Spent most of the weekend editing the "ghost train" story/novella/thing. Spent much of that time trying to unravel a proverbial Gordian knot. Yes of course, it was one of my own making.
A few details.... As a writer (or wanna-be writer, in my case), I always try to start the story with something that will catch the reader's eye and then hold their attention for a while -- something just interesting enough to keep them hangin' on until they're hooked. Unfortunately sometimes that scene or initial series of events doesn't always fit the rest of the story, or in this case, a particular character's development. Put another way, these things tend to have a mind of their own and they don't always play by the established "rules".
But then the old writer (me again) really likes the opening scene, thinks its one of the best parts of the whole story and tries to write his way out of the jam, creating... yes, a Gordian knot. Well, we all remember how that story came out in the end, don't we?!
It's ironic, but in solving the knot quandary, the "ghost train" story/novella/thing now has a beginning that is very similar to the first random thoughts I set to paper (yes, that handwritten draft) almost seven weeks ago. Guess that's the most frustrating part about Gordian knots: they take so darn long to unravel.
One quick tangent before parting: In the middle of all my consternation, I pulled out a pen and some paper and started another "New Mexico" story. Knot or no, the writing must go on! Anyway, I'll save it for later, 'cause I know there's a clamor for the "train", but this one's going to be a good one.
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