discovering my license had been suspended three years earlier for doing something I didn’t know I’d done. Another “fun fact” about this chapter is that it’s the only one in the book that uses actual song lyrics and not merely titles. My thinking was this: If I get permission to use lyrics, I’ll keep them in; if I don’t, I’ll have only one chapter to edit.

Thursday, May 4, 2006

The Pens critiqued Chapters 3 and 4 tonight. Everyone’s in agreement that Chapter 3, as it’s written, has to go. It’s the one where the guys get stoned while driving to Orlando on Friday. The dialogue’s good, but there’s not enough action and men simply don’t talk that much—even when they’re high—so I need to break it up a bit, maybe have them pull over somewhere. Or stop for coffee. Or something. Randy’s read through Chapter 10 and he skimmed through the sex scenes. I told him, where the sex is concerned, I’m trying to walk the line between literature and porn. He says it’s a close call. Good! Kid Rock did a thing on the Showbiz Show with David Spade tonight (Comedy Central), but I missed it drinking with the Pens after the meeting. He supposedly spoofed his sex tape. He’s fucking everywhere! And I’m getting pissed that everybody keeps “stealing” my ideas. Like when I started writing Immortal and discovered Deadwood. I’d write a scene & they’d do one just like it. Or the CSI:Miami episode that had someone falling overboard without a trace. I know it’s just the “blue car syndrome,” where it seems like everyone is copying me, but this is getting ridiculous.

Friday, May 5, 2006

I’m still not sleeping well and, although I appreciate this “drive” thing, I don’t see how killing myself is going to help finish this book. After throwing-up my morning coffee (I’m really not healthy these days), I decided to ditch Friday housework & laundry today (say it with me: aaahhhhh) to edit Chapters 5 and 6, revise the strip club scene to change the song and include the second dancer, and put this Diary together. I’ve been racking my brain for weeks trying to think of a “blog” idea to help market and promote my stuff, but I don’t really know what a “blog” is and what the hell do I have to say that anyone else would be interested in? But then, what kind of question is that, considering my plan to write books for a living? Is that hypocritical? Or just fuckin’ stupid?

Saturday, May 6, 2006

I was at a dinner party with friends tonight, drinking, laughing, and shooting the shit, when I casually mentioned to our friend Chris that I was working on a book titled Chasing Kid Rock. I didn’t go into detail, but I did mention that, although the storyline has little to do with Kid Rock, I’m hoping, once it’s finished, that I can get the guy to at least read it and maybe endorse it or give me a blurb for the back cover or something. Now, because we’ve known Chris for several years, I forget that he’s an executive editor for a local nightlife magazine. So when he said, “Do you wanna meet him?”—like it’s no big thing to just make a couple calls and go hang out with Kid Rock—I was stunned. If I thought I couldn’t sleep before, it’ll be much worse now, because I’m armed with the knowledge that it really is possible for a housewife in South Florida to get to Kid Rock. What if the book’s not good enough? What if he doesn’t like it? I think I’m going to puke. Again.

Sunday, May 7, 2006

Scott and I sat on our patio until 2:30 last night (or would that be this morning?), talking about the book and what I hope to get out of it. Because my husband’s not a big reader—I joke all the time about his reading only Florida Sportsman and Fortune magazines and having zero interest in fiction—the fact that we discussed the book for a couple hours is amazing in and of itself. But he knows me better than anyone (sixteen years of marriage will do that), and, like me, he’s a Kid Rock fan, so he understands how deeply personal this project is and how passionate I am about it. He also knows that I know what I’m capable of. Of course I want a bestseller, what author doesn’t? Of course I want it to be well-written and funny and explicit and controversial and everything that Kid Rock is, but, at the end of the day, this book is really just a big “Thank You” note to express my gratitude for filling the last decade of my life with a kick-ass soundtrack. And for inspiring me to fast-forward through confidence and bravely embrace Cocky, because I know I’m good at what I do and “it ain’t braggin’…if you back it up.” If that makes me a groupie, so be it. And if I sell a million copies, even better. Fuck the critics and the people who will think I only wrote this book to make a buck. They have no idea what it’s like to be not merely inspired but driven. To lose sleep, skip meals, ignore family and friends, and let everything around me go to shit because I believe with everything I am that I can take this book where it needs to go. And, despite the obvious commercial possibilities, I’m doing it for only two people: the man who rattles my car speakers every day and the man who shares my bed every night. I wouldn’t be where I am without either one of them…and it’s payback time.

