Musings & Thoughts for Tuesday, May 7, 2024, or: ‘Sweet’ News for Reunion: Coda – Chapter 16 Has its First Scene!

Mid- to Late Morning, Tuesday, May 7, 2024, Madison, New Hampshire

Hi, everyone. It’s a cool spring day here in my corner of New England on the second day of my workweek. Currently, the temperature is 57°F (14°C) under sunny skies. With humidity at 70% and the wind blowing from the east-northeast at 1 MPH (2 Km/H), the feels-like temperature is 70°F (21°C). Today’s forecast calls for sunny skies and a high of 72°F (22°C). Tonight, we can expect mostly clear skies. The low will be 40°F (4°C).

On Writing & Storytelling: With the New Week, Chapter 16 Begins

Yesterday was a productive day, at least as far as Reunion: Coda is concerned. I finished the first scene for chapter 16 (The Breathless Hush of Evening) of the novel, after several days of editing and rewriting, and a welcome break on Saturday and Sunday. I wrote a scene with 1,256 words (or about five pages) in it – much to my joy and astonishment – between 2 and 4:30 PM.

I enjoyed writing “The Grand Tour” immensely. It’s a continuation of the “endpoint” scene for Chapter 15, and it – like the rest of the novel going forward – focuses on Jim and Maddie’s deepening relationship. It’s a “transitory scene” that shows Maddie’s first visit to Jim’s midtown Manhattan apartment (hence the scene’s title). There’s not a lot of action, but the scene has some nice little character moments and – hopefully – a sweet and revelatory dialogue between my college professor protagonist and his lovely new girlfriend.   

Here’s an excerpt from “The Grand Tour” if you’re curious to see how Chapter 16 begins:

We close the door to my apartment behind us, shutting out the city noise. Maddie enters the living room, looking around with the interest of someone who’s never been here before. The fireplace that’s not lit is the center of attention, with the peaceful life of a historian around it.

“This is my cozy spot in the Metropolis Arms,” I say, and I see her observe the space. The room is a mix of cozy and historical, the walls painted with dark blues and beige, decorated with framed military maps and diplomas that show wars and words.

Maddie looks at the mantelpiece, where several pictures show the story of my life without words. She sees the black-and-white photo of my father, his Army Class A second lieutenant’s uniform neat, his eyes showing a different era.

Maddie’s fingers linger on the edge of the black-and-white photo, her touch gentle. “He seems like someone who’d have many stories,” she says, her voice tinged with a mix of curiosity and respect.

I feel a twinge in my chest, a longing for memories I never had the chance to make. “I never knew him, Maddie. He died when I was a baby. I wish I had some memories of him.”

She takes my hand in hers, her grip firm and comforting. “I’m so sorry, Jim. That must be hard. He sounds like he was an amazing man.”

I nod, the ache in my heart eased by her presence. “From what I’ve learned about him, he was. I wish I’d known him, though.”

Beside it, a photo of my mother in her 40s reveals her timeless beauty, the style of the ’80s highlighting her warm smile. “And your mom, she’s lovely,” Maddie says, her voice gentle.

“She was. She’s been gone for almost eight years,” I say, feeling the familiar ache in my chest. Maddie looks at me with sympathy and compassion, her eyes soft and kind. “Oh, I’m so sorry,” she says, squeezing my hand a little harder. I give her a small smile, grateful for her presence. “It’s okay. The topic’s never come up before.”

Tuesday’s Agenda: Action This Day

I woke up early this morning; I was up and active at 6 AM, so I’m way ahead of my usual schedule. I’m not, despite my early rising, sleepy or tired (although, of course, that could be because I’ve had two cups of coffee with my breakfast), so if I manage my schedule properly, today will be another productive workday.

If all goes well, I will – at the very least – get Scene Two off to a good start during the afternoon novel writing shift. Of course, I will do my best to write a complete scene; I don’t do outlines or have detailed concepts for scenes floating around in my subconscious, so I can’t predict if I will finish Scene Two in one work session. I improvise when I write, so I have no idea how long or short each scene will turn out when I begin writing. I start writing, one sentence at a time, and stop when I sense there’s a natural “endpoint.”

That’s how I roll, my friends. I write by the seat of my pants and hope for the best. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, but it’s always an adventure. And speaking of adventures, I hope you have a great one today, whatever you’re doing. Whether you’re writing, reading, working, or playing, make the most of it. And don’t forget to smile and laugh along the way. Life is too short to take it too seriously. Have a wonderful day, and I’ll catch you later.