Back in 2007, when my #2 son got engaged, I wanted to get to know his affianced a little better. This was problematic, as she and D2 were both at school at the time, 1100 miles away. What's a mother-in-law to do (besides sign up for Facebook and toss sheep back and forth)?
At the same time, I was back-and-forthing with my young niece, Alena, who loves to write. She was in seventh grade at the time, I think (and also 1100 miles away). This was back when she wasn't too busy with high school, homework, marching band and a social life to hang with me, and we'd chat a lot on Google or Facebook.
I loved to encourage Alena's writing (I still do) and so we were playing a writing game. She'd start a plot and write up to a pivotal point and then turn it over to me and I'd do the same. It was fun. We bonded. I've never lived within 1100 miles of her, except for the summer she stayed a month with us, but she's in the top three of my multifarious nieces and nephews as far as mutual attachment is concerned.
Well, I knew that Lynda liked to write fantasy, which was one of the big things she and D2 had in common. I liked to read fantasy, although I'd never tried to write any. Given my success with Alena, I thought pooling our imaginations might work with Lynda as well. You learn a lot about a person by the things they invent in their heads. We could open a dialog.
