PRESSURE? My FOOT!

My wife showed me a swollen portion of her right big toe.

“It’s a bunion,” she said, as if it was no big deal. “I’m having it operated on. Day surgery.”

When I picked her up hours later, I could tell even the smallest of smiles wasn’t easy. When those in the medical profession find themselves on the other side of things, it’s tough on them.

“I’m to stay off it,” she said, trying to put on a brave face, “for a minimum of three weeks.”

Here’s what she went through. Under a local nerve block, the doc peeled back the skin and chopped off the bump. It was secured with little nails and the skin pulled back into place.

A portion of the foot was wrapped in a cast to keep it immobile. She was told not to walk on it.

Author’s comment: Rosanne decided what was best for her and put her foot down. The injured one. No one’s going to tell her what to do. She’s a registered nurse after all.

TRY IT ANYWAY

You might have thought of writing a book. Or maybe not that often. Then an idea pops into your head and you can’t wait to get it down for real.

That’s almost the easy part, finishing the first draft of a novel, The hard part comes in the many drafts it will take before it’s polished enough to catch a publisher’s attention.

Even more important is deciding to write a second one. Can I do it? Or was the first one a fluke? Knowing the time it takes, the next two years or so to come up with a finished product is daunting enough.

Then it hits you. Why not turn it into a screenplay as well? If you want a producer to read it, make it no longer than 105 pages.

Turning a published novel into a screenplay is a different style of writing. You’re a writer, what does it matter?

Dialogue carries the screenplay. You’d better get to know your characters inside out and not rely on description to carry the plot. The characters themselves do all the work.

Author’s comment: Take a bold step and write both. Book, screenplay. Think of it. Would your latest effort as a book lend itself to film? It’s a different kettle of fish, but worth the effort.