Hi, readers! I have been chipping away at my first novel in the spirit of National Novel Writing Month. I’d like to share details, but I’m keeping all that to myself until the story is fully developed. I’m not even telling my wife what it’s about! This is in keeping with another famous author’s advice I read once—probably Hemingway—to not let others know about a story in progress. Because once you do, you lose a little of the ownership and control over it. Folks, meaning well, may be inclined to critique or offer advice or ideas. I’m secure enough in my own abilities now that I would prefer to produce something that’s entirely mine, shortcomings and all.

What are you thinking of the new format? I’m getting faster by the day and slowly making fewer typos. I’m learning all the little idiosyncrasies of how The Green Goddess operates. There’s a certain rhythm you strike once you hit focus mode. I told Amber one of the things I like about writing with it is it gives me just enough distance between the idea in my head, in my authorial voice, and the messy way I write it down sometimes. I can easily scan what I’ve typed while not feeling the same sense of “disconnectedness” from the writing process and the medium. When you type, you directly impress your idea onto the paper. In computer form, there are many more layers of abstraction to contend with. With typing, you print as you go. No risk of a hard drive crash, though you do become much more susceptible to gusts of wind.

To everyone who has stuck with me on my writing journey: thank you so much for showing up. I would still be doing this for an audience of me, but having other human eyes fall on my work brings a simple kind of satisfaction.

Be on the lookout for more info about my block prints soon. I am aiming to set up an online store so I can offer them for sale at a reasonable price. I’ve been making them for about a decade, on and off, and have just been sitting on them or giving them away as gifts.

I’m also considering offering a poem-writing service. Of course, you can offer anything, but it doesn’t mean people will buy it! I know I’d love to be the recipient of a custom poem, but we’ve all got our own tastes.

That’s all I’ve got for today. Hope you have a great Saturday.

--Jared Caraway

I forgot to share some photos of our Halloween costumes! Instead of trick-or-treating, our family went to an event in Downtown Rosenberg. It’s one of those old town square type setups. They shut the streets down for a block party with all kinds of activities for kids and different vendors with tables giving out candy and trying to get you to join their taekwondo class or call them when you need a new A/C unit.

Kohen was originally supposed to be the Ender Dragon from Minecraft, but we left the mask and wings at home—so Amber sacrificed her costume, the charcuterie board, so he could have one. And he ended up being a hit. The ladies at the antique shop were especially tickled by it.

Amber got me a shirt that says “I’m with the charcuterie board” with a skeleton hand pointing in the direction of, presumably, a charcuterie board. We have an offbeat sense of humor.

And Sunny was a cute little caterpillar. She’s cute and little, so she’d be a cute little anything.