The Last Three Chapters

I had hoped to finish the first draft of my current story by Christmas. I’m within spitting distance – three chapters to go – but I’m not going to make it. I’d intended to finish the draft, and then dig into a second round of deepening and pulling threads through the story (the emotional layer, themes). But I got hung up on needing to bring all those elements together in the final chapters, and so couldn’t write the chapters until I figure out all the threads. I’m getting there – at least, almost enough to write the last three chapters – but it’s not going to happen before Christmas. This week has been in interrupt mode, with final exams, flights, baking, wrapping and shipping, with writing tucked in whenever I can, in between everything else.

When writing becomes the ‘tucked in-between’ activity, it’s time to let go of the big goals. But I will sneak off periodically, just to get a regular dose.

Maureen

Christmas in the Garden

The new bird feeder is attracting all kinds of attention. The small birds have figured out how to eat from the feeder ­– the others hover, hoping for scraps. Then the squirrels got their revenge, breaking into the suet basket and stealing the entire block of peanut butter and suet.

We’re started on a new song:

Six sparrows flying

Five magpies squawking

Four squirrels stealing

Three pigeons cooing

Two redpolls feeding

and a hare hopping through the snow.

Maureen

Squirrel Defeat

After many years of grudgingly tolerating squirrels feasting at the bird feeder, I have finally bought a squirrel-proof feeder. I wanted to set out food for the birds as it gets colder, but couldn’t afford to keep up with squirrel appetites.

Now I’ll watch to see how long it takes for the squirrels to defeat the design.

Maureen