BOOK NOTES:

I guess I was about half-way through the manuscript draft when the first signs of my overactive ego shifted gears, but I only recently noticed. Within my writer’s group, we’ve debated whether or not a big ego is necessary for a writer, and there are people on both sides of the fence. I could blame Kid Rock for showing me how cocky’s done, but then who do I blame for all the times I was full of myself prior to 1998? Besides, I can’t help but think that this book needs a little arrogance in its promotion, maybe even in its creation. Would YOU buy a book titled Chasing Kid Rock if it was written by a housewife? I wouldn’t. That would be boring as hell. So, as I’m writing, I can’t think of myself as a housewife. I have to be a storyteller worthy of the challenge and confident that I can write this book better than anyone else. So, if you spot attitude in the book or in its promotion, now you’ll know why it’s there.

Monday, May 8, 2006

I’ve got some ideas rolling around for two new chapters that would become Chapters 1 and 2 and shift everything else up (which means the chapter numbers I’ve mentioned in this Diary will likely be different when the book’s in print). I need to get the main character’s description in early, plus the reader needs to like him—identify with him—and the way the book starts now, he seems like an ass (see, the Pens were right). I’m also thinking about adding a scene at the end where the protagonist hides in a bathroom and Kid Rock comes in to use the urinal. Just an idea. We’ll see if it flies. And, because I haven’t had the time to really put my writing head on (this wife and mother thing is seriously getting in the way of my writing career), I’ve started working on the book proposal, which consists of the “hook,” the target audience appeal, and a 3-page synopsis. I’m sure it will change when the Pens get hold of it, but here’s what the hook is now:

Despite a weekend full of sex, drugs, and NASCAR, radio show writer and producer Ted Seever can’t stop thinking about his wife’s unexpected request for a divorce. Should he take the advice of his two adulterous best friends and let her go? Or should he tuck his pride between his legs and try to win her back?

With only six chapters to go, I’m also growing more concerned with the publishing issue. I’m bound under contract to give the publisher of my first book the first crack at my next book, but I’m worried the small company won’t have the resources to take CKR where it needs to go. But, since my first priority is to finish the book, I’m trying not to think about it too much.

Tuesday, May 9, 2006

What the fuck was I thinking? I’m worried about my publisher discovering I have a “next” book that I’m contractually bound to give him, and then I put a diary together to market the book I don’t want him to know about and make plans to publish the diary as a “blog” on the Internet where my publisher can see exactly what I’m doing. God I’m an idiot! So, it’s square-one again. I’ll submit the book like I’m supposed to, see if he wants it, and if he does, then I guess I’ll let him have it. I’ll just make sure the contract allows me to sell the paperback rights in a timely fashion. And then, of course, there’s the movie….? (And I have the perfect opening song: Where U At Rock.) But on a happier note, I spat out the first six pages of the new first chapter. (I’m keeping the first sentence a surprise.)

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

Finished the new Chapters 1 and 2 today, which introduce the protagonist much better than the originals did. I think the Pens will approve. Unfortunately, adding the chapters at the beginning shifted all the chapters I’ve written up a couple numbers (meaning the old Chapter 1 is now Chapter 3, etc.). It wouldn’t be so bad if each chapter wasn’t a separate file named after the chapter. Once the book’s finished, it’ll all be combined into one file, but, for now, it’s a little confusing. I also counted the number of pages I have so far: 230. I’m shooting for 90,000 words, or roughly 330, double-spaced pages (using Times New Roman 12pt). But if I hit 80,000 words and feel the book’s complete, I’ll be okay with that. I am, after all, writing this for men who don’t read, so what’s a few thousand pages?

