Dear Reader,
While Word Raccoon does not mind sharing most things, she does not like sharing her chariot and is glad to have it back in her possession. She just reminded me that we have all the things to do to get ready for August!
(If I’m not much mistaken, I also saw her tuck our neighbor’s prologue into her basket to read tomorrow at the cafĂ©.)
The garage door is painted, as is the trim at the front of the house. Now WR has officially declared a House Gorgeous Strike until September.
“Maintenance and administrative tasks only,” she says.
You might be relieved to know that WR has cleared her calendar for August to protect the novel.
Except for a hair appointment.
And our neighbor’s appearance in a musical.
(Both on the same day.)
Lunch with family.
Another lunch with friends.
But we are protecting our time, we promise.
Except for a medical appointment.
Also the rheumatologist.
And a weekend trip.
Then there’s a benefit.
Other than those things, the month is pretty much free of nonwork, nonwriting tasks.
(Eye roll.)
Am I tempted to reschedule some things?
I am.
But I won’t.
Instead, I am promising myself that if life gets messy (and it will), then I’ll simply put a little extra novel writing time on September’s calendar.
Although WR prefers poetry, she seems to be getting kind of excited to finish a rough draft.
A very rough draft.
Left to do?
Finish summarizing and numbering the scenes. (It’s taking longer than we imagined.)
Print the novel’s current pages.
Lay in a stock of Coke Zero and WR’s favorite snacks. Meal prep.
Tidy the house. (This will be ongoing, obviously, but starting out tidy seems like the right approach.)
Reserve a table at the local cafĂ©s most days and REMEMBER TO BRING pens, Post-it notes, page flags, laptop, and research books. (Not too many. It’s far too easy to disappear into those.)
While painting, I listened to one research book and part of another, in addition to A Gentleman in Moscow. That turned out to be exactly the right move.
Now WR is hoping the town leaves her a parking spot in front of the cafĂ©. They’re having a weekend of events, and sometimes they block off half the street.
WR says she’s run over orange cones before with her car, and she’ll do it again.
Let’s…not make that part of the writing routine, WR.
I think we’re both getting excited to go back to Noveland.
It’s been waiting patiently.
And, between you and me…
Anything beats using a paintbrush.
Drema