Writing Mercies

 

I had so many hopes for today’s blog. But here it is after midnight, and I’m only now getting a post together. And that’s with a list on my desktop of things I plan to write about.

The truth is that I took today off work, for the most part. Which means I started working at 8 p.m.

Tonight’s work: Finishing up Tuesday’s blog for the Familiar Legacy site (Trouble the Black Cat Detective for the initiated.). Fixing an ebook file mixup that took lots of document combing. Scrolling through my photos to find good ones to use for the blog–there are 25K on my iMac. Thank the clouds for sorting options! (A writer on Twitter sent me a reply that said, “Thank the clouds I have curly hair.” That just tickled me, and I intend to use it liberally.) Tonight’s photo searches were: cats, Quebec, me, paintings, and Legoland.

I also spent a good hour answering 9 questions from a writing class about my story, “When I Make Love to the Bug Man.” I could’ve met with the class on Skype last week, but I’ve been working hard on my edit, and I didn’t feel like I had time. Plus, no class needs to see me in my working clothes (read: second jammies that might be yoga pants, and a braless tee). Of course, writing the answers out was actually way more complicated than Skyping. They were mostly interesting questions, and I felt like if they took the time to read and discuss the story, then I should contribute some answers. Hmmmm. If you haven’t read this story, it’s free online at PANK Magazine. Click the story’s title above. The title is reasonably self-explanatory. It’s short. Surreal. Comment below and let me know what you make of it if you are so inclined. I’m happy to answer your questions, too.

Then I had to touch the book. “Touch the book” is just what it sounds like. When I work on a novel, if I don’t touch the book every day, I’ll lose a little bit of it. My brain gets fuzzy, and I might forever lose a tiny connection to it. And what if it’s a connection that would make or break the story?

Photos tomorrow. But I’ll also be blogging at Familiar Legacy.

I need your prayers and encouragement and writing mercies over the next 10 days. The edit of One Last Secret is due to my editor the middle of next week, and I need them all!

*Don’t forget to drop by this post before Wednesday at midnight, and tell us what your favorite mystery book is. I’ll be giving away a pile on Friday. Don’t miss it. Okay, if you miss it, you’ll have another chance in a couple of weeks. Still, don’t miss it!