When will COVID go away? It doesn’t look good for the near
future. So, I guess we’ll have to “endeavor to persevere” as did Chief Dan
George in the movie The Outlaw Josie Wales.
Do you have phrases that hang around in your mind and appear
at the most inopportune times? As a writer using these famous, or not so
famous, phrases can get you in trouble. The other day I was editing my current
endeavor and this phrase popped into my head. Following its usual path, it slid
down the nerves and jumped from my fingertips to the keyboard. About 1500 words
later, I reread what I’d written, I do that when I seem to lose my
concentration and have to find out where my mind has gone. Well anyway, there was
this phrase in my manuscript, unintentionally I plagiarized the work of another
author. I don’t know if the sin would have been noticed or not, but I found it
and fixed the issue. Could I have been in violation of the law, of a willful theft
of intellectual property, or maybe just a violation of an unwritten morality that
should prevent us from taking an easy way out? I feel the same way about clichés,
using them is a lazy writer’s way of expressing themselves when they don’t take
the time to think through a problem. Oh well, Nuff said, let’s get on to the
Zoom Meeting the other night.
I goofed big time and sent out invitations with the wrong
date on them. Our meeting was Wednesday, not Tuesday. Even though I sent a
correction, some of our writers had an issue with connecting. Please accept my
apologies.
Ernie, Scott, James, Peter, and I welcomed Frank Shima as he
joined us for the first time. With time limitations imposed by the program, we
had two meetings of 40 minutes each with a short intermission as we changed
over.
Have you ever experienced the phenomenon of vanishing notes?
I find it happens more when youngsters are visiting than when I’m here with
only Betsy to keep me company. This week my notes have faded into the time warp
of disorganization as well as a hectic holiday weekend. It’s been a bad time for
old-timers. I’ll have to rely on what remains of my memory.
Scott was gracious enough to read a piece he read back in November
while I was in Lousiana. I hadn’t heard it and those who did didn’t mind
hearing it again. Scott’s work is always worth a second or even more reading.
Thanks.
It’s after the Civil War and James Kelly has taken us to the
high plains of the Dakota Territories as his saga of the military family
continues. James had an interesting dilemma. His story is following the life of
a family of soldiers and it was time to bring the son into the spotlight as the
main character. How to fall away from the previous character, the father, even
with a time-lapse of several years. What method do you think he should choose?
With Constantine on the throne, the Christian Church is
making strides in the fourth century, but treachery is afoot. Infighting among religious
leaders carries over into the government. Ernie takes us inside the battle as
powerful Senators join forces against a powerful widow to spur on the opposing
leaders, hoping to bring division within the ranks of Constantine’s supporters.
A spy in their midst reports to the emperor.
With the discussion, critique, and general enjoyment of listening,
the time flew by and we were out of time. Our next Zoom Meeting will be Wednesday,
July 15th, at 6:30 PM. We will send out invitations by the 14th.
If you have not received an invitation by 6:00 PM on the 14th, send
me an urgent email. I’ll get you on the list.
Until next time; KEEP ON WRITING!
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