BOOK NOTES:

When I wrote the first draft of these chapters, I had no idea what the inside of a radio studio looked like, nor did I have a firm grasp of my characters’ responsibilities in his profession. But I plowed ahead, anyway, and will go back and edit after I’ve met with the radio station GM. (One of the benefits of writing a scene before you do an interview is that you’ve got a better idea of what specific questions to ask.)

CHAPTER CLIP:

There’s nothing duller than a fish story.

Thursday, May 11, 2006

Lately, I’ve been popping Zantacs like they’re Tic Tacs. My two cats, who usually stick to me like glue, have given up on me and started snuggling with Scott. This can’t be a good sign. But I keep reminding myself it’ll be worth it. Without time for “real” writing, I’ve been working on the Diary and some promotional ideas. I’ve also started making some notes to update my website (http://www.DawnScovill.com), which is about two years old, contains outdated material, and needs a facelift. Plus, I can feel the anxiety kicking in over hurricane season, which begins in only a few weeks.

Friday, May 12, 2006

I very rarely dream, but, last night, I dreamt that I bought two snakes at a pet shop, let them loose in my house, then worried constantly—frantically—that they’d eat my cats. I hate snakes. I woke up in a sweat, asking, “Why would I willingly create such chaos in my own house?” I’m thinking it’s time to take a Kid Rock break.

Saturday, May 13, 2006

No writing this Mother’s Day weekend. Scott called me from work yesterday and requested that I stop talking about Kid Rock and the possibility of meeting him. He’s taken his copy of the Live Trucker CD out of his truck. He thinks I’ve become an über-groupie. He has no idea. I tried to explain that I’m not planning to meet the guy. That, once I got my head out of the clouds, I realized all I need to do is get someone to whisper in his ear that this book exists. But Scott cut me off. Of course I’d like to meet my musical idol. Who wouldn’t? But writing is a business: you create a product, market it, and hope it sells. It’s just that this book has so much of Kid Rock in it, it wouldn’t be right—although it’s perfectly legal—to publish it without him seeing it first. I want him to see the book, not me. He’s got enough people climbing on him without some married-with-children Florida transplant from Rochester, Washington (population 1,829), getting in his face.

(to be continued...)

CKR: April 2006

(Continued from CKR: March 2006...)

APRIL 2006

Thursday, April 13, 2006

The Bloody Pens critiqued a revised Chapter 1 tonight and still found things they didn’t like. They keep asking for more detail, but I can’t help but think, “If I put all the detail in the first paragraph, why write the rest of the book?” But they’re always right—fuckin’ Pens!—so I guess it’s back to revisions.

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

I finally worked on new chapters today (15 & 16, which are set at the end of the race and in the truck on the ride back to Orlando). Since March 10, I’ve been revising and working on other things, but this book is constantly on my mind: lines of dialogue, clips of narrative, changes in character and setting. I’m having trouble with one of the main characters, Jimmy. I can picture him, I know what he does for a living, and I know he’s got a good marriage, but I’m struggling with who he “really” is. Is he genuine? Is he loyal? Is he confused? Or is he something else? Hopefully, I’ll figure it out before I get to the end of the book. Otherwise, if his character contributes nothing to the story, then I’ll have to go back and write him out.

               

BOOK NOTES:

I’m toying with whether or not to use an actual Daytona bar as the setting for one of the scenes. Right now, I don’t have any idea of the geography near the track, so I’m writing as if I know what I’m talking about. After the Pepsi 400 in July, I’ll go back and edit for authenticity.

CHAPTER CLIP:

Kicking around in the scant bit of litter outside the entrance gate, Ted had little hope of finding anything. So he wasn’t disappointed when he didn’t.

Thursday, April 20, 2006

The Pens made it through a revised revised Chapter 1 and, for the first time, Chapter 2. I took a beating for two solid hours. If that can’t crack a writer’s ego, I don’t know what will. But it’s obvious there’s something wrong with the beginning of the book, so maybe it’s time to think of another way to come at it. Right now, though, I’m too upset to even think about making changes. I might have felt better if we’d gone out for “refreshing beverages” after the meeting—I could have used a shot—but we went straight home. It’s not that the Pens are brutal, it’s that they’re honest, and sometimes honesty is hard to hear. Especially when you believe you’re holding a blockbuster novel in your hands and they tell you, “Your protagonist isn’t likeable,” among other things. What’s contributing to the difficulty, I think, is that I’m writing so far ahead. I’ve seen fifteen chapters and they’ve only seen two. Plus, it took me nearly half the book before I really knew my main character, and I haven’t edited the first chapters to reflect that. Fuckin’ Pens.

