Me n’ Joan Wilder
Oct 24th 2007
Suzanne EnochOn Writing!
Sunday I finished the book I’ve been working on for the past 3 ˝ months. As I was writing the “I will love you forever” scene, I started crying. I do this frequently while I’m writing – in fact, that’s how I know when I’ve hit the level of emotional resonance I’m looking for. I cry. But since this particular moment coincided with the end of the story, I sat back and wiped my eyes and thought “hey, I’m Joan Wilder”.
You remember Joan. At the beginning of the movie Romancing the Stone she finishes up her book with Angelina and Jessie, sits back crying, and then goes looking for tissues and drinks one of those airline bottles of booze.
I had tissues, and I drove through Carl’s Jr. for a strawberry shake in lieu of the alcoholic beverage, but I still felt like Joan Wilder. I’d finished my book, sent Phin and Alyse metaphorically riding into the sunset, and then I celebrated. And wiped my nose.
Today of course I have to dive back into the book and do some revisions, tighten it up and get it ready for my editor to look at. And I used a computer, rather than a typewriter. But that’s all just silly reality intruding. For those few minutes, I was Joan Wilder. And I loved it.
Have you every had one of those moments, where you become a heroine or a hero from a book or a movie? Where you catch yourself in a moment of doing or saying something one of them did, and you think “hey, I’m______”? Who have you been?
53 Comments »
53 Responses to “Me n’ Joan Wilder”
Ellen on 24 Oct 2007 at 6:21 am #
It’s too early in the morning. The only character I can think of is someone I could NEVER be.
Remember the scene in “The Way We Were” when Robert Redford (young & sexy) was making love to Barbara Streisand? She just laid there like a corpse, her inner dialog screaming, (New Yauwk accent) “Oh Hubble, Hurry up! And watch the hair and make-up, Bubbala. It took two paint sprayers and a steam iron to get this look!”
Ellen on 24 Oct 2007 at 6:25 am #
When I’m driving, I do fantasize about being Sonny Corleone in Godfather One. I am especially drawn to the brother in law beating scene. Many times I envision beating the hell out of a bad driver with the top of a metal garbage can.
Karen Rose on 24 Oct 2007 at 7:23 am #
Ellen, you scare me. Maybe you should be writing romantic suspense?
Remember Frank, from TV’s Murphy Brown? (Go back a few years with me, here, people.) There was one episode where everything in his life was going well and he was terrified. Finally Murphy pressed him on it and he said, “It’s not okay to be happy. It’s like giving God the go-ahead to drop the other shoe.” In my case, a case of shoes. Frank picked it up from his mother, a card-carrying worrywart.
I’m a worrier and I’m darn good at it. If things start going too well, I look for things to worry about. On those days, I feel just like Frank.
Karen Hawkins on 24 Oct 2007 at 7:24 am #
Ellen Corelone, remind me not to bother you before you’ve had your morning coffee.
I was in NY and had to jump from a ferry onto a pier (I was late disembarking and managed to land rather gracefully if I say so myself), and as my feet hit the pier I thought “Hey! I’m Indiana Jones!”
Karen Rose on 24 Oct 2007 at 7:25 am #
Oh, and thanks a lot, Juzie. I have a stupid limerick running through my head about Einstein’s relativity today and it’s all your fault. I have no idea where I heard it, but I’m giving it back to you, Juzie Floozy, dear, so it can clutter your mind for a while, too.
There once was a woman named Bright
Whose speed was far faster than light
She set out one day
In a relative way
And returned home the previous night.
This is what happens when nerds start to think in limericks, people. Protect your children from the dreaded nerd plague!! Boycott pocket protectors today!
If I don’t get my pages done today, it will be all your fault. That’s the story I’m stickin’ to, anyway.
Lisa H on 24 Oct 2007 at 7:41 am #
Suzanne,
When I was writing a highly sexually charged scene in my novel, I could feel the longing for my hero and felt exactly like Joan Wilder! BTW I love Romancing the Stone, in fact I named my son Jesse as a result of that very first scene!
doglady on 24 Oct 2007 at 8:24 am #
Ooh, I love Romancing the Stone! While I have cried a bit while writing some scenes more often than not I want to smack my hero and heroine for being so stupid. Before my brothers built my lovely new porch, the one I had was basically a pile of wood with a few nails shoved in it. I think it was built by beavers on crack. One night I came home, pitch dark, porch light out. I started up the steps with a 25 lb bag of dog food on my shoulder. Just as I reached the porch I heard a loud crack. I saw the porch undulate. It started shifting like an ocean. I ran across to reach the door. More cracking. I put my key in the door and turned it. The whole porch pulls away from the house taking me with it. I shove the door open, throw the dog food in, grab the door and swing myself inside. Now THAT is Indiana Jones!! Needless to say I got on the phone, called my brothers, related this story complete with colorful expletives and the next weekend I had a new porch.
