Miami’s Chilly Weekend: A Writer’s Reflection

Midday, Saturday, November 23, 2024, Miami, Florida

Well, it’s Saturday in South Florida, and the weekend has kicked off with a bang. It’s “chilly” by subtropical standards: the temperature outside is a brisk 69°F (20°C) under sunny skies. With humidity at 49% and a gentle northwesterly breeze at 7 MPH (11 Km/H), the feels-like temperature is a toasty 77°F (25°C). It’s shaping up to be a lovely day, with the forecast promising sunny conditions and a high of 73°F (23°C).

If I hadn’t endured all four seasons up in Madison, NH during my 10-month Arctic expedition, I might declare it “sweater weather” for us thin-blooded Miamians. It was already getting frosty in “Almost Maine” in the weeks before I made my great escape, but despite my lack of enthusiasm for the chilly climate, I was beginning to acclimate. (As I pen this, it’s a gray day up there, with a high of 43°F/6°C. Brrr!)

So, no sweater for me, thanks.

On Writing and Storytelling: Progress Update on Reunion: Coda

 Yesterday was a productive writing day; not only did I outline the second scene for my novel’s 21st chapter, but I also wrote several drafts of the complete scene. I wasn’t expecting to get beyond the outline stage, but since it was only 4 PM when I finished that, I decided to push onward without expecting to complete anything. I hoped to get halfway through the scene before quitting time and leave the rest for Monday. However, I got a second wind after having a bottle of Ensure High Protein an hour into the writing phase. By 6 PM, I had a usable first draft.

When I finished editing and revising the scene, it was a robust five pages and 1,085 words long. Hitting—or even surpassing—my 1,000-word daily target isn’t a common occurrence; typically, my scenes land between 750 and 950 words before the rigorous editing and revising stages. I’m no Ernest Hemingway or Stephen King, but I pride myself on being a decent writer in my own right. Perhaps it was the Ensure High Protein shake that fueled my productivity, or maybe it was just one of those magical moments when the words flowed effortlessly. Either way, I was elated to see the final word count exceed expectations as I wrapped up the last working day of the week.

I will take it easy today and savor this cool but sunny Saturday. Perhaps I’ll dive into some for-fun reading or lose myself in the tunes on my Amazon Music app. The manuscript can take a nap until Monday. After all, even words deserve a weekend break!