tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post7022556299937233301..comments2024-03-29T09:55:28.798-04:00Comments on Jungle Red Writers: TWENTY REASONS WHY @LucyBurdette #amwriting #RedsonwritingJungle Red Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-81759307721431111112016-09-19T17:32:10.569-04:002016-09-19T17:32:10.569-04:00thanks Krista, it's always *some* help to hear...thanks Krista, it's always *some* help to hear other writers say they struggle with this plotting beast too (not that I wish that on you!)<br /><br />Lisa, thanks, yes. Therapists are obligated to tell the authorities when they believe the patient is a danger to him/herself or someone else. Of course making that judgement is not so easy in real life! And yes to the complicated backstory!!Lucy Burdette aka Roberta Isleibhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04660402177299546055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-82169473334563802072016-09-19T14:10:41.224-04:002016-09-19T14:10:41.224-04:00Roberta -- she knew her patient was planning to ki...Roberta -- she knew her patient was planning to kill someone and didn't notify the authorities -- can't therapists set aside confidentiality in cases like that? Aren't they supposed to? I do wonder about that--it's a lovely grey area that could be fun to explore. But then, the question would be: Why didn't she notify the authorities, and the answer to that could be something deep and dark in her backstory. :-)Lisa Alberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12591430453957883948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-74120225098274053802016-09-19T10:51:22.850-04:002016-09-19T10:51:22.850-04:00I totally agree with Hallie. Even though she broke...I totally agree with Hallie. Even though she broke the rules, it had to be for the very best reason. The kind of reason for which all of us would applaud her. It seems to me that psychologists would hear a lot of very deep dark secrets. Which one was so terrible that she acted on it, even though it was prohibited by the rules of ethics?<br /><br />Alternatively, someone could have used her, involved her in a scheme with a tragic outcome.<br /><br />And for the record, I have these problems, too. Every story has lots of arms, and I fear it's inevitable that as we write, we encounter one that we haven't thought through. I do a lot of pacing and get absolutely no sympathy. All I hear is, "You say that about every book!" Grr.Kristahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11002970043709820868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-33869655866903395702016-09-19T08:20:19.453-04:002016-09-19T08:20:19.453-04:00Anonymous, yes! that reasoning makes a lot of sens...Anonymous, yes! that reasoning makes a lot of sense. Now today I have to look at all the wonderful suggestions again and see if I can come up with a page that makes sense...stay tuned...Lucy Burdette aka Roberta Isleibhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04660402177299546055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-31005726896815825312016-09-19T04:00:39.692-04:002016-09-19T04:00:39.692-04:00Looking over your list, it seems to me the most us...Looking over your list, it seems to me the most usable choice would be number four. Most, if not all, of the rest make someone very unlikeable,due to the immorality or unethical nature of their actions. The inability of psychiatrists (or psychologists) to know which patients will do something harmful to themselves or others would seem to be pretty well-established by now. I could easily see a professional getting sued by parents who want to blame someone for what they themselves could not prevent. I could also see a responsible practitioner doubting their own abilities following an unexpected tragedy,especially if the psychologist believed they had a close relationship with the patient.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-62164068935982472002016-09-18T19:03:55.405-04:002016-09-18T19:03:55.405-04:00Sounds like you should turn that one back into the...Sounds like you should turn that one back into the library Deb!Lucy Burdette aka Roberta Isleibhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04660402177299546055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-8398292788727867632016-09-18T19:03:06.884-04:002016-09-18T19:03:06.884-04:00"to READ something that gives me pleasure&quo..."to READ something that gives me pleasure". Gee, Deb...<br /><br />Deb RomanoDeb Romanohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01650858888197217258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-49111007807235006622016-09-18T19:01:17.746-04:002016-09-18T19:01:17.746-04:00Roberta,
I don't like reading about unlikable...Roberta,<br /><br />I don't like reading about unlikable characters. In one series that I've been reading for a couple of years, there doesn't seem to be even one person that I would ever want to know. I've borrowed the latest book from the library and am about halfway through it. Everyone is annoying or unethical, and I have no desire to finish reading it. I usually feel like I have a contract with the author to finish reading each book. Now I'm telling myself that I can instead use that time to something that gives me pleasure! I'm sure you can make your psychologist likable!<br /><br />Deb RomanoDeb Romanohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01650858888197217258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-55515435124287924732016-09-18T15:09:10.380-04:002016-09-18T15:09:10.380-04:00thanks Deb R for those ideas...It's funny that...thanks Deb R for those ideas...It's funny that I'm concerned about her being likable--the characters in GONE GIRL sure weren't and that book sold a zillion copies! But I don't think I could live with characters like that...<br /><br />Grandma Cootie--thank you!!<br /><br />Daryl, love your ideas for jumpstarting--it's like I've never done this before, every time!<br /><br />and Kait, yes! what if this time we can't pull it off? but we will! good luck to youLucy Burdette aka Roberta Isleibhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04660402177299546055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-57455923643072058212016-09-18T13:10:18.725-04:002016-09-18T13:10:18.725-04:00Oh, I am so there right now. I keep asking myself ...Oh, I am so there right now. I keep asking myself who the heck did it and WHY! I like the query the plot point, can't do the write from the end, but the idea has a lot of appeal.<br /><br />Isn't it awful that even though it happens every time and you got through it, there's that tiny voice that keeps whispering, "But what if you don't this time?" URGH!!!!!! Picture me running with my hair on fire! I'm printing your post for the suggestions.Kaithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07758348842858993203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-52327501162932048382016-09-18T12:55:00.532-04:002016-09-18T12:55:00.532-04:00Love the books, Lucy/Roberta!
