There’s some blue skies peaking out from the rain clouds this morning. I’ll look forward to the Florida sunshine at this time next year. It looks like another do-nothing-but-write day now that I’ve settled into my chair after another trademark run. Smoke is billowing from the sausage factory smokestack next door, but no workers on the roof to entertain me. Often times I need to just write what I see to get warmed-up, like an athlete stretching in preparation for an event. This blog gets me started  every day before I devote time to my current novel project. “There’s no A in Murder” has has now reached 65,000 words but nearing a conclusion. The next step will be to go back to the beginning and add more detail. I would liken it to a painting where the outline is sketched and the intricate particulars follow in layers. It’s a world of my own!

I have to admit that I’ve never done any painting, nor can I claim to be an artist of any kind. I’m pretty sloppy with house paint to the point where most of it ends up on me. I can only imagine the patience that’s needed to complete a great work of art. My writing is primarily for my own entertainment, with hope that someone else might enjoy it. I’ve questioned the contents of my novel many times this past month. Re-reading it over and over has led to embarrassment, shame, disgust, and sometimes self-praise. Several times I’ve wanted to stop. I’m using words that would never come out of my mouth, but apparently a disgusting part of my imagination. I could never kill anyone, but my characters have done it repeatedly. Where does this come from?

I’m going to take a break today and do some genealogy, one of my other hobbies. I have a couple of connections to find for a friend. I’ve carried some of this busy work into my novel,  touching on areas such as adoption, genetics, and family. For example, is the ability to kill genetic or learned behavior? Personally, I’m curious about the traits that I might share with my half-siblings. These are people that I didn’t know even existed until the last three years. Some have been willing to talk, while others aren’t interested. I see some common features in photos and this only serves to stir my interest, although I’m not really sure what I’m looking for?

In the working world it’s another hump day. Although, it’s been more like a hump quarter that has yet to peak. Stress levels must be high at the office these days, adding even more value to retirement. The year has been a set-back for everyone with most goals currently unobtainable. Yes, there are those thriving, fortunate to have products with toilet-paper-like demand. However, most are feeling the effects of a soft economy. As for me, I’m living in a fantasy world of fiction.