Entry 16: Why I am Glad I Added Chapter 4

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 16: Why I am Glad I Add Chapter 4.

Note: I consider editing an important part of the writing process. Editing is where all the artistry happens.

The project I am writing Entry 16: Why I am Glad I Added Chapter 4

It took the entire morning for me to write chapter 4 of Amazing Buchanan and the Beast. This addition gives the reader a glimpse into the life Mazie lives before Will interferes. It doesn’t paint the entire picture. At least one of Oliver’s conclusions when he studies Mazie inside the bar is false. It is the most obvious place for his mind to jump from the snippets of conversation he overhears and the shady environment where it takes place. There are many layers to Mazie Buchanan. The more of them peeled away, the better the story becomes.

My only concern is that I am not doing enough worldbuilding to set the stage properly. I don’t know if I’m giving enough discretion to create the right mood. The trick is to provide enough information about the environment to paint a picture without bogging down the reader’s mind with unnecessary details. It’s a hard balance to make.

The book I am currently reading Entry 16: Why I am Glad I Added Chapter 4

I am still working through Alexander McCall Smith’s The Lost Art of Gratitude. The book i beautifully written book can get bogged down at times when Isabel goes on a philosophical rambling. I guess that is what philosophers do. I didn’t get much read last night because the family goes to Tipton to bowl. I’ll get back to the reading tonight. Isabel is about to uncover Minty’s secret, and I can’t wait to find out what it is.

What I’m listening to today while working on Entry 16: Why I am Glad I Added Chapter 4

I am listening to a collection of Southern Rock songs called Highway South. These songs would be playing in the background of Rocky’s Bar and Grill. It’s the music these bikers would enjoy listening to while they chugged a beer down their gullet. I know from experience that these songs would be playing. This CD is a collection of musical artists from Willie Nelson to George Thorogood to Charlie Daniels and beyond. This CD even includes a song by The Band.

The thing I am most thankful for at this moment

I am grateful the fog burned off The thick density of the fog last night gave everything an eerie feeling, like I being trapped in a horror movie on a misty bog. The sun refused to come out, and we expect thunderstorms followed by snow this evening. The thing about Indiana is a person can experience all four seasons in a single day. Spring and winter might showup today, but the fog is gone.

This old lady says

Have a great day doing the things you love. Life is too short to be miserable. Thankfulness is a choice. I hope your world is full of sunshine and warm weather. It would be nice to find a reason to smile in the storm. Darkness feeds on our fear. Live a blessed life today, and keep the faith.

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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