Monday, September 20, 2010

Final Thoughts and Painful News


FINAL THOUGHTS:

I promised I would tell you the cool advice Robin gave me about plotting, so here it is.

She tries to end each chapter on either an emotional high (+), an emotional low (-), or a cliffhanger (*).

She makes sure she alternates these feelings to always keep her reader on their toes and actually marks them at the end of each chapter with the symbols above.

If she sees too many (-)s, she inserts a (*) or a (+).

COOl, huh? Try it!

PAINFUL NEWS:

I got BRACES yesterday! And, believe it or not, I asked for them for my 40th birthday (coming very soon). I just had no idea how painful they would be! I am in too much agony to really do a bunch of blogging, so I thought I'd leave you with some before and after pictures. These were taken before the insides of my cheeks were ravaged by spiky metal thumbtacks. Not to worry, I've gobbed enough wax inside my mouth to form candles, and I've purchased the mac daddy food processor and all kinds of special toothbrushes too. I plan on being the poster child for perfect brace care. Why? Cuz that's just how you roll when you're 39 and choose to get these things.

Does anyone remember their braces?

Toodles...

Oh. Remind me next time to powder my chin before photos. That sucker is beaming. Ick.

16 comments:

Joanna said...

Eek! Poor you!
Lots and lots of ice cream, Katie.

Carolina M. Valdez Schneider said...

Katie, we have so much in common! I had braces as an adult. You can totally do it! And I bet you're cute as ever. Just eat soft things for a bit, and keep that wax handy. Take Tylenol or ibuprofen--that seems to help. Adults have a harder time than kids, which stinks. But keep the end goal in mind. The time will fly, and at the end of this, you'll be so happy you did it.

And I love the plotting tips! I do the same thing--emotional hi or low or cliffhanger at the end of each chapter. I think it helps encourage the reader to keep going to the next chapter. Thanks for sharing the tips!

Kimberley Griffiths Little said...

I had braces as a kid and yes, they hurt! Good luck! And you are totally gorgeous even with a shiny chin! LoL!

Stephanie Perkins said...

(NOOOO!!! Blogger ate my comment. Trying again...)

Thank you for passing along that cool, intriguing tip! I'm going to try it!

And aaaaaack, I remember my mouth aching for a day after each appointment. I agree with the others — ibuprofen and soft foods help a lot! And the time WILL fly. :) I hope you feel better soon!!

Robin Lemke said...

Oh, I'm so sorry about the braces. I had them from 7th grade till 11th. It was miserable, and my husband just got them on because the 5th dentist told him that if he didn't all his teeth would fall out by the time he turned 60. So... he's in pain too, lots of it. I hope your teeth move at the speed of light!

lisa and laura said...

Too bad we don't live closer together. We're both miserable and eating loads of ice cream. We'd be perfect company!

Can't wait to see your brilliant new smile!!!! XOXO`

Robin Lemke said...

I was pretty surprised to find out that he had an overbite, because his teeth sort of angled back in to compensate, so when his teeth came together, he was actually sheering off part of his teeth and biting into his gums/soft pallet. That sounds like some guy in a shack with teeth coming sideways out of his cheek as I reread this, but I swear he looks normal! Anyway, they said his teeth would eventually all fall out, and his dad's basically did, so he was pretty nervous about it. And by the time the 5th dentist concurred, we decided to fix it, but he's been in all kinds of pain with the bite adjusting part of it.

storyqueen said...

You are a bit of a masochist, you know. First, you decide to completely rewrite your novel....then you ask for braces.....what's next? Are you planning to replace your mattress with shards of glass? Just kidding of course!

If I were there, I would make you a nice bowl of soup and some soft muffins. It will all be worth it in a few short months.

Take care, sub buddy!

Shelley

Yamile said...

Thanks for the plotting tip! I got braces last year, right before my 32nd birthday. I hate these things. Hate them. I'll have them off in a month, and the only reason I haven't already taken them off is because I too asked for them and because they actually work. But, who invented this implement of torture? What depraved mind? I feel for my kids who will start with the orthodontist in a few months. I hope you recover quickly and get used to them.

Sherrie Petersen said...

I wore braces for four years, starting in junior high. I got them off on photo day my sophomore year of high school :)

Elana Johnson said...

I love Robin's idea -- and I'm totally going to apply it to my WiP's.

Sorry about the braces. :(

lotusgirl said...

Cool idea. *sympathy milkshake for the braces*

Little Ms J said...

Hugs, flowers and baby food your way! I have never had braces, but I hate it when my mouth hurts, dental work, all of it... so I can't imagine.

Lola Sharp said...

You look great in both pictures, Katie.

Also, the pain will go away (until the next apt. when they add new wires) YOu won't even need the wax once you build up 'callouses'. (callousi? he he)

I'm still in Revision Hell...how about you?

Feel better.
Love,
Lola

Kelly H-Y said...

Great advice, and ... OUCH! I've been toying with doing the same thing ... but, after hearing about how awful they feel, I think I'll continue convincing myself that I should just leave my teeth alone! :-)

Kelly H-Y said...

By the way ... you can't even tell you have them on ... you look lovely!!

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