Love Hallie's i...Love the books, Lucy/Roberta!<br /><br />Love Hallie's idea that she did something for humane reasons.<br /><br />Hank is referring to the story "Framed" that was in the LA Times about this couple that maliciously framed a teacher because the teacher made their errant child stand outside when the child didn't return to class on time after recess. As it turned out, it was an oversight. The teacher didn't realize the child was outside. The mother/parent was furious and decided to plant drugs in the teacher's car and then ratted on her. The teacher had to do everything she could to prove she was innocent. The mother and father were both lawyers. The mother had actually written a novel about someone getting away with murder. And she was having an affair (the father was basically a patsy). Fascinating story.<br /><br />What if your character actually attended an event where someone "humanely" took the life of a patient but that isn't allowed in that state. Being a witness would probably make her lose a license, right? <br /><br />Wishing you lots of luck.<br /><br />AS FOR ME - yes, the muddy middle, it's called. My husband used to laugh every time I hit the muddy middle. I'm in it right now. What do I do? I sometimes jump to the end and write those scenes, just to ignite a fire. I often try to think what the killer might be doing right now - figure out his/her life. Sometimes I think about the B story or create a B, C, or D story just to have something "new" happening. That might all get tossed out, but it breaks the barrier and gets me involved again.<br /><br />~ Daryl<br />Daryl a.k.a. Averyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14382135011740742170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-61850444144495388672016-09-18T12:38:16.477-04:002016-09-18T12:38:16.477-04:00Yes, they are pretty! And have provided many hour...Yes, they are pretty! And have provided many hours of enjoyment. Thanks for sharing some of your process - we will wait (fairly) patiently until the next book is done!Grandma Cootiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10709540756822695170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-52655241915600262612016-09-18T12:29:47.168-04:002016-09-18T12:29:47.168-04:00Roberta/Lucy,
Maybe she was framed for something ...Roberta/Lucy,<br /><br />Maybe she was framed for something that resulted in the loss of her license, and she's trying to get her license/good reputation restored? I'm not sure readers would like a protagonist who actually committed a serious violation. If this were to be the beginning of a series maybe this could all be resolved in the first book; then in each additional book, she slowly tries to regain the trust of clients and other people who might be tempted to believe the allegations were true, and that she did something unethical to have her license restored?<br /><br />Deb RomanoDeb Romanohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01650858888197217258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-58584095182769058472016-09-18T12:08:16.680-04:002016-09-18T12:08:16.680-04:00that's good food for thought--thanks Ann!
Jen...that's good food for thought--thanks Ann!<br /><br />Jennifer and Hank, just read the article about the PTA lady who was stalked and framed. Yikes, that's a scary story!Lucy Burdette aka Roberta Isleibhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04660402177299546055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-55530239969516364902016-09-18T11:56:16.059-04:002016-09-18T11:56:16.059-04:00What if your psychologist was a free spirit, had a...What if your psychologist was a free spirit, had all the education and training, heart in the right place, etc., but felt it stultifying to go through the hoopla to ever get a license in the first place. Or maybe she did once, put in the 4000 hours of internship and all that, satisfying the licensure requirement for <br />California, but not she wants to move to another state and finds her license won't transfer. This is true by the way for a MFCC wanting to transfer her license to Oklahoma. No shit. She is not one whit less capable than before, is just in a different venue. What if she decides to practice but not take insurance, Medicare, Medicaid? What if she wants to practice pro bono? <br /><br />Seems easy, but there are a ton of laws out there that could prevent this, all the while letting her carry a concealed weapon. Pftt. There I go all political again.Ann in Rochesternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-32910344511792247712016-09-18T09:41:23.789-04:002016-09-18T09:41:23.789-04:00and ps Hallie, yes, boundaries are key...
