It all started when I found a phone in the gutter. I wondered what the story could be. So, I put something together. As always happens to me, my eyes were bigger than my stomach or in this case, my writing aptitude. I thought I could easily make this a 10-chapter story. Turns out though, I just needed some better editing. But it was too late. I already committed to writing a 10-chapter story not just a normal 5-chapter story. So, I set about stretching it for two months. The story started in July and finished in September with a break in August.
What added another level of pressure was the fact I was leaving the country for two weeks at the end of August. I really wanted to have the story done before I left. Mainly because I know me pretty well by now and I knew the last thing I would want to do on my return is hurry up and write a story. So, I hurried up and wrote a story before I left.
At least, I had the first four chapters ready and scheduled. I did have the fifth chapter typed but I wasn’t really happy with it and I knew I would change it when I returned home.
I got back home September 1, and it took me a week to adjust my circadian rhythm to my local time zone. Which meant I was too tired to write that first week. Then I prepared for my final cemetery tour of the season for the next couple of weeks which meant I was too busy to write. Finally, the last full weekend of the month I sat down and looked at the final chapter and reworked it.
Some of the previous chapters should have been edited a little more carefully but because I was in such a rush to get something scheduled that didn’t happen. Which means when I finally sat down to finish the story I had to deal with some plot holes and other general messiness. I don’t like that the solution involved characters only introduced to end the story. But I’m not clever enough to come up with something better. That’s the purpose of the practice.
In short, this wasn’t my favorite story but hopefully if you are willing to overlook some gaping flaws you can still enjoy Tony and Cheyenne’s story. The next 5-Saturday month will be in December and we will let Tony enjoy his retirement. Look for a whole new story to end the year!
ck's days 
I enjoyed the story of Tony and Cheyenne, a couple who kept many secrets from each other. I didn’t notice any gapping flaws, but when you publish this as part of a collection of stories you can always make final edits.
Pingback: The Hitman’s Retirement – Chapter V | ck's days
Thanks for the reminder 😊