I’ve reached the 2/3 point of the novella and something odd happened. One of the two main characters, whose name was Jessie, suddenly insisted that his name was Frank. I have no idea how or why this happened. Now, I know that Jessie isn’t the traditional male spelling, but there are enough examples to support its use. However, half the time when I put the pen-tip to paper to have him do or say something, my first inclination was to write Frank. I can’t explain it. So, from this point forward, Frank it is. I’ve also finally come up with a name for my fictional town. Until now it was ____port, which, when I was dictating the text into Word became blank-port. I can now fill in the blank.
I have most of the rest of the story mapped out in my head, in broad strokes. I find it interesting that I had a target of 40,000 words and that seems to be exactly where I’m heading, more or less. The first round of editing is going to be a bitch, though—first comparing the text to the handwritten version to fix up all the incorrect speech-to-text translation, and then making sure it all holds together continuity-wise.
Justified is cooking with gas this season. There have been some shocking events, but it’s hard to top the one that happened last night. They’re bringing out all the old familiar faces, too. This week we had Dickie and Loretta, next week it will be Limehouse and Deputy Bob. The clamps are tightening on Ava each week, and Boyd seems oblivious to it all. Looks like she’s going walkabout next week. Gary Busey’s son was a guest star this week, and he left an impression. Or a divot.
Banshee is also blowing up the screen this season. Another regular bought the farm in dramatic fashion last weekend. You’d almost think it was the final season of that show, too, the way they’re cleaning house. I think it’s time for a new police station, though. Maybe one with thicker walls.
I’m enjoying the PBS series A Path Appears, which is based on the book by NYT reporter Nick Kristof’s book, co-written with his wife. The title comes from a Chinese proverb about how, if enough people decide to take a certain route through a field, eventually a path will appear there even if there was none before. The series focuses on some of the most oppressed people, both in the US and around the world, and how local initiatives are attempting to put things right. There are usually two or three stories in each 90-minute episode, and Kristof takes a celebrity activist along with him. Some of these have been very impressive. This week it was Mia Farrow going with him to Kenya. Jennifer Garner was very impressive with her interest in domestic violence issues in West Virginia, and Ashley Judd in Nashville regarding sex trafficking. It’s simultaneously depressing because of the subject matter and uplifting when you hear about local people digging deep to do something about an issue in their own town. The guy from Kenya this week was simply awesome. Completely self-educated but smart well beyond his years and resourceful, as well as determined and visionary.
