My novel and Stephen King's great advice about writing.

Very funny. Apparently, TWILIGHT fans are very upset with Mr. King.

I've been working on my novel, aiming for 2000 words a day. I get up at 5:00 or 5:30 a.m. eat something light while I check e-mails from L.A., work out, shower, start writing.

Earlier I used to meet friends to work out in the morning. Until I'm done with my first draft I can't do that anymore. I need that quiet time in the park to work and think about the novel.

I wrote a very rough outline. I wasn't sure how to do one for a novel. I realized early on my outline wasn't long/detailed enough. I haven't looked at it since I hit the 30,000 word mark.

What I've been looking at are my characters. I spent a lot of time working on them before I wrote the outline.

It's interesting to work on a new novel after focusing on scripts the last four years. Screenwriting is very structured. Working on a novel is a completely different experience. I thought I knew what the ending would be when I wrote the outline. It's changed.

I also thought I knew what certain characters would do. I don't. It's fun to see what direction the story will take. However, to be honest, I have no idea what the hell I'm doing. I didn't go to grad school for a MFA. I did take creative writing courses in college, but that was a while ago.

I've been re-reading Stephen King's book on writing. I highly recommend it to anyone who is interesting in writing. It's part memoir, part advice. All of it is inspiring.

It was rough going after I returned from L.A. for a variety of reasons. His book is helping me get back to basics. It's about reading and writing. Yes, it's true Snooki is a NYT bestseller "author" despite telling a reporter she has read only two books in her life. Her ghostwriter has probably read more than two.

There a lot of things I cannot control in my career. What I can control is how much I write and how much I read.

Every project I work on is an opportunity to improve and grow as a writer. That must be my focus, not getting upset that nothing has changed since I co-wrote a hit movie. In fact, at a later date I should write about some of the jacked up BS I heard while in L.A.

I can't think about anything negative right now. I have to finish my book. Money and career worries are on the back burner. Maybe that's putting my head in the sand, but the amount of energy I use stressing about those worries is not healthy.

I am feeling very optimistic these days. It might be straight up denial. heh. That said, I'm excited about a new idea I have for another novel.

It helps that the weather has been gorgeous lately. We're enjoying a real spring in Rome this year. This is something I do not take for granted! I hope the blazing hot weather takes a while to get here.