It’s Been a Week for Sky Watching

Kate Flora: I haven’t been doing enough writing lately, what with one thing and another. Now, I really need to focus on my WIP. I’m 67K in, and in the middle of a critical scene, and I’m stuck, waiting for my characters to tell me which way they want to go with it.

Yes, it’s true. As many writers will tell you, we may pretend to be in charge but sometimes our characters simply start acting in ways we don’t plan. They’ll say things that surprise us. They’ll do things that have us, as the writer, waving our arms about and saying, “No. No. Don’t do that! It’s dangerous.” The first time or two it happens, it’s too scary and we make our characters behave. Yet later, because we’ve learned to trust our characters, we take dictation from them and follow along to see where the story will go. So tomorrow, once again, I will sit myself down at the keyboard and see what on earth that distressed teenage girl who was present at the shooting is going to say.

But summer is about to wind down, and so I’ve been allowing myself to indulge in these last warm days. Is it truly indulgent to jump into an icy sea? I’ve certainly been doing it. Icy plunges, reading in my LL Bean rocking chair, getting delicious apple cider donuts at the farmer’s market. And cooking to-die-for delicious double chocolate zucchini bread. Is it any wonder that I’m not getting my writing done?

double chocolate zucchini bread

But, as Scarlett O’Hara says, “Tomorrow is another day.” Hopefully, it will be the day I resolve that scene before weekend company comes. Before I have to zip down to Kennebunkport, to the Graves Library, on Saturday, where I’ll be at 2:00 p.m. to talk about writing. And for today?

Cloud watching and sunsets, which are always most beautiful in September and October.

How are you spending these last, lovely days of summer?