odd little writing quirks

I finished writing!  And, of course, after it is all written out, *then* I start to have doubts about this that and the other thing. But then it'd be a different story, and I quite like the way it turned out.

Maybe I should try to write one of those choose-your-adventure books.  Then I could have all the possible plot twists concurrently!

Synopsis.  Hmm.  Stuffing a story down into its barest lines, its most basic essence. 

So, so, so much harder than it should be!!

It is high summer all of a sudden today!  Transplanted some roses yesterday--hot, sweaty work--and today I hope for some writing time.

The charity story I've been working on is coming along well, but slowly.  It is tough when there are little spots in the story that are tough to smooth out to satisfaction.  I know part A and part B, but the little transition between the two parts isn't connecting as sweetly as I could hope for.  So I'm sweating the editing!

Chugging Along

I got a good chunk into the story, and then decided I wanted to make changes.  Oh, inspiration is a fickle thing!

Finally! The first line!

I've been trying to start writing a short story, and I know the entire form of the story, and the characters, and their histories, and what happens.  But what I didn't know was the opening line!  Finally, today, it came to me.   I've got a couple hundred words started on the story now.  First lines are so important.  Without them, the entire rest of the story either shows up begrudgingly or not at all!

Space and Writing

I don't know about other writers, but I find that I write best in organized, clean spaces. (I suspect perhaps this is true of others, because of the image of the writer in the coffee shop -- coffee shops tend to be generally clean and organized, so they make great spaces in which to concentrate. Otherwise...would writers congregate where there is dirt and dust? Bus stops? Sports games?)

Which can be difficult because my home-keeping skills are never sharp, but only a bit dull, and generally lacking.

So, this weekend, I did a major clean and got everything back on track and spiffy looking. 

Of course, now that I'm exerted all my energies in cleaning, I have none left to write.  So, it'll be an early bed tonight.  But with the place spit-spot and in apple-pie order, when I have time, it'll be straight to the writing, and no longer with the procrastinating since I won't feel guilty for not cleaning.

plans for the day: gardening

Finally!  A weekend with nothing else to do but get things organized! 

So, today and tomorrow, I'm going to concentrate on my little garden tasks.  I have a bunch of houseplants that require some tending to, and some lovely roses that I just got (June is almost here, and June seems synonymous with roses), and of course, all the tomato plants, basil, and whatnot.  I have a couple grey-blue stoneware pots that I put flowers in, and set at the front, welcoming me home each day with their cheery colors.  I generally pick between impatiens, petunias, and the like.  This year I've got some amazing orange-and-yellow marigolds (also good for cooler times of the year) and some gorgeous lobelia that will go into a hanging pot.

I wasn't much of a flower person for a long time, but in past years I've made an effort to at least recognize the more common flowers, and I quite enjoy being able to recognize them, and plant them around a little bit.  They are always a joyful sight to me.

Oh, yes, also, some writing.  I have three or four story ideas sitting in my brain that I'm mulling around, rolling about.  I should make time to get them out.  If I have the garden area in order, I think sitting on the porch, outside, with the flowers blooming, with my laptop will be an excellent creative space to start to work on writing.