Monday, April 24, 2006

Instead of working on the book today, I was inspired by my last Pens meeting to write a short story for our group’s first collaborative effort, The Bloody Pens: An Anthology. It’s a humorous piece, appropriately titled “The Pens,” that hopefully captures the feeling of being critiqued by bloodthirsty writers while it illustrates what great friends we’ve become. (One of my favorite “quotes” from the short story is, “…I thought it in poor taste to show up at a writers’ meeting smelling of whiskey. I’ve since gotten over that.”) But there’s still a light at the end of the tunnel for the Kid Rock story, because one of the Pens—Randy, a guy who works in publishing—has agreed to read ahead of the group. Being the needy writer I am, always jonesing for feedback, I sent him the first four chapters. Hopefully Randy can catch-up quickly and help me figure out where I’ve gone wrong.

Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Kid Rock played himself tonight on CSI with Gary Sinise (CBS). It’s not a show I watch, but I tuned in, and now I’m thinking: if I don’t finish this book pretty soon, he’s going to get huge, he’s going to be everywhere, moreso than he is already, and I’ll be just another schmuck in the crowd with my hand raised, yelling “pick me, pick me for your next project.” And it hit me that I wasn’t merely “star-gazing” a couple months ago when I thought about contacting Kid Rock. I actually have to get this manuscript to him somehow. He’s not really IN the book (at least, not so much), but he’s a vital part of it. I absolutely want to write good fiction, but it seems I’ve also stumbled on a quest and am truly “chasing Kid Rock.” But isn’t that why I fought this idea in the beginning? What have I gotten myself into?

BOOK NOTES:

These chapters contain the scenes where the protagonist realizes his little world wasn’t what he thought it was. They also reveal the theme and foreshadow the end. In other words, I’m not coughing up much detail about this part.

CHAPTER CLIP:

“I doubt they’ve got anything gourmet coming out of the kitchen at this hour, but it doesn’t matter. I need something to soak up the alcohol I’m about to drink.”

Thursday, April 27, 2006

At the Pens meeting tonight, I brought them the short story I wrote on Monday instead of new book chapters. They loved it. We laughed so hard, some of us had tears rolling down our cheeks. Okay, maybe that was only me. But they liked it, and they didn’t change much, and that’s good because my confidence level is back up. Randy’s read the first seven chapters of CKR and he says I’m onto something big. I could have told him that, but I’m so tired—exhausted, malnourished—that I don’t have the strength. I can’t believe how hard this story is driving me.

(to be continued...)

CKR: March 2006

(Continued from CKR: February 2006, Part 2...)

MARCH 2006

Wednesday, March 1, 2006

Started Chapter 5, the strip club scene, and I’m wondering if I shouldn’t do some research. After all, I’ve NEVER been to a place like that. (Right.) If I talk to the guys who run the club down the street, I can acknowledge them in the book and maybe they’ll help with promotion when it’s finished. I wonder if any of the girls do a routine to Cowboy? Would it freak anybody out if I took notes? Maybe I should just stick to my imagination. But, I have to say, writing from a man’s point of view doesn’t get any easier when you stick him in a titty bar. What goes through a man’s mind? What goes through other regions of his body? Surely he’d feel something, even if he didn’t want to be there.

Thursday, March 2, 2006

I finally bought the new Kid Rock Live Trucker album. It’s been out for a few days, but I’ve been busy writing. I think I’ve heard it three times already, because I’ve spent so much time in the car. It’s everything I expected and then some. I also polished Chapter 1 today and brought it to my writer’s group for a critique. The Bloody Pens, of course, tore it to shreds, but liked the idea, despite knowing nothing about Kid Rock, and they agreed I should run with it. As if I could stop!

