Writer’s Journal: Notes from January

As a child, I hated shrimp. Vehemently. I absolutely refused to eat them. Then one day, my mom was eating a large salad for lunch, and since I was hungry, I asked if I could have some. She agreed, prepared a small plate for me, and I scarfed the salad down.

“That was good,” I said. “I liked the tomatoes.”

“Tomatoes?” my mom asked.

“Those pink curly things.” I pointed to one in her salad bowl. “Tomatoes.”

“Those are shrimp.”

Never had three little words induced vomiting with such speed and intensity. When my stomach settled, I realized if I my mother hadn’t told me they were shrimp, if she had vaguely nodded and mumbled, “yes, tomatoes,” I would’ve eaten the shrimp in happy oblivion. Worst yet, horror of horrors, I’d even indirectly confessed to liking shrimp!

The shrimp were fine; it was my perception of shrimp that was the problem.

Until then, I hadn’t known such a divide could exist. This discovery shocked my kid-brain to the core.

The obstacles we think we face in life—how many of them are real, and how many of them are shrimp? I don’t know, but it’s a good question to ask every now and then.

Without throwing up, if possible.

Field Notes:

I’ve been researching magic and illusions for a character who may or may not appear in my Compendium of Curious Collectibles series. When it comes to characters, settings, plot turns, and so forth, some writers may nail things down pretty firmly, but for me everything is in flux until the book is published. Because of this fluidity, sometimes I have no idea if a character will play a very minor role or a major one. I research. I reflect. I write. I rewrite. Eventually, things “work out.” (I’m kind of a pantser, dontchaknow.)

During my research I stumbled upon the topic of Japanese magic in its traditional form. The thing that struck me most while watching is how elevated and artistic it is—more like a magic show that is also a dance and a story. I probably won’t use this research in relation to the character, but still I thought it was so cool that it was worthy of this month’s Field Notes.

Awesome mask magic for you here. 

Awesome paper magic for you here.

Until the next time, Friends, be well.

M.L.H.

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