Ellen on 24 Oct 2007 at 8:41 am #
Let me get this straight….I scare the author of “Die For Me?” Yeah Right! You create villains that have me showering with an open curtain and I scare you? I think I’ll leave romantic suspense writing to the Master.
I’m also on the same page with you about the limericks.. (Einstein’s cracked me up) We need to get back at Juzie for destroying our brain cells. For the rest of the night, I kept hearing that pattern of limerick in my head.
Da dada da dada da dadda
Da dada da dada da da
Da dada da da
Da dada da da
Da dada da dada da dada
OMG! Now my brain morphed into that Sesame Street Song, “Da Daa Da Da Da…Da Da Da Daaa
It’s gonna be a long day.
cail on 24 Oct 2007 at 8:48 am #
i constantly feel like a character in office space.
Ellen on 24 Oct 2007 at 8:49 am #
Once I had a very bad day and the world had worn down my last nerve. Not wanting to take it out on my family, I went into my bedroom to collect myself in the dark.
Concerned, My husband came in and flipped on the light to check on me.
He immediately turned the light back off and left the room Later He said I looked like Glen Close in Fatal Attraction. (Where she sat by the window clicking the light on and off.)
It was a really bad day.
SuzyQ on 24 Oct 2007 at 8:51 am #
While snorkeling in Hawaii an eel swam right under me. The only thing I could think of was being in the movie The Deep. Granted, I wasn’t swimming in a t-shirt, and the eel wasn’t that big, but still that’s all I could think of.
Ellen on 24 Oct 2007 at 9:30 am #
Why do I always laugh when someone says “The eel wasn’t that big?”
claudia dain on 24 Oct 2007 at 9:43 am #
I feel like Joan Wilder all the time, especially when writing the end of a book. Isn’t that how it’s supposed to be? *G* And, Suzie, I’m with you all the way on The Drink of Celebration. A milk shake beats a shot of liquor, hands down.
Ellen, I’m LOL about the Streisand/Redford scene. I can’t remember how old I was when I first saw that movie, but I remember thinking that she was an idiot. Here she has the guy exactly where she wants him after YEARS of effort and she’s worried about her hair?
TSTL.
Maybe the eel wasn’t that big?
Gannon on 24 Oct 2007 at 10:37 am #
I love Romancing The Stone!!
Every time we take a family vacation, I joke and say that we should change our name to the Griswolds!
Suzanne Enoch on 24 Oct 2007 at 10:45 am #
Whenever I’m changing lanes on the freeway I’m Luke Skywalker, diving into the Death Star trench and navigating past all those laser towers. It makes traffic much more fun. *g*
Lisa H on 24 Oct 2007 at 11:37 am #
On “The Way we Were”
Perhaps if Barbara had Captain Jack Sparrow passionately making love to her, there would be no thought of hair and make-up. I don’t know this for a fact, but I am guessing there would be no disappointment with Jack’s eel? Savvy Mate?
Lisa H on 24 Oct 2007 at 11:38 am #
Suzanne,
What is your new book about? Is it a historical?
Lisa H on 24 Oct 2007 at 11:40 am #
Doglady Jones—the only thing that would have made you more like Indie would have been if you pulled out your pistol and shot a hole through the lock in the door!
Karen Hawkins on 24 Oct 2007 at 11:49 am #
If she has ability to think at all, then we all know the eel wasn’t that big.
doglady, thank GOODNESS your brothers came to fix that porch! Or what was left of it! That could have been a baaaad accident!
Suzanne Enoch on 24 Oct 2007 at 12:03 pm #
Yes, Lisa H, the new one’s a historical. Two in a row, in fact — July & August releases.
And I agree with KarenH, Doglady Jones. Close call! You weren’t wearing a fedora by any chance, were you?
colinfirthfan on 24 Oct 2007 at 12:13 pm #
I was snorkeling in Hawaii and reached the end of hte reef - there was a 50 or 100 foot drop off and I could feel cold water - I felt like one of the swimmers from Jaws. I rushed back to the reef and the more benign looking fishies!
Sometimes when I am swimming I feel like the Little Mermaid.
SuzanneE, are you affected at all by the wildfires in SoCal?
My cousin in San Diego was evacuated but they let them go back yesterday and their house is still standing!
A lot of the firefighters from here, the Bay Area, have come down to help!
Ellen on 24 Oct 2007 at 12:26 pm #
Do you know what Barbara Streisand said when she met Jack Sparrow’s Big eel?
“Bubbala…Memories may be beautiful, and yet, what’s too painful to remember…
We simply choose to forget. So put that huge eel away and watch out for the manicure.”
