I spent twenty minutes last night on final editing for a submission. Time is pressing and I am trying to show more ambition this month. Unfortunately, as I filled out the list of submissions I noted that I had already submitted it to someone else. I have so many in various states of completion that I sometimes lose track – hence the list. It doesn’t help when, as with this one, the file is listed under one name but the submission is listed under a different one. Titles change and I don’t always change the file names. It happens.
So, two things. One is that I wasted twenty minutes. Two is that the edits make it a far better piece, so I am annoyed for submitting something that needed more work. This annoyance will worsen if it is returned. I will blame myself for sloppy work. If it is accepted, I will feel annoyed that I’m not showing my best work. There is an obvious lesson about organisation and efficiency in this story, but my files are in a mess and I can’t see an easy way to sort it. Over Christmas I will reorganise things and make more effort to keep things straight.
Figs
It is not the first time I have said something similar, and the fact that I have files on the computer with words like “Old”, “New Start” and “Tidy Up” in the name, provides proof of this. I have around 45 active haibun and tanka prose, though it’s difficult to be precise with the chaotic filing system. I just wrote a list of them, as I need to make an effort to get them all properly finished. As I did that, I realised that some weren’t good enough to justify making more effort with them. That happens all the time. I can work on something for a year sometimes, before it strikes me that it simply isn’t good enough. Mostly it’s because it isn’t very interesting, or because it rambles on without reaching a point. If I think it’s dull or pointless there’s a very good chance that editors will do the same.will find the same.
The pictures? The garden fruit harvest has begun. We picked plums at the weekend and Julia brought apples back from the gardens. Tonight, one of the neighbours brought figs round. It’s one of my favourite times of year, though it’s always a little sad that the year is beginning to come to an end.
Reflected Plums – Victoria
Our daughter grows a feast of figs in London but we have to make do with plums here. Luckily we have more than enough to keep us going.
I sympathise with your filing difficulties. I have given up with my photos and I have just deleted thousands of them.
If I had to chose, I’d chose plums. Figs, however, are nice as a change. 🙂
I am so envious that you have fresh figs. As far as I know, they don’t grow in Maine. Good luck with the organization, which is not my strong suit either. I think creative people often fall short when it comes to organization.
That’s my excuse.
As for figs, the title of the link says it all – https://www.mofga.org/resources/crops/yes-you-can-grow-figs-in-maine/#:~:text=Figs%20are%20a%20subtropical%20plant,in%20fall%20after%20leaf%20drop.
Well, I’ll be darned! Thanks for the link. A lot rigmarole, though.
But think of the challenge and the figs . . .
And it will be a useful thing to fall back on if you think Clif needs another job. 🙂
I will mention this to him when we have lunch. I can just imagine his enthusiasm. 😉
Don’t mention the work, just mention those soft, fragrant, sweet fruits . . .
Will do! 😉
Good produce pictures
Thank you Derrick. They are old ones re-used, as usual these days.
Never mind – still good
It is the season for good fresh food from garden and orchard. We have a fig tree, but our climate is borderline in winter for it. Some years it grows back from the roots, some years it gets too cold before any figs ripen. In short, we have had no usable figs from it but I continue to hope.
It has been in the lower to mid 100s here the last couple of days, more of the same expected tomorrow. We are struggling to keep what we have planted alive.
This is a link I found for Laurie. Looks like containers are the way. Having said that, our container grown fig has produced just one fig this year.
https://www.mofga.org/resources/crops/yes-you-can-grow-figs-in-maine/#:~:text=Figs%20are%20a%20subtropical%20plant,in%20fall%20after%20leaf%20drop.
Thank you for the link, Simon! I may move that tree into a 25 gallon pot if it dies back to the roots again.
So many complications! One of my customers treated herself to an apricot tree. They survive cold weather, but in UK they flower during the frosty part of the year so you have to cover them through the winter and early spring to keep the frost off – quite a palaver, as she bought an eight foot sapling!