Wednesday, March 8, 2006

All I’ve done for days is write. No decent sleeping. No decent eating. And the chain smoking is getting to me. Five chapters in five days is overload. I feel obsessed. I need a shower and my twelve-year-old needs a mother, but I can’t seem to pull my head out long enough to tend to either one. To make matters worse, I worked on sex scenes today (Chapters 11 and 12), and Scott’s out of town on business. No matter what I write, I’ve gotta put myself in the scene, because if I can’t feel it as the writer, the reader won’t feel it either. Thank God for Duracell. (And, for clarification, the batteries come into play AFTER I've written the scene to combat the frustration, not BEFORE to get me in the mood.)

BOOK NOTES:

All the scenes in these chapters take place in Orlando, specifically Disney’s Pleasure Island, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, and Universal Studios. They’re touristy, I know, but I’ve always had a great time there, plus I thought it would be ironic to put these characters in family-oriented places, considering what they’re up to.

CHAPTER CLIP:

Ted couldn’t understand how his friends expected to pick up women with Annette Funicello smiling at them.

Friday, March 10, 2006

Worked on Chapters 13 and 14 the past couple of days, which are set at the Daytona 500, but it doesn’t look like I’ll be able to write much for a while. Too many family events and things coming up. But I’m thinking the break will be good for me. I haven’t taken Live Trucker out of the car’s CD player yet, nor do I see it happening any time soon. The music reminds me not to let this idea grow cold, because I believe in this story. I’m also finally getting to know the characters, which most writers can relate to as a turning point, because, once the characters become real, they almost write their own thoughts, actions, and dialogue. Think that’s strange? Then imagine a fictional character you know well, like Sherlock Holmes or Tony Soprano, and put them in a scene. Any scene. You’ve got a pretty good idea how they’d handle themselves, right? And the kinds of things they’d say? That’s because the writer did a fantastic job of revealing (developing) the character to you. The concept works the same for the writer as the story unfolds.

BOOK NOTES:

One of the most memorable things—for me—about the physical construction of Daytona’s grandstand is that, despite its height, the bleachers aren’t enclosed. And, since all the vending activity takes place beneath the bleachers, the guy standing in line at the beer counter (or the bathrooms, or the snack bar, etc.) can, at any moment, get drenched by something that spilled in the stands above him. It’s priceless.

Wednesday, March 15, 2006

Life’s been getting in the way a lot lately, and tonight the Pens critiqued other stuff, so I got no feedback on chapters from CKR. They’re still liking the idea though (I told them about the “Most Threesomes” idea and they loved it). And, since I can’t get my head into serious writing and because it’s never too early to plan ahead, I’ve started working on the Acknowledgements and filling in details on the outline. I know what the Dedication is going to be, too.

Friday, March 24, 2006

It’s the one-month anniversary of starting the book and I’m half-way there already. It took me over a year to write my first novel—of course, losing our roof in a hurricane was a lengthy distraction—so I can’t believe how quickly this is coming together. I’m expecting about thirty (30) chapters in all, which could change, but at this rate I’ll be finished in a couple of months. Maybe then I can get some sleep. How long can a person survive on coffee and cigarettes?

Saturday, March 25, 2006

We’re taking a much-needed break this weekend. I forget sometimes that I’m not the only one living in my house. Scott’s been frazzled at work lately and our daughter is starting to feel like an orphan. And then there’s our oldest, who’ll be turning twenty in a few weeks. He’s really getting the short end of the stick because he doesn’t live at home anymore, so he isn’t even afforded the luxury of staring at the backs of our heads while we work at our computers. So we’re canoeing the Peace River this weekend with a group of friends and sleeping in a tent for a couple of nights. Scott and I are hoping four cases of beer will be enough to get us through ‘til Monday.

