Entry 248: Lost Dog

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 248: Lost Dog.

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 248: Lost Dog

I finished touching up chapter 58 of Amazing Buchanan and the Beast. Tomorrow, I will return to chapter 41 and listen, read, and polish the rough spots. I’ll move through those chapters until I get to where I left off. The process is too slow for me to finish before September 1. I might manage by the middle of the month.

A Golden Shovel came to me yesterday. I managed to spend a little time playing with Robert Frost, but I think I am about through with him. The process of the Golden Shovel is still a concept I find interesting. I might hang out here for another month.

About the Lost Dog

Rooster and I came upon the sight of a small dog that ran out into busy four-lane traffic. He was following three kids on bicycles. One of the kids started to run into the road to save the dog. We had to do something. We blocked traffic with our small Chey Spark long enough to get the dog out of danger. The kids went on their way. He wasn’t their dog. Now, we have a problem. How were we going to get this dog back to the owner? We bought a couple of cans of dog food and posted a picture of our new friend on social media.

We got a response within an hour, and Romeo was reunited with his owner. Turns out our new friend is an escape artist. He managed to jump from a window, squeeze through a fence, and survive four lanes of heavy traffic to end up in our car.

The book I am currently reading right now and Entry 248: Lost Dog

I started reading the second short story in Eldora Welty’s The Golden Apples. This is a much longer story than the first. It’s not hard for the reader to see the influence of Greek mythology in this book. Even the title suggests the Hesperides goddess-nymphs that protect the golden beauty of the evening sunset and the golden apples.

The second story starts with a sick boy, Loch. He watches the vacant house next door and waits for the figs to ripen. I am not far into the story. The characters from the first short story in the book have already appeared in the second. The entire work has a fairytale feel to it. The common connection running through the book is the small Mississippi town of Morgana. I used this approach in my short story collection for NaNoWriMo several years ago. The common connection that weaves the stories together is the town of Tecumseh, Indiana. You won’t find the place on a map.

What I’m listening to right now and Entry 248: Lost Dog

I am listening to Sarah McLachlan’s Mirrorball.  It is a live album. I always like to listen to live music when I start my day. The lady has a fantastic voice.

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!