These two topics are connected -- really. Please read onward.
My front yard has several tall native trees (black walnuts and osage oranges) that produce bumper crops of unpalatable fruit. So in the fall, I spend many many hours picking up these botanical rejects from the lawn. Billions of black walnuts (golf ball to baseball-sized green orbs) and a few lumpy brain-like green osage oranges (softball-sized spheres). Yesterday morning, I took twelve wheelbarrow loads of walnuts to the woods behind the house -- picnic time for the squirrels.
While doing this mindless task, my brain can focus on earth-shaking topics, such as, "What was the name of that movie I watched last night?" Or, "Did I put the milk back in the refrigerator?" Or, "Why don't my socks match this morning?"
I also think a lot about book editing. Some edit ideas pop into my head. So I dig a small spiral notebook and pen out of my pocket to jot them down, and remind myself that I really need to do more and more and more editing, to make my novels more irresistible. I'm relatively new at creative-writing -- I'm learning.
But I digress from the important topic: black walnuts.
When I finally finish picking them all up and dumping them out of sight, I get the reward: the sight of a clean yard. Yay!!
Thump!
Dang, another walnut just fell. OK, I'll pick it up.
Thump! Thump!
Only two more. No big deal.
Thump!Thump!Thump!Thump!Thump!
They're everywhere again. Well, at least I've never been hit by a falling black walnut. I bet those suckers would hurt.
Ouch!
That one just hit me! On the head! I'm gonna sue!
Well, at least I've only been hit once by a falling osage orange. That really hurt.
OUCH!!
That's it. I'm getting a hard hat and a suit of armor.
Thump!
As if the trees really care.
And the point is....? Collecting black walnuts and book editing are never quite done. For the latter, I hope that with enough experience, I"ll got this erditing thang write,
Don