Rules

Love rules. Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone.

Characters rule. I’m still struggling with the climax to Quantum Quest (the first draft of which was scheduled to be completed in 2023). But, as I’ve been saying for months, it is inching forward.

My latest discovery is 1) I’ve got lots of characters to settle; 2) I’ve failed to address all of them; 3) the actions of some are going to spur reactions in others, which of course, 4) will drive them all to the climax. I hope.

My little book rules. A few weeks ago, I titled a little notebook: 2024 Journal of Writing Progress, and began making notes. Every day since January 2nd contains at least one and usually multiple entries. Admittedly on lazy Sundays, I do very little work, but by the end of the day I’m considering what needs doing next. 

This past Sunday’s entry includes  “QQ night pondering.” I set an intention for my mind to work on the next step, and any time I woke, I directed my thoughts there. In the morning, I wrote out a page of character talk and action which I hope will edge me ever nearer the end.

As noted above, Characters rule. They know much more about the story than I do.

People rule. On Monday, I attended a retirement party for a librarian I once worked with, and there made contact with children’s librarians I hadn’t seen in years. 

Driving home from the library, I was reminded of my first encounter with classmates when embarked on my MLS degree. That was when I discovered: Librarians are my people.

I feel the same about writers, though as a whole they tend to be an eclectic bunch. Children’s writers are my people. 

Trickster Door addendum.

After posting last week’s blog, I had an aha moment. The garage door reversed itself and opened again. I went for a broom and swept the underside of the door. Surely that would cure the problem.

It didn’t. For whatever reason, it happened again. But I’m pretty sure (now that it has trained me to be extra mindful) that it will act much more dependably.