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 32: Blue Skies and Smiles.
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 32: Blue Skies and Smiles
My writing time is limited this morning. I have other responsibilities this afternoon. I have to read the submissions from my writing group. We met later in the week. I also have other chores that need to get done. Even with all the pressure to write fast, I finished chapter 17. The story is different from the first version.
I wrote one acrostic poem yesterday. My goal was to write at least two and my daily journal entries. I’m not too fond of playing catch-up with my blog posts. A blog is a different form of writing than when I’m trying to create a novel. Unfortunately, I am one of those writers who never get done with the editing. Maybe it’s because I’m chasing the elusive goal of perfection. Blogging has forced me to write and share without going over what I’ve written a million times. Do I think it is my best writing? The answer to that question is no, but it teaches me how to let go. That is where I get bogged down in the journey toward publication.
The book I am currently reading right now and entry 32: Blue Skies and Smiles
I am still reading Alexander McCall Smith’s The Novel Habits of Happiness. It appears that Isabel will involve herself in an investigation about a child who believes he was reincarnated from a past life. She has a reputation for helping people solve hard personal problems. That makes her a charming snoop.
What I’m listening to right now and Entry 32: Blue Skies and Smiles
I am listening to The Allman Brothers Band Enlightened Rouges this morning. This music group has been a big part of my listening pleasure since I first heard them being played on my friend’s car radio when I was sixteen. The way they combine country rock and the blues hits that sweet place inside me. Duane Allman played with the Swampers at Muscle Shoals, Alabama. They did studio work for many music artists from Chess Records and others, such as Aretha Franklin. While the band was recording Eat a Peach, he died in a motorcycle accident in Macon, Georgia. He wasn’t playing guitar for the band during Enlightened Rouges.
The thing I am most thankful for at this moment.
I am thankful that the skies are blue today. They have been grey for so long that I almost forgot that the normal color of the sky is blue. It might be cold outside, but at least the sun is shining. I am grateful for the blue skies today. Blue is my favorite color during winter.
This old lady says
It is time for me to seize the day. The skies are blue, and the temperatures are reasonable for February. I’m on my way to go outside and smile at the sky.
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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