I started a challenge to write a story that is exactly 50 words! Thank you, Boy with a Hat. Not that he set up a formal challenge, but it was his idea. And his writing is worth checking out. So please click the link and find out what he’s up to. If you want to begin at my beginning, click here or search in the side panel with the words, “fifty day.”

So how to proceed? For the most part, I’m using my character inspiration, Dorothy Astoria’s The Name Book. Today, my sister’s neighbor Yarmilla called to me. As always, this is not about Yarmilla, but about the name, which might mean “loving.” ( Yarmilla led me to Jamila, which included Yamilla.) Oh well, that’s the closest Dorothy’s book got me.

“Yarmilla, please,” her husband seethed.  “Shoes on the mat.”

Yarmilla scowled at the crowd of shoes; his taking up twice as much space as hers before a lightbulb lit up her left hemisphere.

“Your feet take up twice as much real estate,” she beamed. “No wonder you trip so often.”

HaHaHa! How do you think Yarmilla’s husband will respond?

Wednesdays are super-fun and challenging because paring down to 50 words is really challenging. This might be the first time my 50 words have a direct link to my real life. I woke up this morning thinking my 50-word character might have early-stage dementia. She sure showed me.

It’ll be fun to find out what you think.

In the meantime, I’m finding the gaps and recognizing the themes in my newest novel. This part takes a lot of right-brain work. My work editing and formatting Jim’s &John’s memoir is back in their hands. I can’t wait to see the final product. What are you working on these days?

Wednesdays will be my Fifty day at least on and off again. But then, what’s happening to Ray’s of Hope? They’re calling me to Friday writing. Geesh! Do any of my readers still wonder about them? The more I write, the more things in my head want to leak out my fingers and onto the page.