Thanks, everyone, for your comments. Even though I’m not allowing myself to reply to emails and comments, I enjoyed reading each one!
It as a terrific writing day yesterday. I powered through and finished a rough draft of the entire fairy tale collection. I lost motivation at one point, but I was so close I wanted to finish it! So I did. Now the whole thing can simmer for several weeks. I’m very excited about having something to work with. I needed that bulk of time to get into the "new poems" mode and produce 31 poems. When I revise, I’ll need to focus on voice (each poem is by a different character) and more vivid language.
I had finished the adult mystery I was reading, so I wasn’t alternating with that as I continued to work on the collection. Instead, I took a breather mid-morning and worked on my Bookspeak revision. That’s to be my second poetry picture book with Clarion, and my editor recently sent me revision notes. I revised 7 poems yesterday and hope to revise a few more today.
At lunchtime, I stopped at my car and got my second mystery novel. Then I walked to Hell’s Kitchen (not related to any Gordon Ramsay restaurant or show). They have great food and, um, interesting decor. It’s all black and red and grey and cobwebs and freaky art. Kitschy and fun. I had Caesar salad and amazing macaroni and cheese (and the second half of lunch was heated up in my room for dinner). Good food. Good book. I remember they had amazing sweet potato fries, so I might go back today or tomorrow for another meal.
| After lunch, I finished up the fairy tale rough draft. Then I answered a couple of urgent emails, worked on Bookspeak some more, and spent an hour on Gross Poems. That’s the collection that’s NOT under contract, but an editor is interested in. It’s the collection I moaned and groaned about here in an essay titled "Bashing My Head on the Brick Wall of Revision." On the car ride up here, though, I had also done some brainstorming about that. I came up with a possible idea. So I spent some time yesterday putzing around with that manuscript. I think it’s going somewhere, but I just now had a thought for a twist that might make it even better…or not. But I hope to spend some more time today on this manuscript. My main goal today, though, is to work on my homelessness piece. It’s not anything at the moment, because I haven’t written anything. It’s a project someone’s suggested, but I’m not sure how to approach it. I’ve spent ages trying to figure it out, and it’s not working. I think today, I’d like to commit to doing some BIC writing on it. Forget about what form it might or might not take. Just start putting SOMETHING down on paper. |
My other wish for today is to walk more around the lake. I think it’s going to be as grey and blustery yesterday, though. But I need to get out for a bit more exercise!
Everything at home is going fine. I have to admit, it’s such a luxury being cooped up here doing what I want, when I want, and just talking to everyone on the phone and hearing highlights of the day. And my husband, Randy, is busy, with chauffeuring the girls around, picking up birthday presents for parties this weekend, refereeing the bickering, etc. Ahhhhh…it’s nice to be here. I have all day today, plus tomorrow morning, and then I drive back home.