Making Headway

Making headway

Getting unwound

Seeds planted, Flowers found.

My last blog reported my writing process of “pondering” for thirty minutes a day. When that ended, I put my focus on sorting out notes and chapters. And of course, I found plenty of gaps that need to be filled. That realization led to my next course of action: Spiralling.

What I call spiralling (I’m not sure what other writers call it) is a technique I’ve used over the years. I circle an issue, or plot point, or a day, and see what ideas spiral out from there. 

Also—being character-driven—I’ve added spirals around my main characters. What do they want or need? What are they going to do? This actually takes me longer because I have to worm my way under the skin of each, one at a time,.

But it is headway! 

Getting unwound

My life, these last couple years, was a very slow constriction of time and energy. My subsequent unwinding is proving to be a poky process as well. But it is happening. Progress in writing builds an enthusiasm that spills over into the rest of my life. 

With friend Rachel’s help, I worked out a list of jobs to tackle over the next months. (“I’ve got a little list,” sang Ko-Ko in The Micado.) 

Rachel pointed out a couple phone calls I could make. I hate making phone calls. Years ago, when beginning my first librarian position, I learned that making calls would be part of my work. I told myself “You can always quit instead.” I didn’t quit.

So I groaned a bit, but picked up my cell phone and arranged for upholstery to be steam-cleaned, and for some of our rugs be picked up for washing. The steam cleaning happened the next day! And we’re awaiting return of the rugs. Sophie’s not used to a bare living room floor.

Seeds planted, Flowers found.

Last spring I scattered two packets of seeds in a triangular bed near the front door. Nothing came up. But just lately I’ve noticed a few shy cosmos blossoms appearing at the lower edge of the bed. Very shy. When I went out hoping to snap a picture, there were none to be found, but the plants are there!

This minor success has spurred me on to a related project. On my walks, I look for and collect seeds of flowers thriving along sidewalks: desert marigold, chocolate flowers, and other hopefuls. These I scatter in my side yard. It would be nice to have a patch of wildflowers mixed with the grass next year. I’m playing a long game—inviting lots of guests, and waiting to see who or what accepts my invitation.

Here’s wishing flowers in everyone’s lives.