The stake-a-tine originated when I was 12 years old. Its design amusingly predicted my ultimate career as a technical writer (note that I'm not describing the first stake-a-tine here). The current design of the stake-a-tine, however, surpasses that initial design, which was totally impractical. The intriguing features of the new stake-a-tine just gave me a very cool idea for the last scene in The Firma Twins and the Flute of Enchantment. 

I began chapter 7 last night.
 
 
I admire people who have abundant energy and can hold a day job, write a novel, do housework, take care of other duties, and write a blog every day. Because, unfortunately, I can't do all that, and I'm envious of those who can.
 
That being said, I'm feeling somewhat proud that, despite being sick 3 out of the last 5 weeks, writing only at night and during the weekends, and taking a weekend off for research, Chapter 5 of the Flute of Enchantment is nearly done. As of April 17, 2010, only the first page of the novel was complete, and I hadn't finished the detailed plotting. So I am making headway, and I've written 35 pages of quality material. At least, I think it's pretty good, except for the typos.  
 
 
This past weekend I spent doing research for the Flute of Enchantment. Although the book is plotted, I wanted some inspiration for the chapters I'm beginning to write. So my husband and I attended Balticon, the science fiction convention where we first met 29 years ago. On the way home yesterday, we visited friends who we don't see often enough and had dinner with other friends who we likewise don't see as often as we would like. It was a wonderful weekend. 

At the con, my husband bought a book I began reading: Your Hate Mail Will Be Graded by John Scalzi. It is a wonderfully funny, astute, and well-written book. I haven't finished reading it yet, but I'm looking forward to the next time I pick it up.

Oh, yes, I should mention that, when (I'm adopting the positive attitude here and not saying if) my books are published, I know the author doesn't have the last word on the title of the books or the artwork on their covers. In my dream fantasy, I would call them The Firma Twins and the Stake-a-tine of Death and The Firma Twins and the Flute of Enchantment by D. Harlow Timpko. The artist would be one of my favorite artists. Of course, one must have dreams.  
 
 
At long last, I finished the fourth chapter. The end of that chapter needed to introduce a particularly important character. It took me a while to think of how exactly to do so, and I'm very happy with it.

I think I should change the titles of the books to The Firma Twins and the Stake-a-tine of Death and The Firma Twins and the Flute of Enchantment to attract the boy audience as well as the girl audience. Since my first reader (and my first fan, a very cool thing) is a boy, once boys read the books, I have no doubt the books will speak for themselves. The origin of the stake-a-tine, although it's changed considerably in description and somewhat in use in the books, was in the stories I told my younger cousins, most of whom are male, when I was a kid. They still talk about those stories.  

I should also publish the books under "D. Harlow Timpko," not my full name for the same reason as the title change.
 
 
I've completed a one-page synopsis of The Firma Sisters and the Flute of Enchantment and I've nearly completed the fourth chapter. It's the weekend! I have all weekend to write fiction.  
 
 
Yet another week of illness put me on the bench from both my day job and writing fiction. However, I've recovered and am charging ahead with Chapter 4.

A friend sent me a link to a BBC News article about the vampire rabbit, sort of a gargoyle on the doorway of solicitors' offices, which goes on exhibit in Tyne and Wear in England. The most interesting articles appear on the BBC News and provide lots of inspiration for fiction.
 
 
This weekend was profitable. Having recovered more or less from last week's illness, I finished Chapter 3 of The Firma Sisters and the Flute of Enchantment. Detailed plotting is almost done as well. 
 
 
I've always found illness a bore. That is, it often interferes with what one needs and wants to do and leaves one staring at the walls like an idiot. A bacterial infection enforced a temporary halt in my writing nonfiction or fiction. Sigh. Whine. There may be wisdom in Scarlett's words, "After all, tomorrow is another day."
 
 
I wrote a lot this weekend. After doing some more detailed plotting, I expanded Chapter 1, wrote notes on the plot and background for the book, and wrote Chapter 2. I'm on a roll, which is good because the new week begins tomorrow and I can only write during the evenings on weekdays.

Now if I can only get someone to proof the thing . . . 
 
 
After finishing Chapter 1 of the The Firma Sisters and the Flute of Enchantment on Monday evening, I spent the rest of my evenings writing and editing for my job. However, I did think about my next chapters and write notes on them. The best time for thinking up ideas is at night before falling asleep or in the morning when just waking up. This weekend is for writing fiction.