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 67: Searching for a poetic mood.
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 67: Searching for a poetic mood
The words seemed to flow this morning. I deleted every page I wrote of Amazing Buchanan and the Beast during NaNoWriMo two years ago. When I wrote the first draft, I had no idea the story would turn into a series with overlapping characters. I turned in that direction when I wrote Prestgue last year. The characters will overlap. The big challenge will be to make each story needs to be unique. They need to be able to stand alone.
I am still waiting for inspiration when writing my cascade poems. My big problem is that I am not in a poetic mood. My personal life is bleeding over into my writing life. It’s hard to keep them separate on some days. A great deal of turmoil seems to be spinning around me like an emotional tornado. None of it was created by me, but I seem to be in its path. Maybe I need to tap into some of that energy.
The book I am currently reading right now and Entry 67: Searching for a poetic mood
The action in Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina centersaround Levin’s jealousy. He comes back from hunting prepared to be a good host to Veslovsky. The plan falls apart when the guy starts making eyes at Kitty. Levin tells him he has to leave. It appears Levin has a lot of competing ideas to deal with in the changing Russia. He’s dealing with becoming a husband and father. Sometimes, he seems confused about what these new roles mean for him. He wants his farm to be successful. He’s writing a book about the role labor plays in farming. The surfs have been freed, and Levin would like farming in Russia to be profitable for the landowner and those working the land.
What I’m listening to right now and Entry 67: Searching for a poetic mood
I made it a Ben Harper morning because I listened to three CDs of his music this morning. I listened to Fight for Your Life, The Will to Live, and Welcome to the Cruel World. Ben Harper grew up in the Inland Empire. This section of southern California, south of Los Angeles, is mostly suburban. Rooster grew up there, and we have lived in this area twice in our marriage. Our oldest daughter was born there.
The thing I am most thankful for at this moment.
I am thankful for the sunshine today. Our front door is open now, and I can see the sun beating down on the street. It feels like spring. I am so happy about this calm after yesterday’s storms.
This old lady says
I am happy that the sun decided to shine and the storms moved away. The dark clouds always go away, and the sun comes out to play. Sometimes life works out like that.
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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