I’ve never been good about keeping a journal. It all boils down to consistency. There are days when I skip making an entry. Life can crowd out the time I need to write down my thoughts about a day’s events. I’ve also been reluctant to pose as an expert on the writing process. If I knew anything of value about writing, my work would already be in print. I went out on a skinny limb of a tall in 2022 when I shared my 365 days of thankfulness. The exercise forced me to put myself out there with my soft belly exposed. Thank you for joining me on my journey in the written word. Therefore, I plan to keep a journal in 2023 to document my progress. I will call Entry 87: Finding a New Character.
Note: I consider editing an important part of the writing process. Editing is where all the artistry happens.
My morning writing before I started Entry 87: Finding a New Character
I don’t know why I create outlines because I never stick to them. The writing of the two chapters of Amazing Buchanan and The Beast doesn’t jive with the outline. I even introduced a new character. She is a folklorist and a professor and has expert knowledge about how to break the curse. Quotes from her book will be in the front of various sections in the finished book. This idea will require me to create a magic system concerning the Rougarou and curses. It should be a fun exercise.
The book I am currently reading right now and Entry 87: Finding a New Character
I finished reading “Pretty Mouth and Green My Eyes” from Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger. This story focuses on deceit and deception. Three people attend a party in New York City: Lee’s phone rings later that night, and Arthur is on the other end of the line. He is looking for his wife, Joanie. He asks Lee for advice. There is a girl with Lee. Salinger never says, but parts of the story indicate the woman is Arthur’s missing wife. Things get complicated when Arthur asks if he can come over and talk to Lee at his apartment.
To complicate matters, both men work for the same law firm. Arthur has lost a big case concerning bed bugs. He explains that “pretty mouth and green my eyes” came from a line in a poem he gave to Joanie, who has blue eyes. I wondered if Salinger suggested a hint of jealousy here, like Arthur knew the truth. He calls lee back with a lie, saying his wife came home and everything was all right. Lee knows he’s lying.
What I’m listening to right now and
Rooster and I watched several documentaries last night. One involved Chuck Leavell, who started his career playing with the Allman Brothers Band. He went on to play keyboards with the Rolling Stones and other bands. We also watched part of another one about the early days of the Allman Brothers. I started my morning listening to Live at the Fillmore East.
The thing I am most thankful for at this moment.
I am thankful I didn’t have anywhere I needed to be on this cold day. I could stay warm inside as the snow fell. It feels colder now that we have had a month of warm weather. We woke up to a thick covering of snow on the ground. I shouldn’t complain. We were lucky this year.
This old lady says
Complaining about the weather is the biggest Hoosier spectator sport. We complain even after we’ve had it good for months. I think it is human nature to gripe.
Who is Molly Shea?
Molly Shea is an accomplished fictional short story writer from Indiana who writes short stories and novels about a fictional town called Tecumseh. To read more of her short stories and adventures, click here.
Be sure to follow Molly on Twitter!
“get into Cajun grove to write about the bayou”. Wow, that’s fascinating. I had never seen a bayou before I visited Florida. It is such a distinct picture of tree and water, which I had not expected before. I heard that J.D. Salinger wrote very interesting short stories, but I’ve never read them. And I may want to read them since you mentioned them.
I highly recommend them.