A story should have a beginning, a middle, and an end . . . but not necessarily in that order.
–Jean Luc Godard

I find that every time I write a story, the process is a bit different. Sometimes I have a linear pattern, starting from the beginning and going through to the end. Other times I write key scenes, then fill in the story between them.

Writing Battle has been unique, with 13 pages (so far) of scenes that won’t be in the final story. I’ve needed those pages to help me get to know the characters and to get to the core story. The nice thing is that the story is really coming together now. I expect to finish and submit it before the new year.

Today is my birthday, and the one thing I’ve learned in my 30-plus years of living is that life itself is a process. There may be a beginning, middle, and end, but sometimes the side roads we take are just as important as the main ones. This year, my birthday gift to myself is simply to live and find joy in the process.