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 282: Listening to My Stories.
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 282: Listening to My Stories
I started listening to the short stories in the Tecumseh Street Stories collection during my morning pages. A few changes needed to be made in the first three stories in the series. Overall, I thought they were pretty tight. I am also looking for inspiration. I could use a few more entries to expand this effort. Rooster thinks my short stories should be the first thing I publish. When I started writing, I began with poetry and short stories. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would finish an entire novel, and here I sat with several of them saved on a flash drive. Rooster might be right, but Saving the Henhouse must be published first. The element that holds all of these pieces together is the quirky city of Tecumseh, Indiana.
I am still having the Word issue. The word program freezes in the middle of my work. I have to reboot my computer every time it happens. This process is becoming frustrating. The problem might exist in the document I use as a template for my journal. I am considering creating a new one as soon as I finish typing this entry.
The book I am currently reading right now and Entry 282: Listening to My Stories
I finished reading Eldora Welty’s The Ponder Heart. Uncle Daniel’s trial was pretty much a circus. I’ve enjoyed spending time with this humorous writer. I plan to continue exploring literature about the South from a different perspective by reading Zora Neale Hurton’s Their Eyes Were Watching God. I like to play these types of games when I read. Exploring an author, style, or period keeps things interesting.
What I’m listening to right now and Entry 282: Listening to My Stories
I put Jethro Tull’s Aqualung this morning. This progressive British rock band has always been one of my favorites. I enjoy the way they blend jazz, blues, and enough rock riffs to keep things interesting.
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!
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