I love jigsaw puzzles and hadn’t done one in a while. My daughter and I turned over all the pieces and separated out the edge ones. Then we started making birds.

At midnight last night, my husband asked if I realized I’d done everything except for a) the edges and a) anything else that was all blue, with no distinguishing marks. Oops.

I’d meant to do only a few birds and then complete those edges, like a good puzzler. Honestly, I thought that’s what I’d done. Instead, I’d gotten so carried away with birds — with the “fun part” — that I’d forgotten the less fun structural work.

Writing is that way, too. By all means, make birds and keep it fun — but don’t completely forget your structure along the way (unless, of course, this is part of your creative process).

Believe me, it’s intimidating to go back later and try to build in the structure once all the fun parts are done. Wish me luck with this sea of blue!