Ellen on 24 Oct 2007 at 12:28 pm #
Instead of Little Mermaid, swimming usually brings “Free Willie” to mind
Suzanne Enoch on 24 Oct 2007 at 12:37 pm #
Colinfirthfan, I’m definitely getting smoke and wind, but the house is about 12 miles from the nearest fire. It’s been terrible to watch on TV, though. I’m so glad your cousin’s house survived!
colinfirthfan on 24 Oct 2007 at 12:47 pm #
lol Ellen! Free Willy is probably more accurate.
Ellen, I frequently fantasize about being one of those Wild West heroes with super accurate aim, though I’d be riding a car instead of a horse. I want to shoot out the tires of various in-duh-viduals who shouldn’t be driving!!
Suzanne, glad to know that you are safe. 12 miles is pretty close!
Karen Rose on 24 Oct 2007 at 12:48 pm #
Is someone comparing Captain Jack to Robert Redford in his prime? I must protest.
Suzanne - I wish I felt more like my heroines or coordinated like KarenH’s Indiana Jones. I would have ended up in the NY water trying to do a stunt like that. Sadly, I’ve never seen Romancing the Stone. I think I’m the only living romance writer who has not. I’ll rent it when my book is done.
Congratulations on finishing your manuscript! Did you finish early because of your bet with KarenH? If so, I need to bet her something!
Lisa H on 24 Oct 2007 at 12:51 pm #
Oh Suzanne, I love when two books come out close together! I enjoy your work so much, this gives me something wonderful to look forward to next summer.
We have friends who were evacuated yesterday…I worry about everyone in CA, especially the firefighters who risk their lives.
Stay safe! Let us know how its going.
Ellen on 24 Oct 2007 at 12:54 pm #
My thoughts and prayers are with everyone dealing with the fires in CA
Lisa H on 24 Oct 2007 at 12:55 pm #
Ellen- Barbara is not woman enough to handle a man like my Johnny. I on the other hand, would know exactly what to do with a swarthy man like him…
The only thing I’d be thinking of doing with my manicure would be to rake it down his lean, tanned backside…and don’t get me started on those liquid chocolate eyes that melt me with a glance…sometimes I have to look away, he is sooooo beautiful.
Who do you like Ellen?
Lisa H on 24 Oct 2007 at 1:00 pm #
You guys are going to get sick of me today… I just feel like posting…
Another wonderful movie about a female writer is Under the Tuscan Sun. It is one of my most favorite movies and it always makes me cry. It has so many great moments, with a nicely layered happily ever after.
I really love the relationships she develops with her contractors who only speak Polish.
Are there any other good movies about female writers I should be aware of?
Suzanne Enoch on 24 Oct 2007 at 1:10 pm #
Thank you, Lisa H — I love having back-to-back releases. But hey, I’ll have to fight you for Captain Jack.
And yes, KarenR — KarenH and her insidious lies about her page count did spur me to get going. I wrote 93 pages during the week of the blog challenge.
I was listening to the news yesterday and one of the commentators kept using a word wrong — I was thinking the Enigo Montoya line “Are you sure that word means what you think it means?” I do that ALL the time.
cail on 24 Oct 2007 at 1:14 pm #
Lisa, i LOVE under the tuscan sun.
i love how she finds her niche there. i’ll have to go rustle through my DVDs and find it and watch it this week.
Ellen on 24 Oct 2007 at 1:20 pm #
I never get sick of you Lisa. Your blogs are ALWAYS right on point. We all seem to take turns being the talkative one and that’s the way it should be. Poor Karen and I are still having Limerick Flashbacks from yesterday.
Hmmm…Who do I like? I guess you could say it’s always the big eel. I mean the big guy. (hehe) Seriously, I don’t care how beautiful your face is, I like my guys tall. Short men just don’t do it for me.
Exceptions to My Rule (OR Men so damn good looking I don’t mind getting on my knees….er…um…I truly meant, get on my knees to help them look taller…Bless me Father. It has been three weeks since my last confession)
Paul Newman (in his prime)
Robert Redford (in his prime)
Antonio Bandaros (before Melanie)
David Cassidy (Yes I know all the words to “I think I love You.”)
Sometimes their faces fill the screen with beauty and make me forget all rules.
SuzyQ on 24 Oct 2007 at 1:23 pm #
One mention of an eel, and look what happens! LOL!
SuzyQ on 24 Oct 2007 at 1:25 pm #
Suzie - glad to hear you are all right. I was watching the fires last night on the news. My heart goes out to all those people.
Kim on 24 Oct 2007 at 1:41 pm #
I regularly feel like Piper from Charmed:D When I get ticked I wish I could shot a ball of fire out of my hand and vaporize someone. But that’s just me;)
Lisa H on 24 Oct 2007 at 1:45 pm #
Paul Newman and Antonio Bandaras are definitely FROs worthy. I agree with you on the tall issue, in fact at 5′10″, my Johnny is a bit on the short side, but, for him, I’d wear flats.
