Conversations with Calliope

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. I'm almost afraid to ask about Marital Property.
JOE: Have more faith. I wrote the chapter, although I know I have promised to do it in the past.
CALLIOPE: Whew! It's about time. How did it go.
JOE: Actually it was quite easy. They had a blowup at the dinner table after nice pre-dinner conversations with the kids. The sailboat purchase seems to be just the right crisis for my couple.
CALLIOPE: Was it as hard as you thought it would be?
JOE: I'm not sure I thought it would be hard. It was just that it was a critical scene and I wanted to get it right. But no, it was not hard to write, any more than any other scene. But it might have been easier due to all the thought I gave it.
CALLIOPE: In any case it's on the table. Now what?
JOE: Now they have to figure out how to deal with it. I imagine they will fall into their old blaming patterns at least for a while but hopefully they will come to their senses and deal with it.
CALLIOPE: You don't know what will happen?
JOE: How could I? It's their story. I'm just writing it.
CALLIOPE: I will be interested to see how it turns out.
JOE: So will I.
CALLIOPE: What about marketing?
JOE: It's a bit slow going. I am gradually discovering some resources. I guess I hoped there would be an easy, quick approach, but I am finding out it is just hard work despite various promises I have seen. Well, back to work.

(Gibraltar Siege Tunnel)

Conversations with Calliope

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Better. I struggled with my cold on Saturday. Yesterday was better and today I feel almost back to normal.
CALLIOPE: Good. Any work on writing?
JOE: With how I was feeling, I spent some time on nutrition and health. I read Dr. Oz's book on staying young.
CALLIOPE: Did you learn anything useful.
JOE: Yes. But much of it I am already approaching through Weight Watchers.
CALLIOPE: Good. What about writing.
JOE: I reviewed the materials I have on marketing and also found a good article in Writers Digest for older writers. It was encouraging and had some good tips.
CALLIOPE: Such as?
JOE: Use your experience and don't try to compete with young writers.
CALLIOPE: How's Marital Property coming?
JOE: I have been doing quite a bit of thinking about it and finally feel I am ready to write about my couple's crisis.
CALLIOPE: You have been stuck here for a while, haven't you?
JOE: I have not thought about it as being stuck, just being at a very critical juncture in the story and wanting to get it right.
CALLIOPE: This seems different for you. Before now you concentrated on writing the story and decided to save the polishing for later. What changed your approach?
JOE: I hadn't thought of it that way, but you are right. I don't know what changed my approach and it seems like I am wasting time.
CALLIOPE: I think you are. Why not just write what comes to you and edit later as you have done successfully before.
JOE: Good suggestion. I'll write what I have today and see what happens.

(Cognac still, Tio Pepe Winery, Herez, Spain)