Sunday, March 26, 2006

At the risk of minimizing my sincerity, I have to say something about the importance of good PR. (And Beth, if you’re reading this, please forgive me.) With beer in hand, I sat in a folding chair on a river bank all day today, chatting with someone I met only yesterday about books, writing, parenting, marriage, cats, and every other subject heading in the table of contents that is life. And I realized I had a fan. Not just a new friend, but an actual fan. It wasn’t my intention. She’s never even read any of my stuff. But she says she will and I believe her. And, if she likes it, she’ll tell someone else. Aside from my mother, I’ve never had a fan before, but I know it’s coming, and it’s a huge commitment with a lot of responsibility. If I put myself out there and try to be something I’m not, people—fans—will see through that. So how do I promote myself and my work without coming across as egotistical? And, from a PR standpoint, when should I be conscious of my public image and when should I be just me? But, considering I’m sleeping in a tent tonight, miles from “real” civilization, I figure I’ve answered my own question.

(to be continued...)

CKR: February 2006, Part 2

(Continued from CKR: February 2006, Part 1...)

Tuesday, February 21, 2006

It took forever to fall asleep last night, despite being home and in my own bed. The idea of writing a book with Kid Rock in it is enticing, but the tangent doesn’t seem practical. Immortal Bonds is a paranormal novel, so I should follow it up with another paranormal novel because I’m a new writer trying to establish myself. I’m also obligated by contract to give my publisher the first shot at my second book and he’s expecting a prequel, not a “groupie” manual. Plus, to be perfectly honest, I’m new at this and not at all ready to write a book with big potential. I’d rather get better first.

So I stared at the computer for hours today, trying to focus myself on my current project, but I can’t get this Kid Rock thing out of my head. It’s impossible to concentrate on anything else. How can I combine Kid Rock, Disney, NASCAR, Orlando, and Daytona? It most definitely couldn’t be a story about a married couple following a band around, because if I DO decide to write this book—whatever it is—it can’t be blah. It’s gotta be worthy, meaning “sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll” all the way. And it would have to “go Platinum” or it wouldn’t do Kid Rock justice. But how do you do all that and NOT look like a groupie? I’m forty-fucking-years-old for Christ’s sake. And I’m trying to be a serious writer. I didn’t mean to follow a rock star from Ft. Lauderdale to Daytona. I didn’t know he had a gig in Orlando. I didn’t know he was a friend of Tony Stewart’s, the driver of the orange #20 Home Depot Chevy Monte Carlo. I didn’t even know who Tony Stewart was before Sunday. (Okay, I’d heard of the guy, but still…) Why won’t this idea just go away?

Thursday, February 23, 2006

Working on the prequel is impossible and I haven’t slept well since we got back from Orlando. I fall asleep around two or three in the morning thinking something like, “What if a couple of friends went to the Daytona 500 and…,” then I wake up the next morning thinking, “on their way to Daytona, they could stop in Orlando and go to a bar,” then that thought leads to, “no, not a bar, a strip club,” and then I’m wide awake and thinking of nothing else but the story of two or three guys who’ve grown up together in South Florida. One of them, the main character, is going through a divorce. Wait, maybe his wife should ask for a divorce at the beginning? And he definitely doesn’t want the divorce. Should they have kids? It’s all still percolating in my mind, but I know one thing for certain: the main character has to be a guy. In order for the book to be worthy of the Kid Rock name, a few things have to be said and I can’t say them as a chick. I just have to figure out why the characters would go to Orlando and Daytona. Or if they even need to. (But, if everything happens for a reason, shouldn’t I weave in fact with fiction?) And I don’t want a coming-of-age story. Maybe something about friendship or relationships in general. But how much of Kid Rock should be in it? Should he be a character? Or would he simply be part of the storyline? And should I put his name in the title? Would I need permission? Can I use song lyrics? But, if I do need permission for stuff, how the hell am I—a housewife from South Florida—supposed to get to Kid Rock? I’m not even a published author yet (IB isn’t due out until October), so I would think that even my agent would have a hard time. This is a crazy idea, and one I’m not quite ready to share with anyone yet. So, at my writer’s group meeting tonight, I told The Bloody Pens all about our trip, but decided to keep the nagging story idea to myself for now.