I am sorry, I seem to have a way of turning all topics back to Captain Jack—its just that he is sooo perfect!
Ellen on 24 Oct 2007 at 1:47 pm #
Burning Balls. uh, I think I’ll leave that one alone. Got my hands full with the big eel.
(Sheeesh…there’s a sentence I’d never imagined writing.)
Lisa H on 24 Oct 2007 at 2:07 pm #
I am so ashamed of myself, these are exactly the kinds of conversations I had when I was about 14 years old. Burning balls and big eels are just funny no matter what your age!
Julia London on 24 Oct 2007 at 2:07 pm #
Today, I was Cameron Diaz. I went to the salon and told them to do something with my hair. She said, pick out a style. I picked out Cameron Diaz. For all of an hour, while she colored–er, highlighted–and cut my hair, I was Cameron.
Then she dried it. I am so not Cameron.
Lisa H on 24 Oct 2007 at 2:19 pm #
Julia, send us a picture!
Sabrina Jeffries on 24 Oct 2007 at 2:32 pm #
You COULD be Cameron, Julia. Honestly.
It’s nice to know I’m not the only one who flashes on Joan Wilder whenever I’m writing and crying (as I was while writing my LAST book–haven’t got that far yet in the new novella).
I often feel like Cathy in the comic strip. Does that count?
cail on 24 Oct 2007 at 2:40 pm #
Cathy used to be one of my favorite comic strips.
Often when i’ve just washed my (extremely long) hair, i feel like lady godiva or alainis moresette.
Karen Rose on 24 Oct 2007 at 3:04 pm #
How about Abby in THE TRUTH ABOUT CATS AND DOGS? I feel like Jeanine Garafolo (sp?) many days. Now I’m thinking about that bathtub scene. Wow.
When I was regularly doing my karate (need to get back in it) I felt like Sarah Connor in Terminator. Powerful.
Cookiedough on 24 Oct 2007 at 3:10 pm #
I’m late to the party!
This week I felt like one of the poor brothers from Mouse Hunt- especially the scene when there are traps covering the floor and the mouse zips through, sets them off and nothing gets him!
I think Ive plugged up every hole now. I don’t care if I’m allergic, I’m getting a cat!
And I love how the conversation seamlessly flowed from characters we feel like to characters we feel like touching in a big way!
hahaha
Marie on 24 Oct 2007 at 3:12 pm #
3 and 1/2 months. Geez I wish I had that kind of discipline. This month my only object was to plot for my Nanowrimo book. It is only a week away and I only have 8 chapters plotted.
Suzanne Enoch on 24 Oct 2007 at 3:21 pm #
Karen Rose Connor — remind me not to piss you off. *g*
And Marie, the 3 1/2 months wasn’t my idea — it’s just the way my due dates played out according to my contract. And with back-to-back books, being late on one would mean delaying the release of both of them. I didn’t want to do that. No way.
And Julia, I’ve always thought of you as the Cameron Diaz of the group.
claudia dain on 24 Oct 2007 at 3:37 pm #
Julia, you can’t trust the salon people to dry hair right. You *are* Cameron. You just need to hold your own dryer.
That sounded like a pun, but it’s not. Really.
Kay on 24 Oct 2007 at 6:54 pm #
Marie, I’m doing the Nanowrimo, too. I have the first two and last two chapters outlined, but the rest is a WIP. Anyone else in goddessland signed up?
Julia London on 24 Oct 2007 at 8:47 pm #
Okay, I posted the new do at the forum under ask a goddess. But its so small you can’t tell what it really looks like!
Cookiedough on 24 Oct 2007 at 9:21 pm #
When you click on the picture, it gets bigger…and really nice hair do, Julia!
I like it!
Aspen on 24 Oct 2007 at 9:40 pm #
I have had a few I Jane u Tarzan moments..
I can not wait to read your next book will this one be the next one coming out or is there one coming out before it?
I just LOVE the Rick and Sam series.
I recently read one of your historicals it reminded me of Pride & Prejudice my fav.
Aspen
doglady on 24 Oct 2007 at 10:29 pm #
You ladies have all had fun while I was slaving away in the bakery. Cyber donuts and halloween brownies all around! Lisa H, you can trust me, if I had a pistol that night I would have shot more than the lock! And yes, Karen H, I was lucky I wasn’t killed before they finally showed up and built me a brand new porch. Of course my mother was the instigator. She told my then 15 year old nephew about what happened to his favorite aunt and he told his Dad “I’m going to build Aunt Pam a porch, are you coming?” That guilted both his father and my other brother and his son to come along. They pulled down the wreckage and built a beautiful new porch while I was at work one Saturday. The only bad thing? They somehow managed to break my livingroom window! Which is why they were gone by the time I got home!! Here’s wishing everyone BIG EELS and hairdo’s that are exactly what we want!