First of all, there is nothing quite like realizing three days after the fact that all the links I posted on my Creative Thingies page were wrong. Here I was congratulating myself on everything I got accomplished (so far) during a week when I have been a bit under the weather, only to learn that there is a limit to my precision while feverish.
That said, the links have been fixed. Even in a bit of a daze, in addition to regular work / teaching, I at least got the Creative Thingies page up, finished two stories this week, crossed some stuff off the to do list and read a whole bunch. And I took pictures of butterflies. And it is still only Thursday!
This afternoon I finished the story I started during the Spring semester. I am not entirely sure why it feels like such a big deal – it’s just a short story. Maybe it is because this is the first finished work to come out of grad school. Maybe it is because this is the first piece of straight fiction I have ever written with the intention of publishing (once I got through the first couple of drafts). Or maybe it is just because it was so challenging to write. It is a relief and a letdown and a proud moment all at the same time, and beyond all of that I am really going to miss my characters. They have been with me in some form since February. I have inhabited them and they have surprised me. Even up to the very last little edits and flourishes, I was surprised by the things Melissa saw. I love her softness and Paul’s artistic bluster.
This is one of the reasons why fiction writers are a little crazy.
Also, just in case anyone is wondering, acrylic paint tastes like burning.
When catching up on my Lauren Flax reading, I prefer to read the posts starting with the most recent and moving on back through time until I get to wherever I left off.
This way, I feel a little like Merlin. Don’t worry, though: I won’t do any unprovoked magic to you.
I understand. And if you must do unprovoked magic, be nice!