strange - but good.

Mainly sunny - at last!!! temps 24

Lovely day...sunny, not too hot. Lise and Donna came this morning to do the garden, first day in a long time they could work in it without torrential rain. Wayne arrived, climbed onto his trusty tractor, and mowed the lawn. Ken and Mary came and cleaned the pool. Deanna dropped by...who does the house.

It was a party! The property was practically purring by the end of the day.

I retreated into the living room to do the editing. As I walked in I looked out the windows on either side of the fireplace, and saw, of course, all shades of green, from the plants next to the window, to the grass, to the forest beyond. And thought how many times I walked into the room to write this book, and looking out the window I saw snow.

I hope not to be walking into the room to continue the editing, seeing the changing leaves!

But I did another 50 pages today...really liked it. Some rough patches. But they at least were obvious. So much clearer when I can see the arch of things, feel the flow, or lack of it. The mistakes hit like a wall. Though sometimes the solution is less than clear.

But the most frustrating for someone with my temperment is when I hit something that I think is inconsistent with an event or fact earlier in the book...then I have to go back and find it! Very boring...but necessary. I really am not all that great at details. Character, yes, plots and clues, yes...but small consistencies bore me. Which is why, sometimes in the early drafts, Gamache can have lunch twice in a day...or have five drinks before I stop him. (Ruth - very bad influence).

Happily, we're a team and what I fail to see others will.

but I also force myself to go back and fix things, reminding myself that's what 'editing' means...and it's not going to get easier with subsequent edits. So might as well do it right away.

At this stage the big enemy is time. It seems crucial, for my process, to do this stage as quickly as possible, without interruption. If interrupted I can lose the flow and pacing of it...and forget whether I just read something and hearing it again is repetitive, or was that an earlier version?? So - I'm really trying to get this first edit done before I head to the Lakefield Literary festival next week. Actually, I have an interview with the CBC book club on Thursday - the host is coming to Montreal...so need to go in and meet her...then drive to Lakefield, Ontario Friday, for the event Saturday afternoon. Then home. But if I don't get this first edit done, then I'll have three, maybe four days away - more than enough time to lose the flow.

Then, once back, I need to dive immediately back in, and do the second edit, while it's still fresh. Smoothing, smoothing, adding the fine points...seeing the smaller problems, the details that aren't quite right, or could be better. Then one more time, not to change anything big, but to work a bit on language, the words used...tone down a bit, shade...a turn of phrase.

LOVE that stage. Actually, I quite like this one, but it is a little stressful. Always afraid I'm going to hit a big pile of merde on the next page. And sometimes I do.

Editing.

this afternoon, when everyone had left, Michael and I slid into the pool, then lay out there in the sun. Wow, did it feel good. Strange, but good.

Be well.

Passover

overcast, mild, temps plus 5

All the snow, or at least most of it, has melted. And the bluebells survived! Extremely hectic days...preparing for guests to arrive, trying to figure out meals and menus and sleeping arrangements. You know the drill.

And trying to remember they're all family and good friends and no one really cares if they get peanut butter sandwiches for breakfast. And lunch. And BBQed peanut butter for dinner. I'll tell you, if anyone in the family ever developed a peanut allergy we'd be in trouble.

Michael's birthday is tomorrow - 75. And then Easter after that. We have loads of kids coming so needed to remember easter chocolates too! I used to love Easter chocolates as a kid. Still do, actually.

Michael sent me a stunning bouquet this morning, to say Thank You for all the work. This was, thankfully, before the peanut butter fiasco.

Have been asked to write a novella for literacy - a very short mystery for adults, but who read at about a grade 5 level...starting to think about that. It will, apparently, be available in bookstores too with all proceeds going to Adult Literacy services.

Must head...I have loads of things left to screw up. I'll try to write tomorrow with an update. Why, oh, why didn't he want to go on a nice cruise for his 75th????

Next time.

Be well. And happy Passover!