I got my editorial comments back for my Stargate novel this morning.

To quote "Mr. Tanner" - "The critics were concise but no one could accuse them of being over kind."

Ow.

I read through some of the comments I received and I went through the various stages one usually goes through. However at the end, the editor asked if I wanted to see the actual edits and we could discuss doing a re-write and set a new delivery date.

I wanted to reply - "Hey, you only gave me eight weeks to finish this and I have a regular job on top of that." "Hey, you approved that part in the synopsis and now you don't like it?" "Hey, if I had more time, maybe I would have caught a couple of those facts I got wrong."

What did I reply?

"Sorry it didn't work for you. Absolutely I would love to see the edits. I appreciate you giving me another shot."

Why?

Because that's what being a professional is. I had submitted something they found sub-par. It's their call, it's their license. It was time to take the big-boy pill and check the ol' ego into the hotel for a while. Yeah, it hurt. But, I've always told people, if you can't take critique, don't be a writer. Time to live up to my own words.

I received the edits this evening after I came home and read through them. I agree with about 90% of them. Still I have to go through and see what's left in the story, review the comments again from the initial letter and then go back to the editor with a plan on how to bring the story more into line with what they want it to be.

I knew the initial edits might be rough. It's a new franchise for me to work for and a new editor to learn what they like and don't like. I have to admit, I didn't expect it to be this bad, but they didn't kick me off the project. I'll take that to mean they must have seen something in my writing that made them want to salvage this.

*rolls up the sleeves*

Time to get to work. More to follow after I sleep on the edits I read.

Wow.

I've completely gutted Chapter Five in Childhood's Tears and scattered bits and pieces into Chapters Six and Seven and cut parts of Chapter Six out completely and Seven's not looking so good.

I do admit, I'm liking it a whole lot more than the initial pass, but it's still not natural for me to be editing before I reach the end of a book. I thought this might take a few weeks. This may be an entire summer just to catch up to where I start putting new stuff in.

Yikes.

I may have completely edited out two entire sections. I know you're supposed to be brutal when you edit, but this is darn right homicidal (? - libracidal?). I have saved them out into a new Word Perfect file. I may be able to use one of these little sub-plots later rather than now. *lifts one eyebrow* In fact, one would be perfect for later in the book. Bwah-ha-ha. Yes, once again, I have outfoxed you, plot monster.

Tomorrow I'll be trying to squish the left-overs from Chapter Five into Chapter Six with a slight twist on them to make it a tad more creepy. We'll get back to the swashbuckling in the chapter after that.

But, that's tomorrow.

Well, the two week hiatus was a welcome time. Caught up on some reading, did some gaming, visited with friends and family and just did whatever I wanted to (within reason).

Still, all lazy times must come to an end eventually. So, based on a suggestion from a friend from Twitter, I've dusted off Childhood's Tears and decided it's going to be my next big project. Yes, I know I had multiple projects going last year this time and I haven't given up on any of them. Still, I think it'll be better to concentrate on one for a while and then work on one of the others when I need a break.

That, and I may be working on the Harbinger re-write on my lunch hours . . . we'll see how that shapes up.

My goal would be to try and get two novels ready to start shopping around by the end of the year. My goal is to have an agent by the end of 2010 and to do that, I need agent bait (aka a completed, non-media tie-in, book). So, Childhood's Tears, Harbinger need to be in the bag and Steel on Target well under way.

Yeah, I don't have delusions of grandeur, do I? *grin*

Speaking of delusions (grand or otherwise), I do have short story to share.

Last Monday, I moved into a new building at work . . .same assignment, but the govies decided they want our spaces, so we're moving to a contractor site. It was raining cats and dogs that morning, so I'm wearing my rain jacket with the hood up. Even with the limited vision, I can see a series of cones stretched across the walkway and I guess they're doing some construction there. I approach and then skirt around them, trying to avoid the wet grass and water puddles.

That's when it happens.

The next thing I know, I've got a Canadian Goose in my face, flapping its wings and hissing at me. Now, remember I had my hood up and I never saw it until it was right there. I shifted out of range but managed to restrain myself from whapping it with my binder or kicking it. Once I cleared the area, with him still in pursuit, I realized he had a mate who'd made her nest in the flower bed next to the walkway.

