A Writer’s Journal: Day 2
I didn’t get to start the day writing so it feels a bit off but I wrote 552 words on my new story this evening.
Yesterday’s story ended with the woman not paying much attention to the young man, but today I picked up with the man walking away.
I still have no idea who they are, but today I learned a little about the man’s past.
He passes some cows grazing in a pasture on a farm. Two of the cows looks at him prompting several other curious cows to walk toward him. He remembers a story when he was a kid of cows getting lose. One had to be destroyed when it was hit by a car.
The man seems to feel guilty about this death and he walks away from the scene with the cows eyeing him so that the mishap does not repeat.
Then, he tries to sit on a stone wall and ends up tumbling over onto his back. He spots a squirrel doing acrobatics in the trees above him.
I left the woman, but ultimately the man will return to her.
As I said yesterday in my notes, I don’t know when he goes back. Is it an hour? Is it the next day, or week, or years later? Or does he return multiple times?
I have no idea.
Stories sometimes come to the writer.
The writer needs to let the story reveal itself to the writer.
This requires a great deal of trust, but trust is something that serves the write well when he is able to let go and allow it to happen.
At some point, I need to do several things.
Add more details about both characters. Decide if there are more characters. Decide who is related to whom. Decide what happens.
I also realized that perhaps this is a short story instead of a novel.
If that were true, then it could be completed in a week.
I will let the story tell me when it’s done.
My plan is to just keep showing up.
When it is finished, I will put it through my revision process.
Individual focuses of characters, plot, setting, POV, theme, etc.
Reverse outline. Polish.
Okay.
The mosquitoes are coming out now. It’s 8:05. It’s a beautiful clear night, but I’m going inside.
