Stacking firewood is challenging. I look for the right piece, the right shape, so that the whole stack is locked in tight. I get offended by the wood when I can’t make the pieces fit.
I’ll add a few pieces, then pause and stand back, studying the pile. I’ll see one that could be turned a different direction. Or one that would lock in better if placed elsewhere. I’ll swap direction, turning a piece on its end so the fatter part balances the whole.
See the light? Still looking for just the right pieces.
Then I’ll go back to the pile and rummage, looking for a piece that’s the right angle, the right shape.
In the winter, when snow is heavy, I’ll haul in pieces that I stacked in the hot summer sun. I’ll see smoke coming from the chimney and know the stack came out okay in spite of my doubt that all the pieces don’t fit just right.
No smoke yet
Editing is challenging. I look for the right word, the right sound, so that the whole paragraph is locked in tight. I get offended by the story when I can’t make the words fit.
I’ll add a few words, then pause and stand back, studying the paragraph. I’ll see a phrase that could be turned a different direction. Or one that would lock in better if placed elsewhere. I’ll swap direction, turning a sentence on its end so the beginning balances the whole. Then I’ll go back to the story and daydream, looking for a theme that’s the right angle, the right shape.
In the winter, when snow is heavy, I’ll read the book that I worked on in the hot summer sun. I’ll see words and know the story came out okay in spite of my doubt that all the words don’t fit just right.
And so goes this hot sunny day. Stacking firewood and sweating and daydreaming, and then cooling off in the shade with words.
Lisa Stowe - The Story River Blog 
Lovely!
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Thanks! I’m trying to avoid drooling over a neighbor’s amazingly neat stack of firewood…I just can’t figure out how he does it. I’ve decided he must be an engineer or something more analytical than a writer.
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sometimes you are so German…LOL!!! Love this post, its so you! 🙂 you should have left the stacking for me for August 😉 Be nice to yourself, you are awesome!!
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I thought about leaving the stacking for you, but there were lots of spiders.
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Phew, thanks!!
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Changed my mind. There’s more to stack and you’re going to be here…just teasing. I’m going to make you pick blueberries instead.
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What a beautiful metaphore!
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Thanks – it’s how my brain wanders around when doing tasks. Seems like I’m always daydreaming words.
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Well done. Gave me the chuckle I needed this afternoon! And I’m with you on the firewood stacking; nothing worse than getting it stacked up close to the top only to find some problem pieces towards the bottom are making the whole thing wobbly.
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And this past weekend I realized the back row was ballooning, dang it. Took the splitting maul and shoved it back. I had too long of a span with no supporting row in front. Plus, the back row had a bunch of odd size pieces from last year. That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it. Ballooning had nothing to do with the person stacking!
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Clearly you spent enough time stacking to let your mind wonder. Good thing yours comes up with beautiful metaphors. Mine just goes to food.
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Oh, there was some food in there, too. Smoked brisket if I remember correctly.
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*wander
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But you know, both words actually work!
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Sorry, I’m a compulsive spell checker. It. Must. Be. Right. I don’t know what traumatic past incident with a misplaced comma started this, but there you have it.
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