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 13: The Writing had to Come First
Note: I consider editing an important part of the writing process. Editing is where all the artistry happens.
The project I am working on now while writing entry 13: The Writing had to Come First.
I worked on chapter 1 of Amazing Buchanan and the Beast. I worked hard on selecting the right words to add spice to this chapter. This book was my NaNoWriMo project from two years ago. When you write 50,000 words during November, you often don’t get to add color to the final project. I’ve discovered that the first draft is so raw that the final draft will look different. Over the past two days, I have changed some minor characters’ names. I’ve been able to add the plot, so my characters have a strong motivation to work toward a common goal. I also need to do this rewrite with the other books in the series because I didn’t know they would be connected when I started this project. It will be exciting to see how this story evolves.
I haven’t gotten much done besides starting my rewrite. My social media has gone ignored. It is my habit to spend part of the day reading other bloggers’ work. I also try to retweet the tweets of people who have taken the time to retweet my pinned tweet. There are many tweets in that last sentence. Before I retired, I always managed to get up at 5:30 every morning to do morning pages. I don’t seem to manage to do that these days, but I started to work on my writing by setting aside the morning as my New Year’s resolution. Somehow, I didn’t start working on my stories until the end of the day. This year, I decided that my writing had to come first.
The book I am currently reading while contemplating Entry 13: The Writing had to Come First.
I’ve started reading Alexander McCall Smith’s The Lost Art of Gratitude. Life has kept me busy, so I’ve only traveled with Isabel for about 50 pages. I’m not sure if I enjoy this work as much as I’ve enjoyed the others by him, I’ve read in the past. He has only had time to introduce me to the main characters. I can see trouble brewing. Professor Dove has started an argument over plagiarism, and Minty is lurking about deviously. These are two characters that appear in other books in this series.
I am slowly discovering Isabel Dalhousie is a philosopher bestowed with the gift of over analyzation. She also functions as an amateur sleuth. I think this book will be very interesting.
What I’m listening to today while writing Entry 13: The Writing had to Come First.
I put U2’s The Joshua Tree on the stereo. This music is one of those perfect tracks where every note seems to hit the right sport. I could listen to this work of musical art for a thousand years and never tire of hearing it.
The thing I am most thankful for at this moment.
After Rooster demonstrated to her how it should be done, I watched my 14-month-old great-granddaughter place a peg in the small hole on a game board. I enjoyed watching the show. She continued to perform the process long after her great-grandfather lost interest in the game. I am grateful the world keeps spinning, and life moves forward.
This old lady says
I am happy I started this year of self-exploration. It’s helping me to define why I am doing things the way I do. A certain amount of joy and frustration comes with a critical evaluation. I have always liked to compete against myself, but I seldom enjoy competition with anyone else. Maybe this stems from writing being such a lonely way to spend my time. Just a thought to throw out there. Have a great day, everyone
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.
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