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 186: Summertime Blues.
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 186: Summertime Blues
It seems I am going over the same territory in this edit of Amazing Buchanan and the Beast. Every change I make creates a stronger story, but sometimes I wish the process could be less redundant. It would be fun to move faster, but I know this is a necessary part of making the work shine. I can imagine Jane Austen enduring this process with paper and pen. At least I have a Word document to work with, where I can delete, cut, and paste to my heart’s content.
I am ready to leave free-verse poetry behind and move on to a style that starts with the letter G. After researching this morning, I think I know what I will be writing in July. William Blake will be my inspiration since Word Daddy fell off the wagon. I hear my muse spends most of his time at a bar on Jackson Street. My adventure posts are interesting. Rooster and I had a great time. I also have a bad case of the summertime blues. What is the best way for a writer to cope with a condition like that? I am starting to understand why we have a reputation for being drunk all the time.
The book I am currently reading right now and Entry 186: Summertime Blues
I have almost finished Othello Bach’s How to Write a Great Story. In other trade books, I have read and heard her advice for writers. I like how she hits on all the main topics and problems in writing fiction.
What I’m listening to right now and Entry 186: Summertime Blues
I thought some classical music might calm my nerves. I put Schumann Symphony No. 1 and 3 on the stereo. I’m feeling the pressure of being home with my real life butting in on my peace of mind. I’m fighting the urge to switch things up for a while. That is never a good idea.
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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