The Journal, Friday, 5/12

Hey Folks,

Well, probably this will be another nonwriting day, and maybe a nonwriting weekend.

It’s early (7 a.m.) but I have to change oil in a car, pick up things in town, clean out the same car, then wash it and do a bunch of other stuff. All of this is to prepare for a visit from some of my children and grandchildren tomorrow morning. So life things.

Still, I won’t post this until this afternoon. So we’ll see.

***

I saw a thing in a newsletter this morning that is straight out of a horror novel… only it’s real life. For me as a human being who was raised when human life had real value, it was all but unbelievable.

For me as a writer of fiction, it was disheartening. Never has the old saw “Truth is stranger than fiction” been more clearly illustrated or had a greater impact on me. Wow.

Then again, there are several great story ideas in the article. (I guess that’s me speaking as a mercenary.)

In case you want to see the story I’m talking about, I’ve included the link in the second spot in “Of Interest” below. If you’d rather pass, just don’t click it.

Today, and Writing

Rolled out at 3:30 and started the day.

At 7 to Walmart to pick up an order, then to drop my wife off to get some labs. While she did that I waited and read.

Around 8:20, dropped her at work, dropped the car off to get an oil change, took a walk.

Around 9:15, found out the guy who changed the oil is a soon-to-retire Master Chief in the Navy, so he and I had a good chat.

It was good to share some common experience and language. Maybe I gave him a head start on some of the retirement stuff.

Back to the house to put stuff away, take care of email and FB, then to work on cleaning out the car, washing it, etc.

1:30, most of the stuff is done. Just have to ArmorAll the car and I’ll be done. (grin)

Also took and posted some new pics on Facebook.

Back tomorrow.

Of Interest

Over at Dean’s place, “A Catch-Up Day” at http://www.deanwesleysmith.com/a-catch-up-day/.

And a story you might not want to read, but here it is nonetheless: “Couples Are Turning Their Unwanted Embryos Into Jewelry” http://thefederalist.com/2017/05/12/couples-turning-unwanted-embryos-jewelry/.

Fiction Words: XXXX
Nonfiction Words: 380 (Journal)
So total words for the day: 380

Writing of

Day 1…… XXXX words. Total words to date…… XXXX

Writing of The Storm (tentative title, novel)

Day 1…… 3227 words. Total words to date…… 3227
Day 2…… 3366 words. Total words to date…… 6593
Day 3…… 2893 words. Total words to date…… 9486
Day 4…… 3172 words. Total words to date…… 12658
Day 5…… 1021 words. Total words to date…… 13679
Day 6…… 1735 words. Total words to date…… 15414 (stalled)
Day 7…… XXXX words. Total words to date…… XXXXX

Total fiction words for the month……… 15414
Total fiction words for the year………… 263008
Total nonfiction words for the month… 6920
Total nonfiction words for the year…… 81610

Total words for the year (fiction and this blog)…… 344618

The Daily Journal blog streak……………………………………… 534 days
Calendar Year 2017 Novel Goal (15 novels)………………… 4 novels
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)………………………………………… 24
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)……………………………………… 3
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)……………………………… 167