Initial Post

I created this thing, what, a month ago? Good grief.

Right. Well, I've been tinkering with the idea of another attempt at a novel. It's in the earliest of stages right now. I'll share with you the stuff I've just been writing down at random- please feel free to comment.

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The central character, Ramona, is in her late 20's, painfully shy, and until her recent conversion to Catholicism has lacked direction and confidence. She had some serious problems in the past managing her finances, holding a job, and maintaining relatonships.She decides to get involved in the variety of activities that her church offers. She starts bonding with the women in one particular group, and this affects how she relates to others at church and outside of it.

She also decides to do some things that she's always wanted to do (learn to play the drums so she can join a rock band, finish her college degree, dye her hair turquoise). She also learns to stand up to the people in her life who tend to push her around.

Some of the other characters I'm tinkering with:
- Judy (early 40's) - dymanic, interesting, someone Ramona admires. Is classy, educated, well-traveled, and very fond of Ramona.

Elise (early 50's) - Ramona's mother. Can turn from affectionate and generous to cold and domineering almost instantly. Undiagnosed manic depressive disorder. Ramona's almost completely intimidated by her.

Arthur - Ramona's father. A shy, sweet-natured artist, he left Elise when Ramona and Josh were small children. Elise told the kids he was abusive and that he had died a few years after he left.

Joshua (mid to late 20's) - Ramona's brother. An accomplished and very talented musician. Generally confident and take-charge, he has managed to bypass the family curse of mental illness. Is the family member that Ramona is closest to.

Alison (late 20's) - the sane voice of reason in Ramona's life.

Shannon (mid 20's) - A friend of Ramona's for several years; tends to look down on Ramona's new drug free, less boozed-up, nine-to-five, churchified lifestyle.

Mandy (19 or 20) - a classmate of Ramona's. A single mom to a toddler. Struggling to escape her impoverished, overcrowded, indifferent surroundings.

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Ramona acquires a kitten. Since she's in the midst of her mission to learn how to play the drums like a rock star, she names him Keith Moon.

Somebody (a non-Catholic) reacts to the sight of a priest tapping the keg at a church function.

Note on Ramona's door:
Attempts to channel Keith moon have failed; will actually have to learn to play these things.

"your cactus is getting fresh with me!"

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