35,000 words! The end is in sight
I'm very excited. I had a great writing day over at Jackie's Place (haha) where, oddly enough, we weren't listening to any music at all. Nor were we drinking coffee. I did notice that Jackie's Place ain't the Hilton but, in retrospect, I guess it wasn't that surprising. it would be weird if Jackie lived at the Hilton.
I got up to 35,000 words today (with my goal of 51,000 because of outright theft of huge chunks of the last couple of days of writing) and it feels great. The big event that I have been hinting at has finally happened, and it's really messing with my characters' lives and relationships. But I won't yet reveal what it is. Jackie knows, but she promised to keep my secret. For now.
So today's excerpt will be light. I think you'll enjoy it. It's a letter from Molly to Seth, concerning (what else?) belts. She is getting close to the grand opening of her new shop, which will be called Ye Olde 24-Hour Belt Emporium and Speakeasy (as you'll see below, it comes complete with Gift Shoppe).
Letter 79. August 25, 198x
Lawnville
Dear Seth,
You are a lifesaver. That suede belt and pattern that you sent me are amazing and inspiring. I am sorry I haven’t written before now. I really hope you are enjoying your time by the sea and figuring out what you want to do next. I’d love it if you wrote from time to time to tell me all about it – we’re friends, right?
The plans for the Emporium are coming along nicely. I’ve considered branching out in the Gift Shoppe portion to include some things that are not, strictly speaking, belts. I think people will be charmed by such things as a Guide for Belt Organization that reminds people that, like anything else, belts should be stored in such a way that they are neat and accessible. As I know you know, this is easier said than done!! I’ll give instructions for how people can keep belts in a dresser, by buying shallow small boxes and then loosely coiling belts in a single layer. There’s nothing worse than giving belts the room to ‘spring to life’ and this should be avoided at all cost. And I would be remiss if I didn’t remind people that another wonderful alternative is to hang the belts from hooks – perhaps on the back of a closet door or on a closet wall. And I’ll be sure to urge people to inspect garments that come with their own belts, and to remove the belts before they hang up the garment. Otherwise the belt could pull the fabric out of shape!
I’m also delighted that I’ll be able to sell a new item I’ve been making, Belt Buckle Frames! You may not know this but not so long ago, fashionable clothes bore all sorts of pretty buckles. When the garments wore out or passed out of style, frugal housewives saved the buckles for reuse. Made from abalone, wood, metal, or Bakelite, they still abound -- if not in your sewing box, then certainly at flea markets. And now that buckles are less in demand as smart dressmaker details, they are free, with slight modification, to take on a new role as miniature picture frames. Gather these curios on a bureau, or display them as refrigerator magnets. I’ve enclosed a picture of a whimsical tableau that I created myself. I think I’ll display the photos in the Gift Shoppe and take custom orders. You could get them with a beachy theme (think lots of shells interspersed with the buckles) or 4th of July (patriotic belt buckles!) or even baby-themed (tiny baby belt buckles with even tinier photographs inside – perfect for a doll’s house or even the walls of one of those cute no-kill mousetraps to help lure the mice in).
Anyway, I’m sure you’re not interested in all these details. I’m writing to ask if you wouldn’t mind if I make and sell some of those belts that you sent me. I know they are your creation and I want to respect your artistic contribution – just let me know. We can call them Seth’s WonderBelts or something witty and intriguing. Lord knows I’m not the witty, intriguing one – that’s Nicky – so if you come up with something, I’d love you to death if you’d let me know.
Don’t be a stranger!
Molly
Enclosed photograph:
I got up to 35,000 words today (with my goal of 51,000 because of outright theft of huge chunks of the last couple of days of writing) and it feels great. The big event that I have been hinting at has finally happened, and it's really messing with my characters' lives and relationships. But I won't yet reveal what it is. Jackie knows, but she promised to keep my secret. For now.
So today's excerpt will be light. I think you'll enjoy it. It's a letter from Molly to Seth, concerning (what else?) belts. She is getting close to the grand opening of her new shop, which will be called Ye Olde 24-Hour Belt Emporium and Speakeasy (as you'll see below, it comes complete with Gift Shoppe).
