Hailey's Novel Diary – 6/13/17

I did some research on vibrators. That's something I don't say every day. This is far from an erotic novel, but there are a couple of scenes that might not be suitable for small children.

Vibrators, as it turns out, are a lot like songs. People who love them really love them, and everyone has their own idea about which are great and which are a total waste of time. And just like with music, there are some real snobs out there.

Something I found interesting was that every article I read had testimonials from sexual health experts about how vibrators are a healthy component to a fulfilling relationship with another person. Every article wanted to convince the reader that vibrators are not sinful, dirty or perverted, or anything to get choked up about. Unless you use them the wrong way. I thought it was interesting because obviously there are a lot of people who must think vibrators are sinful, dirty and perverted. Otherwise, there would be no testimonials from sexual health experts.

The characters in this book are in Los Angeles which, it turns out, has more than a few sex shops. I would assume that most people buy their sex toys online these days, but if you like to hold things before you buy them, Los Angeles has you covered.

Hong Kong, on the other hand, I have no idea about. Prostitution is legal and there are all kinds of massage parlors and dance bars in the various red light districts, but most of that is aimed at men, if not all of it. Satisfying women does not seem to be big business around here.

Then again, China is an amazingly repressed culture. Europeans say that Americans are uptight, which is true, but Americans are all raging hedonists compared to the typical Chinese. In China, you can buy porn at some of the few places that still sell DVDs, but even the porn is censored in China. And, of course, we have HBO. That's practically porn. Except in China. HBO Asia is heavily censored. Have you ever watched an episode of Game of Thrones without any sex, violence or nudity? It's kind of pointless.

Speaking of things that threaten some men and repulse some women, there is a scene in the book that is not nearly as graphic as I'm about to make it sound.

If the story takes place today, then it's only reasonable that some of the women would be as bald as Fred Flintstone's tires. But if it takes place in the late 1990s, everyone might be a little warmer on a windy day. Personal hygiene has changed a lot over the years. That is something to consider that I honestly had no idea I would ever have to think about when I started writing this.

It also brings up an interesting point. When future generations watch movies with lines like “does the carpet match the drapes”, will they have any idea what that person is talking about?

Hailey's Novel Diary – 6/12/17

The Gates was a controversial art instillation by Christo and Jeanne-Claude in Central Park for two weeks in 2005. They put thousands of nylon torii gates along walking paths throughout the park.

In typical New York fashion, everyone either loved it or hated it. Millions of people visited the piece while local news and talk show hosts ridiculed it.

I have seen real torii gates in Japan. Nylon fabric hanging on posts is not nearly as impressive. But I would not have objected had I lived there. It was only for two weeks. If it was permanent, I could understand people going nuts.

The Gates
Central Park, New York
By Christo and Jeanne-Claude

Hailey's Novel Diary – 6/11/17

During a camping trip, one of the characters is the stranger in a strange land. She is a city girl with no experience in camping or spending much time in the great outdoors.

Fortunately for me, I have some experience with camping. I have never gone camping in the Santa Susana Mountains, and would never in a million years have the adventure they are having in the hills, but I know how to pitch a tent and start a fire. I'm never going to go on one of those reality TV survival shows where everyone is naked in the wilderness, but I can safely spend the night outdoors without freezing or getting eaten by bears.

This camping trip is very different from anything we used to do when we went up to Land O'Lakes or St Croix.

Matilda Joslyn Gage

Hailey's Novel Diary – 6/9/17

I have opened chapter 6 with what sounds like foreshadowing of some big moment to come later. But what the reader might assume is going to happen is not. I certainly don't want it to, and I think I have some say in the matter.

It is false foreshadowing, I suppose, but it's not a plot twist or a red herring. I'm not saying that what is not going to happen is going to happen. I'm simply doing nothing to stop people who like to jump to conclusions. Is that cruel? I don't know. But this is not a mystery. There is no reason to look for any clues.

Hailey's Novel Diary – 6/8/17

I have not settled on a time period yet, but one of the characters seems to be into late '90s music. I could see the story taking place then, but I would have to change a few things first.



I Don't Want To Wait
Paula Cole



Sunny Came Home
Shawn Colvin



Stupid
Sarah McLachlan

Hailey's Novel Diary – 6/7/17

The beach scene is finished. It took a while. And with it, so is chapter 5. For now.

I know I'm going to go back to chapter 5 sooner or later. For one thing, it's four times longer than any of the other chapters. I'm a firm believer that a chapter should be however long it is. They should not all be the same size. But when you have one that is four times longer than the others, it really stands out. If that is what the story needs, so be it. But it's not in this case.

