It’s Saturday, so I thought I might accomplish some writing of some kind. You all know I’ve been promoting my new story, but I felt like I deserved to get some words down. If you’re a writer, you know the feeling.
It’s been a rough stretch for me, and that doesn’t look like it’s going to end until June. It all started with my mom being hospitalized in Salt Lake. I was neck deep in a project at work that involved live presentations and could not get down there to see her. I had to live through the telephone for updates.
I was involved every day of the presentations, sometimes peripherally and once as the presenter. Mom went home with a diagnosis and some medications. I still haven’t been to visit her, but it’s on my list for May.
I had to get my daughter moved here from Twin Falls, then move her from Boise to New Hampshire. That took a week and I shared a few of the interesting places we stopped.
Immediately after getting home I had to report for jury duty. It was scheduled for eleven days of medical malpractice fun. They settled after six and I know more about being a rat scientist than I ever wanted to know. Also gained an education about gestation and birth that I never needed.
Since they settled, it allowed me to freak out for half a week about being so behind at work. At one point I threw up my hands and said, “Oh my God! I need a weighted blanket and a Ding Dong.” I don’t think my cubicle mates are going to let me live that one down.
After next week, work is sending me to Savannah for a week. I am looking forward to this training, and will probably try to share something from the trip with all of you. Then I can be behind at work again.
Somewhere along the way, I published a new book that you’ve been getting teasers for. Why not? It’s not like I have anything else going on.
Today was all about getting a few words down. Unfortunately, I’m at a transition phase in the story. I read back every word of this story. I want it to be a slow burn with a lot of mystery boxes to open. I’ve never done a tale like this, and there is a learning curve. I stared at my open word processor and never wrote a single word.
Jenny is my main character and needs to chat with her adult son, Cody. This is how they piece things together and figure out the next steps. I need to include Jenny’s new training, discover something to chase, and hint at the gyrations of the bad guy in this conversation. Then they’ll chase the next item in the plot.
I’m a big fan of the double conversation, and use it quite a bit. Jenny and Cody can use that trick to get information to the reader. This is where the characters have dialog about more than one thing at once. One example is from my new publication where the topic is about throwing knives, but also includes a history lesson at the same time. Jenny and Cody might need a triple conversation, so I’m trying to figure that out.
It might be a good idea to plot this section of dialog out. That way I won’t forget anything.
Honestly, I might just have too much going on right now. The urge is there, but the brain cells are tasked with other things. I have a bunch of things happening after Savannah, and still want to go see Mom. Writing might have to take a back seat for a little longer.
I discovered the first review for Once Upon a Time in the Swamp this morning. If you’re so inclined, D. Wallace Peach had some nice things to say https://mythsofthemirror.com/2023/04/29/april-book-reviews-4/