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 85: A Glimpse into a Writer’s Mind.
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 85: A Glimpse into a Writer’s Mind
I finished the Amazing Buchanan and The Beast chapter I didn’t get to yesterday and am close to the end. A few more things need to happen to find a way to cancel out the curse. Will can’t live his life as a Rougarou if he and Amazing find their happy ending. I am thinking about creating a folklorist who has all the answers. Quotes beginning each chapter from a book she wrote about the rougarou can establish her identity as an expert on the Louisiana werewolf. Her appearance at the end of the book won’t be a complete surprise if I introduce her in this way, and it will give the reader who isn’t familiar with this mythical creature some idea about the Rougarou. I am still giving this some thought.
Okay, I haven’t written a Cascade poem in two days because I have been too busy to try. Maybe I can focus on it this afternoon.
The book I am currently reading right now and Entry 85: A Glimpse into a Writer’s Mind
I read the fifth story in Salinger’s Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger this morning. I found “Down at the Dinghy” interesting. The story begins with two employees of the Tannenbaum household worried about what the boy Lionel might tell his mother. Boo Boo is one of the members of the Glass family grown into adulthood with a child of her own. Lionel has a bad habit of running away whenever someone says something that hurts his feelings.
Boo Boo goes down to the dinghy, where he hides to uncover why he ran away. He finally admits it was because Sandra called his father a kike, which he interprets as a kite. This story takes place around Word War II. It reflects the prejudices and class consciousness of the time. Sadly, antisemitism still exists today.
What I’m listening to right now and Entry 85: A Glimpse into a Writer’s Mind
I listened to Led Zeppelin’s Latter Days this morning. The second half of their greatest hits CD always brings back good memories. These songs became a big part of my teenage life.
The thing I am most thankful for at this moment.
I am thankful for this slow morning when my morning pages can come alive. Because I find the ending section of a story difficult to write, there are times when I drag my feet. I must say goodbye to the characters I have worked hard to create, but I plan to jump into the editing process when I finish the rewrite of Amazing Buchanan and the Beast. This idea makes finishing easier.
This old lady says
Only a writer can understand what it means to live inside the heads of one of your characters for the duration of a book. The general public has no concept about crawling into the minds of fictional human beings. It is almost like living the lives of a handful of people while you navigate your daily business. So if you see your writer friend staring into space, don’t disturb her. She might be working on a tricky piece of dialogue or a delicate plot point.
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!