This Writer's Life

Half dead or half alive?

I'm sitting outside in the cool morning. Well, it's almost cold for this Texas girl. It was 107 degrees two weeks ago and a thirty degree switch is almost alarming. All I know is that it's the kind of weather that begs you to sit outside and enjoy it.

As I was enjoying the great outdoors, I noticed my poor neglected plants. I don't know about you, but when I'm deeply engrossed in a project,  one hundred to-do's fall away and are forgotten. Like watering plants. Like getting a haircut. Like visiting my little blog.

Well, my excuse is that I've been making steady progress on the next book. I've been trying to get that necessary very bad first draft down on paper so that I can finally discern what this story is about. There's no escaping this part of the journey. Each time YOU pick up a book there are thousands of deleted pages and dead plants behind it. It's true! That beautiful story you hold was once a rebellious smash-up.

I just finished my very bad first draft (aka - rebellious smash-up) and I realized that it resembles my neglected backyard plant. You see, despite a serious lack of attention, this once lovely summer gardenia is still half-alive. It has green sprouts and dead brown twigs. That is how I feel about my first draft. Some things should be fertilized and coaxed into new growth. Something things should just be snapped off and thrown into the compost.

So that's what's been happening in this writer's life. I'm going to try not to commit too much more herbicide.

Hope your day is terrific and includes a great book. Here are a few great books I've recently read:

GONE GIRL
MY SISTER LIVES ON THE MANTLEPIECE 
AFTER ELI
DEAD END IN NORVELT

Cheers,

kh