On a positive note, I am writing! MS2 is literally a few dozen words from 50k, in a nice spot to finish at approximately 75k words - perfect for YA .
Research this week: LOC (loss of consciousness), Glasgow coma scale, drug slang, sermons about doubt and temptation, house construction schedule, roofies.
This Week's Fear: I'm writing porn for teenagers.
I read Johanna Lindsey books (and the like) when I was a teenager, well ahead of any sexual experience I may or may not have had. Ahem. Reading those books (1) gave me some darned unrealistic views of relationships, love and sex, but (2) did not make me run out into the street and bang the first cute guy I happened upon.
I want to write realistically. All girls are not quivering, spineless, overly self-conscious wimps. But some are. All girls are not strong, capable, take-no-prisoners-or-any-shit leader-types... but some are. Guys run the gamut from unbearably sweet to utter asshole. Teachers are supportive and nurtering to cruel and calculating. Some kids curse like proverbial sailors, smoke, drink, do drugs, cut, vomit their lunches, or go to school hung over... and some would never.
A realistic book isn't going to shy away from anything the story needs to stay true. So I guess when I say I want to write realistically, what I mean is: I want to stay true to the story and the characters, whatever that truth is.
