This is the first one of these reports I’ve posted since early November and I’ve made some progress writing-wise but not as much as I’d hoped. But I have made up for it recently. First: I’ve written the weekly and monthly flash fiction stories as well as a column or two (I’m way ahead on the monthly columns, at least!) Secondly I’m going to be the moderator for the Monthly Flash Fiction Draw Challenge in 2022 so I made out the draw sheet.

And thirdly, I managed to finish the short-story that is due New Year’s Eve. I’ve written a mystery hopefully evoking the humor of Norbert Davis. The deadline was extended from October 31st to December 31st and I should have had this done by now, but I got lazy and I also hadn’t figured out how tarnished my tarnished knight of a P.I. really was.

So that’s how I spent the evening of Christmas and part of the early morning of the 26th. Writing, revising and cutting. (I cut about 1000 words.) It may be too long but I have yet to read through it, check the spelling and maybe trim some more. I figured I would have it done over the weekend and it looks like that’s what I did! Then, I will send it off.

The song I based it on may be too obscure (novelty songs always are!) but I win nothing by not trying.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all!

That’s about it for now (I promise more later this week!)

———jsb Dec. 26, 2021.