Sloppy Joes — Sloppy Stories

Who doesn’t like good ol’ fashioned Sloppy Joes?

The problem isn’t in the liking of good ol’ fashioned Sloppy Joes–it’s in the making–like writing a good story.

As with eating Sloppy Joes, we all like to read a good story, too. As a writer, I like to write a good story as well.

The thing of it is though–the thing of it is–is the time, the patience, and the energy required to produce the best story possible.

Sometimes my impatience gets the better of me, and I settle for a Hamburger Helper meal rather than take the time and exert the proper energy to produce a really good meal–or a really good story.

I crave for instant gratification, whether in sating my appetite or stroking my writer’s ego.

Here’s my recipe for Larry Mike’s Hearty Sloppy Joes:

• 1 lb. 81/19 lean ground beef
• 1/3 lb sausage
• 1 bratwurst
• 1 sm onion, chopped
• 1 tomato, chopped
• 1 (12 oz.) can tomato sauce
• 1 tbsp. vinegar
• 1 tbsp. malt vinegar
• 1 tbsp. brown sugar
• 2 tsp. chili powder
• 1/3 tsp. paparika
• 1/3 tsp jalapeño sauce
• 1/4 tsp. garlic salt
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• ¼ cup water

1. Peel casing from bratwurst
2. Mix all meats together.
3. Brown beef, sausage, & bratwurst mixture with onion and tomato drain well
4. Mix all remaining ingredients with meat and let set for one to two hours
5. Heat and put generous portion on each bun

Cheese slices (optional)

Hamburger buns–swab with garlic butter and grill

Serve hot with homemade iced tea (lemon/lime).

———————

The trick of course is possessing the patience to give  all the meat and ingredients time to mix and to mingle, to imbue themselves so it seems they all have been one from the beginning of time.

Sometimes, impatience sets in, the desire to eat write away, and, while still a good meal, the mixture is not really a cohesive and satisfying whole.

Same for writing. Seems to be a rush to publish at the expense of quality.

With all the “instant” Hamburger Helper publishing opportunities available to hungry writers, many writers, and I’m just as guilty, will settle for a Hamburger Helper story rather than put our tales aside for “an hour or two” and let each tale mix itself properly–with editing, revision, re-writing, re-writing, re-writing.

As with an over-weaning appetite, I’m dying for ego-filling publication and am tempted to rush my stories to the all-too-easy Hamburger Helper publishing opportunities and to settle for an artificial recipe.

Sloppy Joes make for a great appetizing and filling repast.

Sloppy stories do nothing but waste time and bore readers.

Bon Appétit,

Larry Mike

PS: I am not adverse to SmashWords, Lulu, Amazon, B&N, and all the other digital publishing opportunities. There’s just too much emphasis given on publishing “now” rather than publishing “well”.