I was reminded of this recently while reading a chapter for a CP…

Back in my first draft of GOTH, I had a variation on the phrase, “Her mouth formed a stunned O.”

And a very wise person very kindly said to me, “I think you should rethink that phrase. Does one’s mouth ever really make an O? Go to the mirror, and make your mouth into an O, and then tell me what you think.”

Yeah. I did that. I looked ridiculous. I’ve never used that phrase again.

Try it at home, kids!


11 comments to “The Big O”

  1. Alice Audrey
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    1
    · September 9th, 2007 at 7:30 am · Link

    Great. How do I explain to my daughter that the internet is the reason I was making faces in the mirror.



  2. India Carolina
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    2
    · September 9th, 2007 at 12:23 pm · Link

    O kay, It was me. I’m the dumb CP.

    I’m outing myself because I can’t live with the shame– she said, her mouth forming a perfect O.

    Try the mirror thing, it works! 🙂



  3. Tessa Dare
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    3
    · September 9th, 2007 at 12:55 pm · Link

    INDIA!!! You are not dumb at all. That was not my point. Obviously, I did the same exact thing. So if you’re dumb, I’m dumb too. At least we’ll have good company. 🙂

    I just thought the mirror thing was worth sharing, because it’s good for a laugh.



  4. India Carolina
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    4
    · September 9th, 2007 at 3:08 pm · Link

    TESSA!!! I think it’s hilarious. And glad you posted this. Wish someone had told me. OMG. I would hate to have an EDITOR be the one to tell me. Yikes!

    And while we’re on the subject. It’s also cliched. But for some reason, I didn’t realize it. But hey, that’s what I have you for.
    🙂



  5. elyssany
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    5
    · September 10th, 2007 at 1:21 am · Link

    Great exercise. But what letter will not take O’s place? *g*



  6. Renee Lynn Scott
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    6
    · September 10th, 2007 at 11:13 am · Link

    Well at least you guys did it in front of the mirror. I am sitting here at the lap top. Try making O faces while laughing. If you thought it was impossible before…



  7. TiffinaC
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    7
    · September 10th, 2007 at 12:10 pm · Link

    Renee, you are not alone! I have no mirror, just using my fingers to feel the shape [shakes head at self]



  8. Tessa Dare
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    8
    · September 10th, 2007 at 2:53 pm · Link

    Renee and Tiff – you are cracking me up!!

    Ely – um, I don’t get it. What’s the punchline?



  9. CM
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    9
    · September 10th, 2007 at 4:10 pm · Link

    Okay, if it wasn’t India that made the comment, I have to wonder if it was me. It sounds snarky enough that it might have been, but I have no memory of it at all. So I figured it MUST have been India who said it.

    On the other hand, I’m morally opposed to the use of alphabet letters to describe things, and so I may have come up with a trumped-up reason to get rid of the phrase.

    There. I admit it. I have ulterior motives in my critiquing.



  10. terrio
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    10
    · September 11th, 2007 at 7:32 am · Link

    This is too funny. But if Tiff thinks she’s going to claim she’s never done anything requiring her to make her mouth form an O shape she’s crazy. LOL!

    Since I’m sitting at my desk at work I’m going to take everyone’s word for it. But I’d also like to note I personally hope we never take the Big O completely out of the books. LOL! That would be so not worth reading anymore…



  11. Tessa Dare
    Comment
    11
    · September 12th, 2007 at 10:38 pm · Link

    Terri!!!

    Okay, so maybe there is ONE legitimate use of that phrase…