Needless to say, ever since that day, Mr. Goose and I have had a love/hate relationship. I try to give him a wide berth, but he seems insistent on keeping an eye on me and bristling any time he thinks I'm encroaching on his space.

He and the missus are on week three of six or so weeks before the eggs hatch, so we're going to have to work out an uneasy truce one of these days. *sigh*

But, then again, how many people can say they were mugged by a goose? *grin*
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Words for Today

1075 / 1000 words. 108%

Progress on Childhood's Tears

44059 / 90000 words. 49%

Words for 2009

81982 / 365000 words. 22%

Wow, I guess it's a good thing I took off Friday and Monday because the universe conspired against me about getting much done this weekend. Now, what happened over the weekend was mostly good stuff, but getting more than a couple of hours at a shot to work on Shadows was just a hassle.

Still, I won't bore you with the whining. Let it be known that going into D-Day, I have completed 23 of 25 chapters for rewrite and added 1324 new words. I've rewritten big chunks of Chapters 22 and 23 and I think they now tie all the earlier ones together rather nicely.

I also met with April over the weekend and we hashed out the next chapter of Shattered Mirror as well as starting to tighten up exactly what we want to happen in this book. We've be building this book one chapter at a time, but now we're at a point where we need to stop talking in large generalities about the book and really pick our focus. We've come up with a lot of good thematic stuff as well as the who's doing what to whom stuff, but now we have to decide what EXACTLY happens in the book and what would go into later books, if we sell the first one.

It's interesting trying to work in the YA universe since complete YA novels tend to be 20-40K shorter than what I normally write. It's going to be good to help me focus and really ensure any rabbit trails we follow must lead to something specific in the book. No just "seeing what happens" as I tend to do in first drafts.

Still, even with all the distractions, I did get 4 chapters done between Fri and tonight. The end (of this project) is in sight.
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Words for Fri-Sun

1324 / 3000 words. 44%

Progress on SG-1: Shadows of the Heart

88581 / 80000 words. 111%

Progress on Shadows of the Heart's Revisions

23 / 25 chapters. 92%

Words for 2009

80077 / 365000 words. 22%

O.K., wishweaver has been pushing me to ask for an extension on the delivery of this book, but I'm so damn close to being done, I just hate to do it. Of course, to make the deadline, I'm really pushing myself in the editing and rewriting stages. I made it through Chapter 12 last night and then Chapters 13-16 tonight. I can see the finish line (nine chapters to go), but I'm exhausted in the mornings. Luckily, I've turned in my latest deliverables at work today, so I've got a few days before anything else is going to be due. I'll try to balance doing some work at work and doing some editing at work.

At least, I'll be off from Friday noon until COB on Monday. As long as I get this en route to Fandemonium by 2359 on Monday, I'll be on time. They'll get it first thing Tuesday morning, which is when they would have gotten it whether I quit working on it at 1700 EST or 2359 EST.

It's weird, I went through four chapters today and the word count meter barely budged, even though there was a whole lot of typing going on. I added 692 words for all my efforts on Shadows. Even though the word meter isn't moving, I caught some conflicting information between Chapter 2 and 14, which would have annoyed the editor if it had slipped through. So, I guess, yeah me?

I could probably make it another hour or so, but I'm thinking the body is telling me to go to sleep and it usually knows better than my mind does in situations like this.

Night!
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Words for Today

692 / 1000 words. 69%

Progress on SG-1: Shadows of the Heart

86262 / 80000 words. 108%

Progress on Shadows of the Heart's revisions

16 / 25 chapters. 64%

Words for 2009

77758 / 365000 words. 21%

Wow, where did the day go. Somehow, writing doesn't seem to take anywhere near as long as editing does. I finished creating the new Chapter 7 today and then edited Chapters 8-10. I've been sitting here at the computer off and on since 1100 today. *sigh* Still, we added 1760 words to Shadows, and finished 4 chapters so life is good.

