How do you fix a broken book? Two twelve packs of Coke and a good friend

It was day five. Or maybe six.

We were tired. Our bodies ached. Our minds were mush. And we had the evidence lined up on my kitchen counter.

"Did we really drink that much Coke?" my friend Jen asked.

I blinked and counted. Yes, indeed. We had finished off nearly 24 Cokes in the past few days of our mini "writing retreat." In the spirit of "what real friends are made of," Jen flew in from California last week so we could brainstorm, plot, critique and just hang out. A freelance journalist like myself, Jen is by far one of the most talented writers, reporters and editors I've ever met. I feel like the needy one in the relationship. Jen is patient with my whining, my crankiness, and my need for reassurance.

So to have Jen believe in my book is high praise, indeed. But not only does she believe in my book, she proved it by holding my hand for five days straight as I tore my book apart and -- with her help -- re-plotted it. She sat on the couch with her computer on her lap and did what a good editor does. She asked me the right questions so that I could find the answers on my own.

With her help, I got rid of the things that were weighing my book down, discovered that there's a lot of good stuff that can stay, and once again fell in love with my characters. She helped me get back to the core of my book. She helped me remember what kind of story I wanted to tell before it all got lost in the race to publish, the "you can't do that" rules of writing books and the snarky comments of contest judges that I could never forget.

And in the process, we discovered that we share similar plotting styles, renewed our passion for journalism after we both suffered burn out for a while, and we made plans to do this all again. And we drank enough pop to fuel a small car.

My brain has not shut off since she left. My book is better. My attitude is better. My ideas are better.

So here's a very big, very public THANK YOU!!!! Jen, you are the best. :)