Good Writing Takes Time

Good things take time. Good writing is no exception. I tell my students that the best draft is almost always the next one, with more distance, more perspective, the images distill into something sharper. We’re able to write closer to what we mean, or then, what we mean to say becomes clearer to ourselves.

In the last week, I’ve returned to a short story I last worked on eighteen months ago. I’d called it done at that time, and I was really pleased with its result. These past days I’ve been revising, and I’m faintly surprised how much I’ve found to change. They’re good changes. The story has grown as I have grown.

Today is the northern hemisphere’s summer solstice, our longest day, the point of the north pole’s closest tilting toward the sun. Sunset last night came at 11:23pm. The sun rose here at 3:58. In between, it’s no longer getting dark. We haven’t seen a star in months. We got up to watch the sunrise live-streamed from Stonehenge a couple of hours later. Both here and there, it was raining.

In the United States today, it’s also Father’s Day. Dad, if you’re reading this morning, happy Father’s Day! I love you, and I’m looking forward to talking later today.

Good things take time, like a garden tended a bit each day. The months roll by, and the growing plants are bigger than before, and over years, perhaps the soil grows richer, perhaps perennials establish. It can’t come fast, and it needn’t.

Best wishes to you all today, and thanks for stopping by.
Jimmy