I just finished a new short story about a library who discovers an odd pattern to the book vandalism in his branch. Of course, since it’s fiction I didn’t use any of my own experience working in a library for seven years. Nor did I steal the idea from my workshop advisor at Pacific U, who mentioned a similar case in a Portland bookstore. Lastly, none of the characters were inspired by actual people (any resemblance . . .). As we know, fiction must be entirely invented.
For a first draft, I’m pretty happy with it. Still, don’t expect to read it for at least a year. As one of my profs. told me, stories take time to steep.
