Writing is such fun—sometimes

For a week I’ve been carrying the opening scene of a mystery in my head. Me, who thought she might not write another mystery. At first it was a Kelly O’Connell, but I’ve decided it’s a Susan Hogan Oak Grove Mystery. And in this week, it has refined itself, taken on a new shape, added details. What they say about things on the back burner of your brain is definitely true—when you think you’re not working on something, your brain is.

Today was grocery store day which effectively took up my usual best writing time. But after lunch, I deliberately sat down and began to co commit my wandering thoughts to paper. Within less than an hour I wrote almost a thousand words and had such fun doing it. Who knows if the next thousand will come as easily or where the story is going—it’s already surprised me once. But it’s a great feeling to have gotten a start. And I even have a title—but I’m not sharing for a while.

Meantime, back to the cookbook, though I won’t get much done this weekend. Megan and her family will be here in about half an hour, and while I will snatch some time—when they are at baseball games and the like—I won’t have concentrated periods of attention to writing. Which is okay. I’m my own boss, and I do things at my own pace. No deadlines.

Today was a lovely day in North Texas—seventies and sunny. Jordan and I ran errands this morning—which means I sat in the car and she ran into the alterations place, the cleaners, the post office, the school (Jacob forgot his clarinet), the liquor store. But we did the grocery together. Everyone in my family seems to be on a diet, so we didn’t buy much for the upcoming visit, though I did order some cheese and sausage that Christian picked up at curbside at Central Market—we are loving that service.

Tonight, Christian was potting plants on the front porch, and I took a glass of wine out there and sat and visited. . ..

Oops. Pandemonium has just broken loose. The Hudgeons family from Austin has arrived, complete with their miniature poodle, which has Sophie doing her run-in-circles act. ‘Night all. I got to go.