thanks and enjoy your tea

Neixa

Gracias! I feel like I have to be committed to getting the Otalia posts right. Contrary to what some in the soap industry thinks, soap fans are not stupid. I am very aware that I have to “bring it” right with the Otalia posts. You guys would know if I’m coming off half baked. I would know it, too and couldn’t do that to myself or other Otalians. So, that’s why I try to be really prepared for these posts each week. I’m aware that my words are in the spotlight, which is awesome and terrifying at the same time (if that makes sense).

Wow, I’m flattered to know and to continue to hear that I have fans! LOL. It’s sort of surreal in a way. I’m just a regular person, and it blows my mind whenever anyone says they’re a fan of my work. Thank you for that! I promise I won’t go all Hollywood on my fans and start wrecking hotel rooms like a rock star

The Otalia story line, Jessica Leccia, Crystal Chappell, writers, etc. deserve nothing less than my total commitment. I am very focused and dedicated when writing about Otalia and helping this show survive. The Guiding Light delivers art on my screen five days a week, and being a fellow artist in my own right, I appreciate art.

Wow, I am blushing and smiling from your words of praise! It still takes some getting use to hearing the compliments. I don’t take compliments well, but it is still very flattering to hear them.

Regarding my preparation, I have to say that I am only a very disciplined “method writer” with Otalia. Most of the time, I am not such an organized and structured writer outside of work; I have to be that way for the job. I am more of a “spontaneous writer” when it comes to my novels. When I write my novels, I am “driving without a license,” if I could borrow your phrasing there. I have no idea where I’m going until I get the dialog and plot out of my head and on “paper.” Yes, there is a bit of a process for my novels but nothing like what I do with Otalia. However, with the trilogy I’m writing, I had to become a bit more organized and “methody” because I have a lot of stuff to keep up with. For the first time ever, I am using outlines in the development of novels because I am writing a trilogy with intertwining characters, but I use it to keep up with certain details. I sometimes rotate which book in the trilogy I’m writing every week.

I’m laughing with you about cringing at your work. Believe it or not, I have written some things that makes me cringe a little and a lot. No one is perfect (even though I seek it). I am hard on myself when I make mistakes in my writing, and I am still learning how to take it easy on myself when I goof up. The perfectionist in me trips me up sometimes, and when I write some things, I re-read it later and feel like I really could have done better. I actually have felt that way with at least one, maybe two of my Otalia posts after the fact. So, don’t be like me and be so hard on yourself. Like I said, we all write something cringe worthy sometimes

LOL. Thank you.

It is difficult sometimes not to discuss what I see with Otalia during the week with other fans; however, I contain it and keep it bottled up inside. And yes, I will admit that it takes a lot of personal discipline to maintain some of the steps in the process. For instance, when I first downloaded the Big Purple podcast episode with Jessica Leccia a few weeks ago, it was driving me nuts staring at it on my iPod every day. I went through the same thing with the Crystal Chappell edition. It’s getting easier as more time passes, but it is difficult not to give into my impulses. I find the strength though. I have to stay in the “bubble,” so I will listen to it in a couple of weeks.

Yes, I am “invested” with the Otalia story line. I love it, but I also feel like I have to be “invested” to write about them on my blog. I have a deep realization that I have to “bring it right,” “bring it hard,” and “bring it strong” when I write about Otalia. I feel that the Otalia community would expect that, and I’m very aware that if I don’t do it right, then they will notice. I know I would if someone is half a**ing it. Plus, I have my own expectations to meet when I write about Otalia.