I’ve never been good at 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 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 this post Entry 149: Moving Over the Same Material.
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 149: Moving Over the Same Material
I need a vacation. The practice of going over and over the same portion of a manuscript can feel so redundant. It almost makes you think you are living out a scene of the Bill Murray movie Groundhog Day. Speaking of groundhogs, we saw a big one in the backyard last night. I think he is Old Grandaddy or one of his progeny. Rooster and the neighbor spent an entire summer trying to catch the critter, but I digress. I managed to move through chapters 19-22 of Amazing Buchanan and the Beast. The editing spilled over into the afternoon. I am lagging in my blogging. Time is draining as fast as sand in the hourglass. I have thought about another category I might attempt. I plan to call it Life Lessons. I’ve lived long enough to have learned a few of them.
The book I am reading and Entry 149: Moving Over the Same Material
I am almost through with Elizabeth Lyon’s Manuscript Makeover. The section I am reading now is about character development. She talks about beginnings, endings, and everything in between. There are certain outward traits you should know about your characters. These things are as important as ‘holes in the soul.’
What I’m listening to right now and Entry 149: Moving Over the Same Material
Joe Cocker Mad Dogs & Englishmen I one of my favorite sounds to listen to on a moody morning. This music is from a US tour Joe Cocker did in 1970. It was one of my favorites in high school. This massive band created some great music.
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!
Yes, theoretically time should move as fast as the sand in the hour glass, as you said, but I feel that time is flying by and disappearing…
When my oldest daughter was about 6, she was playing outside the window with her step sister as I washed the dishes. There was a ground hog they were petting. We lived in town and I was worried about rabies, I remember calling them for ice cream at 9 a.m so they wouldn’t be alarmed. They came in and I had them wash their hands. I called animal control to take care of the ground hog.
Animal control won’t mess with ground hogs here. You hve to trap them yourself.
Our animal control in Maine would get bats and ground hogs.
Time sure does fly by . Keep up with your journal. Xx
Thank you.
Time is a mystery!
Thank you.