As I read the first draft that Mary Agnes Donahue turned in for Beaches (over twenty years ago!) , I checked for the all moments we’d discussed and all the character nuances and all the Bette Midler notes. That was my job. To make sure Bette would like the part. To make sure the structure was intact. To make sure after four years of development, this could be a movie. As I read however, the plot and the primary relationship and the inner transformation of the main character all worked together and built momentum and as I turned the last page over, I cried.
I hardly ever cry when I read because I’m analyzing the whole time. I take my job seriously and therefore I never read for pleasure anymore. Just one of the hazards of the trade, so I knit instead.
Yesterday, I opened the top manuscript on my pile. One of my clients, Leslie Hayashi, had asked me to take another look at her latest project, a historical novel. Over the last two years, I’ve worked on the outline with her and read the previous drafts so I picked up my pen and put on my story structure hat. I began to read and having worked for so long on this, certainly knew what was coming, but it happened again. The plot and the relationships and the inner transformation of the main character all worked together and as I turned the last page, I cried. Bravo, Leslie.
Tags: Beaches, Bette Midler, first draft, Writing
Leslie gave me the last 40 pages or so. Intense; I was there with Hinadori. Great ending. Action, the writer had me swerving, narrow escapes, and finally I got to see Hinadori make her own choice instead of trailing along after life. Loved it! Great job, Leslie.
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