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 95: The Uniqueness of the Day.
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 95: The Uniqueness of the Day
I worked through my morning pages, wondering what I would write for this blog that wouldn’t sound repetitious. Establishing a writing ritual can become tedious. The only way to avoid it from becoming a tedious effort in mediocrity is to become so focused on the story that the time seems fresh every day. It helps if you have a muse that takes the trouble to show up and make things exciting. Word Daddy manages to make things interesting from time to time.
I am coming to the end of my Cascade Poem endeavor, and I can’t wait to change the style. I did manage to write a poem yesterday, but it took effort.
The book I am currently reading right now and Entry 95: The Uniqueness of the Day
Reading The Catcher in the Rye this time around from an older perspective creates a feeling of sorrow in me for the Holden Caulfield character. I read somewhere that Salinger carried the manuscript under his shirt while in the army, even when going into combat. Holden starts his Sunday by making a date with a girl he dated in the past. He plans to take her to the movies. After breakfast with two nuns, he travels to find a rear record for his sister. A young boy walks in the street near the curb, singing, “If a body catches a body coming through the rye.” This phrase and title come from the Robert Burns poem “Comin’ Thro the Rye.” The boy singing this song makes Holden less depressed.
What I’m listening to right now and Entry 95: The Uniqueness of the Day
I listened to Indigo Girl Swamp Ophelia and Chance the Arm’s The Green Groves of Erin this morning. Rooster and I purchased the Chance the Arm CD one year at Irish Fest, and this group from Kansas City plays Irish music with a modern twist. We enjoyed listening to them.
The thing I am most thankful for at this moment.
I am thankful this morning that I have the entire day to use it however I want. I am grateful for the time.
This old lady says
It’s sometimes hard to keep a sense of wonder in life. It would be so easy to slip into automatic mode and let one day bleed into another. Keeping your eyes open to the day’s uniqueness is important because no two are alike.
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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