I am at a writer’s conference and Sean Dietrich “Sean of the South” my writing hero is here speaking. He writes everyday. For hours and edits his stuff 40-50 times. Oh Gawwud- I have A LOT to learn. He joked about Southerners pronouncing one syllable words with up to six syllables, especially if it’s mama calling to scold him.
Mim plays the “Jeep game” A LOT. Mim is the boss and the rule maker of her game. If a contestant sees a Jeep then they announce JEEP and that is worth 1 point.
As the years have gone by, Mim has added features and complications. You can only play if she invites you to play. Once included in the Jeep game, you are family and must play for all of eternity. If you are spotting a lot of Jeeps then you need to immediately join Mim’s team because Mim always wins. Only Jeep Wranglers count. She knows that some other cars have Jeep branded on the back of that car. But she doesn’t care! It has to be a Wrangler. Oh- And she will disqualify you or in her words, “I fire you if you don’t play right.” She will kick you out of games for any infraction- such as spotting a Jeep that she had seen but stalled in announcing which makes her feel as if you are a cheater. (Her brain needed an extra minute and you stole the answer. “You are out.”
She added a new rule. You need to yell out a word that begins with J when you see the Jeep. She yells Jeep because Jeep begins with J. We have played this edition of the game for years. But, she has recently upped the ante. In the latest edition, the number of points you rack up, depends on the number of syllables in your J word that you have called. George might call out jalopy and I might say jubilation. Mim gives George and I two points each “Jop-pee” and Jub-ashun.” She says clapping at any speed to fit her narrative. Mim calls out jail. “Juh-ai-aiuh-ull.” She gave herself 5 points. Her word had 5 syllables. I know that there are 4 syllables in her word jail but Mim counts creatively. One to one correspondence is dispensable.
Truth is Mim won that round of the Jeep game.
Sean Dietrich writes 900 words a day or more everyday for the past seven years of his life. So do I- if I count like Mim. But I have to believe that I will win this game of writing just like Mim knows she will win. Sean was asked how he grew his blog and the answer was- he didn’t. He said he doesn’t look at likes or number of followers. He worries that his writing would become stressed if he knew he had gotten a lot of likes on Writing A. He said B would seem like he hadn’t had a successful bowel movement in days. He doesn’t want to know what piece gets the best reaction because it would change his freedom to write what needs to be written next. He doesn’t want to alter his topic or style because people only like A. He doesn’t grow his popularity- it grows organically? Or doesn’t. He claimed he doesn’t care.
Mim doesn’t care how many likes or comments I get on a blog post. Just like, she doesn’t win the Jeep game due to accuracy in counting. Pure desire, faith and commitment is how Mim wins. I have to believe I am a “whee-uhh- nerr ” too.
Momoirist 
I just listened to Stars of Alabama. He read it! So good and I got it because you wrote about him. I thought if Martee likes him, I will, too!
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I haven’ t read it yet. I just love his short columns so much. How did you like the book?
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“He said he doesn’t look at likes or number of followers. He worries that his writing would become stressed if he knew he had gotten a lot of likes on Writing A. He said B would seem like he hadn’t had a successful bowel movement in days. He doesn’t want to know what piece gets the best reaction because it would change his freedom to write what needs to be written next. He doesn’t want to alter his topic or style because people only like A.”
This makes so much sense for a true artist! Who creates because they have to, not anything beyond. Saving this one.
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