and I a...and ps Hallie, yes, boundaries are key...<br /><br />and I am overwhelmed with all the great ideas! Thank you Nina, FChurch, Hank, Nikki, and Sal--so much here to chew on!<br /><br />And Jennifer, going to look at that story right now...<br /><br />A shelfie Edith--love that! Sounds like you had a wonderful and productive conference:)<br /><br />Lucy Burdette aka Roberta Isleibhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04660402177299546055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-13081642960920680502016-09-18T09:34:12.133-04:002016-09-18T09:34:12.133-04:00Coralee, thanks for the cheerleading and the ideas...Coralee, thanks for the cheerleading and the ideas. No Name Key sounds like a good choice, especially if she's getting away from something...Lucy Burdette aka Roberta Isleibhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04660402177299546055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-45173667563926988722016-09-18T09:32:17.424-04:002016-09-18T09:32:17.424-04:00Grace, thanks so much for commenting from New Orle...Grace, thanks so much for commenting from New Orleans! Isn't it interesting how every writer's process is different? And you see you are on the same wavelength as Hallie, although she's added the twist--maybe she did something wrong by the books, but morally and ethically she felt it was right!Lucy Burdette aka Roberta Isleibhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04660402177299546055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-55239028325636185742016-09-18T09:29:45.998-04:002016-09-18T09:29:45.998-04:00Joan--that's a good question! and a corollary,...Joan--that's a good question! and a corollary, why wouldn't she have known this? She must have a blind spot or she wouldn't be interesting, right?Lucy Burdette aka Roberta Isleibhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04660402177299546055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-77296762775808275892016-09-18T09:25:14.903-04:002016-09-18T09:25:14.903-04:00Hallie, this has nothing to do with today's to...Hallie, this has nothing to do with today's topic but is just for you. In today's edition of the NYT Book review, Paula Hawkins is interviewed in By the Book." The last question is:<br /><br />"If you could be friends with any author, dead or alive, who would it be?"<br /><br />Her answer is this:<br /><br />"Nora Ephron. Brilliant, funny, glamorous and a good cook"<br /><br />What a love note to your sister.Ann in Rochesternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-60032863801511365992016-09-18T09:21:19.545-04:002016-09-18T09:21:19.545-04:00That's called your Shelfie, Roberta! And it...That's called your Shelfie, Roberta! And it's a lovely one. <br /><br />Brain is too fried (a week of New Orleans and associated food and wine, plus days of non-stop talking...) to help you brainstorm, but I like Hallie's ideas. Edith Maxwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01388006370860482509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-78847979527562705532016-09-18T08:40:28.442-04:002016-09-18T08:40:28.442-04:00http://www.latimes.com/projects/la-me-framed/
Thi...http://www.latimes.com/projects/la-me-framed/<br /><br />This one, Hank? I saw that last week, and it's mind-boggling!<br /><br />Lucy, would something with identity theft work for your loss of license rationale?Jennifer Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14115866986637597240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-29233230370676691172016-09-18T08:28:01.858-04:002016-09-18T08:28:01.858-04:00Hi!! :-)
What if it was something totally not rel...Hi!! :-)<br /><br />What if it was something totally not related to her practice? Could she be suspended for 'getting arrested' as part of a rally for an environmental protest that was very important to her?Nikki Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05219387408705311781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-77014721034908417292016-09-18T08:19:23.960-04:002016-09-18T08:19:23.960-04:00I found a news article where a psychologist was su...I found a news article where a psychologist was suspended after a prostitute stole his laptop with his patients' personal information. There was more to it than That, but you can Google the story.<br /><br />What if your psychologist was mugged or had her car broken into and her laptop yadda yadda stolen. The psych board believes she should have had the info more secure and she negatively affected her patients' lives through her actions. They've suspended her license while they investigate.<br /><br />There are, of course, mitigating circumstances why she had all that data on her lap top. Perhaps even mitigating circumstances she can't talk about without harming someone else.Salhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03597301821068526313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-85722550049105576562016-09-18T08:17:41.007-04:002016-09-18T08:17:41.007-04:00We know you'll get where you need to be in the...We know you'll get where you need to be in the end--those 15 books are proof positive (and tell them to play nice!).<br /><br />What if she abandoned a patient and won't say why? And was she set up by this patient? How could something so far in the past hurt her now? Or is it? Is she imagining things? Does SHE need help? And how far and fast can she run? As far as Key West and No Name Key?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com