Letter 79. August 25, 198x
Lawnville
Dear Seth,
You are a lifesaver. That suede belt and pattern that you sent me are amazing and inspiring. I am sorry I haven’t written before now. I really hope you are enjoying your time by the sea and figuring out what you want to do next. I’d love it if you wrote from time to time to tell me all about it – we’re friends, right?
The plans for the Emporium are coming along nicely. I’ve considered branching out in the Gift Shoppe portion to include some things that are not, strictly speaking, belts. I think people will be charmed by such things as a Guide for Belt Organization that reminds people that, like anything else, belts should be stored in such a way that they are neat and accessible. As I know you know, this is easier said than done!! I’ll give instructions for how people can keep belts in a dresser, by buying shallow small boxes and then loosely coiling belts in a single layer. There’s nothing worse than giving belts the room to ‘spring to life’ and this should be avoided at all cost. And I would be remiss if I didn’t remind people that another wonderful alternative is to hang the belts from hooks – perhaps on the back of a closet door or on a closet wall. And I’ll be sure to urge people to inspect garments that come with their own belts, and to remove the belts before they hang up the garment. Otherwise the belt could pull the fabric out of shape!
I’m also delighted that I’ll be able to sell a new item I’ve been making, Belt Buckle Frames! You may not know this but not so long ago, fashionable clothes bore all sorts of pretty buckles. When the garments wore out or passed out of style, frugal housewives saved the buckles for reuse. Made from abalone, wood, metal, or Bakelite, they still abound -- if not in your sewing box, then certainly at flea markets. And now that buckles are less in demand as smart dressmaker details, they are free, with slight modification, to take on a new role as miniature picture frames. Gather these curios on a bureau, or display them as refrigerator magnets. I’ve enclosed a picture of a whimsical tableau that I created myself. I think I’ll display the photos in the Gift Shoppe and take custom orders. You could get them with a beachy theme (think lots of shells interspersed with the buckles) or 4th of July (patriotic belt buckles!) or even baby-themed (tiny baby belt buckles with even tinier photographs inside – perfect for a doll’s house or even the walls of one of those cute no-kill mousetraps to help lure the mice in).
Anyway, I’m sure you’re not interested in all these details. I’m writing to ask if you wouldn’t mind if I make and sell some of those belts that you sent me. I know they are your creation and I want to respect your artistic contribution – just let me know. We can call them Seth’s WonderBelts or something witty and intriguing. Lord knows I’m not the witty, intriguing one – that’s Nicky – so if you come up with something, I’d love you to death if you’d let me know.
Don’t be a stranger!
Molly
Enclosed photograph:
Completely awesome excerpt and picture. "Seth's Wonderbelts" has a very witty and intriguing ring to it. But why would you need a Gift Shoppe for a belt emporium? I'm confused. It was great having you over today. It was good to have support as I wrote a difficult passage involving medical knowledge stolen from the internet and which I fear Sam will pull apart in a second.
ReplyDeleteNote to self: incorporate the word whimsical into my novel immediately. Molly is so dedicated to proper belt care, it's inspiring.
ReplyDeleteI only wish that someone who is as knowledgeable about belts could come to Montreal and grace us with their talents. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteJackie, you have just put your finger on the major problem with Molly's 24-Hour Belt Emporium/Speakeasy. The Gift Shoppe makes NO SENSE. But it's not my fault that Molly has bad judgment.
ReplyDeleteI respectfully disagree, once you've spent enough time at the speakeasy part of the store, the gift shoppe starts to make much more sense, as things usually do after such a trip.
ReplyDeletewoo hoo! I got a comment from Heather!
ReplyDeleteHeather, you make a really good point. I hadn't considered that. Maybe Molly is smarter (and more nefarious) than I had thought!
just to throw my two cents into the pile - I feel like the "gift shoppe" part of a 24 hour belt emporium is the belt emporium itself, for a belt is the greatest gift of all. The gift that keeps on giving, one might say.
ReplyDelete