Hot Writer Summer

Hot Writer Summer

It’s been a month since I last posted. You deserve better, readers. But let me tell you what you’ve missed:

1. It’s summer. In coastal NC. It’s hot. The kids are home and every thought is interrupted by someone yelling, “Mom, this remote control won’t work!” or “Stop touching me!” (that was me). While writing this post, I was interrupted 1678648 times. No lie.
   
2. I’m finishing a second draft of a second novel this summer. The working title is “Death by Dancing.” Which is just as classy as it sounds. We’re not talking fine literature here. It’s a fun and dirty murder mystery, and I’ve enjoyed writing it. However, I’ve been stuck on the last three chapters since May. You feelin me, fellow writers? Last night, I edited the second-to-last chapter, which is real progress. I’ll soon send it to a lovely editor who agreed to review the work pro bono. That means in the nude.
   
3. Main Street Rag and moonShine review published two of my “Muscle Women” short stories in their summer editions. This series features women who get revenge. Five of these stories have been published so far. I’m also in Next Chapter Literary Magazine with a poem and Carolina Woman with an essay.
   
4. I said I wouldn’t be on another nonprofit board because I’m on two already, but I was wrong. You’re looking at the Carteret Writers secretary for the next two years – go, team!
   
5. On occasion, I moonlight as a marine scientist (I have a Biology degree). This month, I assisted in assessing seagrass for a development in Topsail Island, trudging through knee-deep water and raking marsh mud with a garden rake for three hours to find…wait for it…one blade of live seagrass.
   
6. Have I mentioned my three jobs? I’m a bookkeeper for my brother’s business, a yoga teacher, and during the school year, I substitute in the local schools. Not busy at all.
   
   But you don’t need these excuses, dear reader. You just need good writing. I’ll work on it. Thanks for sticking with me!

– Jessi Waugh