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The Shoes

The shoes bothered him. Being a self-effacing sort, he disliked calling attention to himself. He liked sitting in the back, entering and departing without being noticed.

These shoes drew attention. More expensive than he would pay for shoes, they were made by an Italian designer, and were long and very pointed. He preferred more subtle, workman style of shoes that tended to look clunky. Sometimes, she claims, they look like bowling shoes, an indictment uttered with disdain and horror.

So these shoes were bought because of her. Yet, he was wearing them and enduring. Then people complimented him on them. They claimed to really like the shoes.

Was a lesson learned? Not really. She was right about the shoes, as he thought she would be, but he was still a person who preferred to avoid attention.

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Book Sales Update

I hadn’t paid much attention to my book sales. I keep telling myself that I need to work on advertising. I set aside time to do that, along with taking the books into other formats and venues, but *cough*, somehow, I keep getting sabotaged *ahem* or sidetracked from those efforts.

Nonetheless, sales picked up, along with views, likes, etc, at the various places. It’s always a surprise to see, hey, look, sales – a lot of sales.

So, thanks to you anonymous buyers out there. Hope you enjoy them a third as much as I enjoyed writing them. If you do, please tell your friends.

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The Task

Their clocks and rhythms abused by jet travel and long days, they arrived at a restaurant for dinner at four thirty. No other customers were present. A young employee methodically went from table to table, wiping down every seat and table top. They already appeared clean, so he watched her, marveling at her attention and focus. She never looked up or slowed.

A large piece of bread was on the carpeted floor, the only object out of place in the clean, modern restaurant. He waited to see if she would deviate to pick up the bread. She did not. From her activity, he didn’t believe she even looked at the bread, causing him to ponder her motivation, conjecturing that the cleaning could be punishment, but doubtful that someone would levy such a juvenile punishment on an employee. More reasonably, he thought, cleaning the tables and chairs was her task.

Cleaning the floor was not.

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Feline Nam

According to the Old Pawstament, Feline Nam was a legendary land where wise, benevolent cats ruled humans. According to cathology, the land enjoyed peace and prosperity for thousands of years under the beautiful Empress Felinus. It all came to an end when one young tom, seeking more power, betrayed the Empress. Angered, the Empress ordered her felines to withdraw from Earth, leaving behind only the betraying cat and his followers. Per the legend, they were cursed to forever be the pets of humans while struggling to reclaim the natural order of cats ruling humans.

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Today’s Theme Music

Back at it. Things usually don’t work out as expected or desired for me. I plan for a reasonable knock-off of the best and forge forward. Yeah.

I have this thing going on, this writing thing. Besides the arc of learning, there are the arcs of success, not just with a career, but with each novel, every effort and each writing day. Some days, I want to chuck it. Those days are infrequent and come about when I’m hunting for something I think is missing. I’ll not give up. In the immortal lyrics of Judas Priest, “You think I’ll let it go, you’re mad, you got another thing comin’.”

Here they are, singing all about it back in nineteen eighty-two. Hope it helps you crystallize your determination.

Now, nose down, time to write like crazy, at least one more time.

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Those Brains

Her brain is wired differently. We can tell by how she expresses herself. Her self-view of her self-worth and interactions is surprising and even disturbing. So, we ask, whose brain is wired the same?

Some lack those controls over being empathetic. Others are missing connections, components or chemicals that help identify directions or faces, or remember words.

“Try harder,” we urge, “teach to the test,” as though any of those exhortations can fix the brain’s complexities.

Tell you, what though, watching and listening to children remains the best brain food. Maybe second-best, to music. Or third, to writing. Maybe fourth, to reading. Or sleeping.

Guess it depends on whose brain we’re talking about.

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Inspirational Quote # 614

I’m feeling a little tongue-tied today. Should we update that expression? I’m feeling a little verbally handicapped today. No? I’m feeling a little verbally challenged today.

I’ll edit it later.

Today, You Will Write's avatarToday, You Will Write

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Today’s Theme Music

Marcus reminded me of an excellent song for pattering through the day.  A dance song, they provide instructions in the lyrics:

It’s just a jump to the

And then a step to the right.

With your hands on your hips.

You bring you knees in tight.

(h/t to Metrolyrics.com)

From nineteen seventy-five and ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’, ‘Let’s Do the Timewarp Again.’ It’s such a rousing, crazy song, part of a rousing, crazy movie, that it’s inspired cults. The cast was excellent, the plot was unpredictable, and the plotting was frenetic.  Beyond all of that, I could really use a timewarp today. Forward or back, left or right, I don’t know where I’d go.

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How Being Patient Improved My Writing

Millie Ho’s post reminds me of my quest for writing patience. Patience came on its own eventually, as the writing process came to gratify me. In a sense, I think that can be dangerous, too; it’s possible to be too complacent about it, because, hey, I’m writing, and I’m happy. What else is required.

I like her points, though. Law enforcement officials often talk about the CSI effect. It’s a halo of belief that evolves about modern policing, forensics and justice that emerges from the ease with which clues are found and linked, leading to the quick, successful solving of crimes.

I think writing – and other ventures – suffer from how relatively easily television protagonists write a book, get it published, and become a best selling novelist and celebrity.

Yes, it embittered me, to have me and my efforts compared to fictional writers and their success. Yes, it rankled me. Now, I accept it with the grace that comes with patience, the understanding that the experience is part of the process, and knowledge about the truth about publishing.

No, I don’t really know the truth. I only know that it’s far messier than it’s usually shown on television.

But it still sometimes rankles.

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