Friday, February 24, 2006

Again no sleep last night, so, although I don’t normally write on Fridays, I started the story outline and the first two chapters of what I’ve decided to call “Chasing Kid Rock.” (As work progresses, I’ll share bits and pieces and inside info with you in BOOK NOTES and CHAPTER CLIP sections.) Hopefully putting something in writing will calm my restless mind tonight so I can get back to my real project. And, on another note, Scott’s buddy called today and said he had tickets to Daytona’s Pepsi 400 in July if we’re interested. Scott’s hooked now—I’ve created a monster—so I guess we’re going. (His things are fishing and NBA basketball, specifically the Miami Heat, and I’d prefer he not add another thing.) But I’m okay with going because I’d like to get a better look at the Daytona track and the surrounding area. Maybe take some notes, so, if I include the race in the book (and why wouldn’t I?), the scenes at the track will be more authentic.

BOOK NOTES:

The second chapter opens with the main character looking down at concert tickets he’s holding in his hand and the seat numbers came from my tickets to the Seminole Hard Rock show. The book will likely use a different venue, but I’m thinking very few readers will know the difference. As for the timeline, I had to fudge a little with the concert date to make the story work, so the events and coincidences that happen to the main character are slightly different than what happened to Scott and me.

CHAPTER CLIP:

He wasn’t as high as he could have been, but the look on his wife’s face said he was high enough. (First sentence of the first chapter—as of today.)

Sunday, February 26, 2006

I try not to write on weekends, but I finished Chapters 1 & 2 yesterday and started Chapter 3 today. I’m still working out the specifics, but I’ve got a pretty good idea what’s going to happen and how it ends. Basically, it’s the story of a guy who spends a long weekend with his two best friends, but he can’t enjoy it because his wife’s just asked for a divorce. From past experience, I’m sure the outline (and the dialogue, and the descriptions, and…) will change a hundred times before this is over. I’ve also gathered pictures and started short bios (birthdays, place of birth, height & weight, hair & eye color, etc.) for my three main characters: Ted, Alex, and Jimmy. To help with references, I cut and paste pictures from the Internet (magazines, newspapers, etc.) and start a bio page for each character. It’s a trick I learned from fellow writer & Bloody Pen, Graeme Johns, and it’s great for keeping info together, especially while I’m still getting acquainted with my characters.

BOOK NOTES:

I’m having a lot of fun with the dialogue between the three best friends, but it’s a challenge, considering I’m not a guy. And I’m tickled that I was able to use excerpts from a radio show script I’d written a couple years ago, which should be a lesson to all: Never throw anything out, even if you think you’ll never use it.

Monday, February 27, 2006

Having completely forsaken my IB prequel for now, I went to KidRock.com first thing this morning to get story ideas and a little background information on the guy I’ve named this book after. I didn’t join the fan club because I don’t think I’ll need that much detail and because I’M NOT A FUCKIN’ GROUPIE! I did, however, spend the entire day online searching for information on Kid Rock and NASCAR. I had no idea there were Kid Rock racecars. Even a Formula 1! They’re incredible. How awesome would a guy feel as a racing fan to see his picture on the side of a car? And the more I learn about Tony Stewart, the more I like him.

Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Started Chapter 4 today, but, despite making considerable progress, I’m still not sleeping well. Immortal Bonds didn’t give me this much trouble. My children didn’t give me this much trouble. Okay, that’s a lie, but I really need some fuckin’ rest.

(to be continued...)

CKR: February 2006, Part 1

(Continued from CKR: An Introduction...)

FEBRUARY 2006

Thursday, February 16, 2006
Being the undeniable fans we are, my hubby Scott and I saw Kid Rock in concert tonight at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, Florida—near Fort Lauderdale. Kenny O., Jason, Jimmie, and Stefanie (of the Twisted Brown Trucker band) were with him. We’d seen them play before with Aerosmith in West Palm and with Joe C. in Fort Lauderdale. Traffic sucked, so we walked into the concert hall an hour after the show started. We have no idea who opened. Fortunately, Kid Rock made his entrance just as we located our seats, which were okay, but I would like to have been closer. As expected, the concert kicked ass!