Let's take Harmony On Spring Hill as an example. Mostly because I have the information in front of me. The shortest chapter is 3,736 words. The longest is 8,181. They are clearly not all the same. But that was never intentional.

Then there is Weekends In China. The average chapter is 5,500 words. The shortest is 4,100. The longest is 6,690. They are all relatively the same length. But that was not intentional either.

It's too soon to say how this one will work out in the end.

From Here to Eternity
Directed by Fred Zinnemann
© 1953 Columbia Pictures

Hailey's Novel Diary – 6/6/17

Another day, another beach. Or the same beach. I really need to narrow it down. I'm still working on it.

Beaches are great places for atmosphere, but my problem, or at least one of my problems, is that I can focus too much on the atmosphere. In this scene, it really does not matter. The smell of the salt air, the sound of waves crashing against rocks or how the sand feels between their toes has nothing to do with anything. They are at the beach for a specific reason, so I need to concentrate on that.

La Jolla Avenue
West Hollywood

Hailey's Novel Diary – 6/4/17 – Tel Aviv Edition

I wanted some of the characters to go to the beach, but which beach? Los Angeles has more than one. They live in the San Fernando Valley, which is close to none of them.

I'm familiar with Santa Monica, but I want an empty beach, almost deserted. Santa Monica and Venice are anything but deserted. Farther south you have Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach. That's a nice, long stretch of sand, but the exact opposite of isolated.

In the opposite direction is a long stretch of beaches just south of the Santa Monica Mountains. That is where the surfers and movie stars go, but Point Dume and Malibu Lagoon look pretty good. I'm currently leaning toward Point Dume.

Even if you have never been to California, you know what Point Dume looks like.

Planet of the Apes
Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner
© 1968 20th Century Fox

Malibu Lagoon

Hailey's Novel Diary – 6/3/17 – Tel Aviv Edition

I'm doing a little writing in Tel Aviv, but not as much as I would at home. There are too many other things to do here. I can't say if this environment is affecting what or how I write. I doubt it. The story takes place in Los Angeles, which is nothing like Tel Aviv, other than the beaches.

I wrote a saucy little oral sex scene yesterday. It contrasts last week's rape scene nicely. One is a horrible act of violence and cowardice. The other is a consensual little slap and tickle. They work well together, I think. But there is a 50/50 chance I will cut out the rape scene. I can give the oral sex scene 3 to 1 odds.

And then I wrote my first lesbian sex scene. I don't know what's going on around here.

This is not an erotic novel by any stretch of the imagination. It has to have sex. That's just the way it goes. But it does not have to have any graphic scenes.

The lesbian aspect is fascinating to me because I don't know the first thing about being a lesbian. It's like asking me what it's like to be a midget. I have no idea. I can make all kinds of assumptions. I suppose some things are just common sense. But I really don't know.

If I start writing a lesbian midget scene, I swear I'm taking a vacation.

The Children's Hour
Directed by William Wyler
© 1961 United Artists

Casablanca
Directed by Michael Curtiz
© 1942 Warner Brothers

Shavuot

I have experienced my first Shavuot in Israel, or anywhere else. I still don't know what it's about.

Shavuot is one of the big pilgrimage festivals, when people were supposed to go to the Temple. Since the Temple was destroyed by the Romans, and rebuilding it would start World War III, no one is expected to go anymore. But it's still a major holiday.

From what I can tell, Shavuot is about God giving Israel the torah on Mount Sinai. Part of my confusion is because everyone I spoke to had their own interpretation of the holiday. Every other holiday seems to have a long list of laws and rules that they are supposed to follow, while Shavuot is more traditional than scriptural. Most of the day, like a lot of holidays, is about eating and praying.

A unique tradition on Shavuot is to stay awake all night reading the torah. That makes sense, since the holiday is about the torah, but the reason for staying awake all night depends on whom you ask. Some say it's because the Israelis were up all night partying before Moses came down from Mount Sinai. Some say it's because sunrises were especially beautiful at the Temple. The Temple was long gone when I went there, but I know how great all that old Jerusalem stone looks at sunset. The Old City glows gold and orange when the sun goes down. Direct sunlight at sunrise is blocked by the Mount of Olives. At least it is in this century.

Whatever the reason, it's nice to see people out and about after midnight. Jerusalem usually shuts down pretty early. If you like to eat late, Tel Aviv is a better choice.