Friday, February 17, 2006
Scott’s birthday is January 17—honest—and my gift to him this year was a travel package for the two of us to see the Daytona 500, because he’s always wanted to go. I booked the trip in October, before we knew Kid Rock was coming to town. (The day I bought the concert tickets, Scott didn’t know I’d planned a weekend away, but the timing was perfect.) Anyway, the morning after the concert, we packed up for our four-day weekend and drove to our Orlando hotel. On the highway, we passed a black and smoke-gray bus with the same Made In Detroit logo we’d seen at the concert last night. We suspected it was Kid Rock’s tour bus, so we jokingly cranked the music up and gave a brief wave (with the windows UP because we’re not teenagers). I think we were listening to Early Mornin’ Stoned Pimp at the time, but it could have been anything. We checked into our hotel—where I was amused at the Mickey Mouse bedspreads—had dinner, then occupied ourselves at Pleasure Island until one or two o’clock in the morning. Some out-of-town friends called while we were there to invite us to meet them the following night for drinks.

Saturday, February 18, 2006
We spent the day at Epcot—in eighty-degree weather—still amused at passing Kid Rock’s tour bus the day after his concert. (I realize the guy’s gotta get to the next show, but what are the odds?) When our friends called to ask if we still wanted to meet up for drinks, we told them we’d decided not to go because we were tired and the Daytona shuttle leaves at six in the morning. Knowing what big fans we are, they tempted us by saying, “your boy Kid Rock’s playing there tonight.” We still declined, but now we’re getting a little freaked by the coincidences.

Sunday, February 19, 2006
Neither of us follow NASCAR, but our first Daytona 500 was really cool. Both figuratively and literally. In the gift shop—where we bought sweatshirts to replace the ones we left at the hotel because it was hot yesterday—I noticed a paperback book display near the register. It was a work of fiction, but had something to do with NASCAR racing, so I made a mental note to think of venue ideas for marketing Immortal Bonds, my first novel, in a similar fashion (i.e., approaching venues mentioned in the book to help sell it). We wandered the grounds, marveled at the garages, the pits, and the fans. I normally take notes everywhere I go (yes, it’s nerdy, but you never know), but I assumed I’d never be back again, so I just tried to take it all in. Then we spotted a few roadies near the hot dog stand (it’s a dead giveaway when you look like a biker and your leather jacket has KID ROCK embroidered on the back). Later, after we’d returned to our seats in the stands, the track announcer mentioned that racer Tony Stewart was hanging out before the race with his buddy Kid Rock. This truly is bizarre.

Monday, February 20, 2006
Scott and I talked about the trip for the entire three-hour-drive home. Never turned the stereo on. We’ve been chasing Kid Rock for four days, in four different cities, and—although it was coincidental and not intentional—I can’t help but feel like a groupie. But, I’m a firm believer in the saying, “Everything happens for a reason,” and we both agree there’s a book here somewhere. Unfortunately, I’m already working on the prequel for Immortal Bonds (I’ve got the outline and the first drafts of the Prologue and Chapter 1), so I don’t want to start another project...

(to be continued...)

CKR: An Introduction

Of all the questions readers ask authors, two of the most frequent are: (1) Where did you get the idea for your story? and (2) How long did it take to write? In an attempt to answer those questions—and maybe a few others—I created this Diary.

What follows is an ongoing account of an adult fiction novel I wrote titled Chasing Kid Rock, or CKR. If you’re an aspiring author or a Kid Rock fan, or if you’ve enjoyed my other stuff, then read on. But be forewarned: I might come dangerously close at times to revealing too much of the story and I’m bound to say the f-word at least once...okay, more than once.

(And if that offends you--or IF YOU'RE UNDER 18--hit your BACK button…now.)

If you think you can handle it, I thank you in advance from the bottom of my heart and sincerely hope you find this entertaining as well as helpful. To start the ride from the beginning and follow entries in order, click HERE, then use the directional buttons in the window's upper left corner. Or start wherever you want -- I'm just tickled as shit you're here.

There are some who would say I’m crazy for putting this out there. What if another writer steals my idea and gets to the bookshelves before I do? But you and I both know that won’t happen because you’re an honest person and I can trust you.

Besides, nobody can write this book like I can.

So why worry?

-- Dawn