Part of the problem was I added in some new stuff at the start of the new Chap 7 and wanted to end the chapter on a bit of whimsy, without loosing the flow of the events or making it too silly. I think I spent over an hour working and reworking the last page of the chapter this afternoon. The problem is, it was something that would have easily worked on the TV show, but it just didn't seem like it was working in the prose. I like the compromise I worked out with myself, but we'll see what the editor thinks when she gets it.

I am happier with the flow of the story now and I did catch some errors (had characters changing name in mid-event for one thing). While I'm sure I'm going to have lots of "editorial changes", especially since this is the first time I've worked with this editor, but I'm glad I'm catching the blatant boo-boos now.

We didn't get into the city after all, mores the pity. I'm going to have to make sure my schedule is clear for next year, come hell or high water. This is getting ridiculous.

OK. Have to go into work for a bit tomorrow and then back on the story.

Talk to you later, LJ.
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Words for Today

1760 / 1000 words. 176%

Progress on SG-1: Shadows of the Heart

85197 / 80000 words. 106%

Progress on Shadows of the Heart's revisions

10 / 25 chapters. 40%

Words for 2009

76693 / 365000 words. 21%

I thought I was working on the last chapter of the book. (Yes, I did say I want to go back in and add a couple of chapters, but they're in the middle of the book. Work with me here.)

Ahem, let me start that again. I thought i was working on the last chapter of the book. Until one of the characters sprung a last plot twist on me. I swear they're doing this to me on purpose. Oh sure, we'll meander around and do what you want us to do in the early part of the book. Now that you're trying to wrap it up for editing/rewrites, now we're going to take over and write the story for you.

*sigh*

I did manage to survive another day of making screen shots and editing the user's manual at work. Got my first set of edits back, so I'm hoping I can put the manual mostly to rest by the middle of next week. Of course, they'll do something to make me re-write a section before this is all over. No code is ever permanently frozen.
Then I can get back to the other systemic documents I need to finish writing/re-writing.

Even with the distractions by my characters, I added another 2087 words to Shadows tonight. I'm about halfway through what's now Chapter 22. Hopefully, I'll finish up soon. If anything else comes up, I'm saving it for the sequel. No more new ideas, you guys!
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Words for Today

2087 / 1000 words. 209%

Progress on SG-1: Shadows of the Heart

74589 / 80000 words. 93%

Words for 2009

66025 / 365000 words. 18%

Things went a little better at work today. Mainly because I got left alone for a lot of it to work, but I'll take my victories where I can get them. I did identify a large bug in the system though as I was trying to take my screen shots, so I got an attaboy for that.

Went out to the mailbox and my signed contract with Fandemonium was there. Huzzah! Took the family out to dinner at one of the local Japanese restaurants and enjoyed some new dishes. Along with various rolls, I tried Toro Tartare, which is basically uncooked tuna in a special sauce with some tempura flakes to give it shape. Very interesting dish. Not necessarily something I'd like to order every time but definitely worth trying. Finished off the meal with a dish of Green Tea ice cream. Nom.

Came home and started working on the last chapter of Shadows. Well, actually, I started working on it this morning. As you may recall, I mentioned two people appeared in the last chapter who hadn't been in the book earlier? Well, I was going over some stuff while getting ready for work and all of a sudden I realized why a couple of sections earlier in the book just didn't seem "right". It was something I was going to go back over in the edits, but although it was O.K., it just felt like there was something I was missing.

Eureka moments are cool.

All of a sudden, I knew why those guys were there. I also knew I needed to add in another chapter and a bridge chapter and two chapters needed X re-written . . . so I was scrambling around, bouncing ideas off of wishweaver and as soon as I got to work, I scribbled all my ideas down so I wouldn't forget them. Then tonight, on Shadows, I decided to go ahead and finish the last chapter before going back to add in the other stuff (I'll just tie it in with the regular re-write) and WOW, some other stuff popped up in a conversation between two characters that ties in so well with the stuff from this morning. I've added that to the notes too.

It's strange. Now that I've reached the end of the story, I now know what the story is I'm trying to tell.

Yes, I had an outline.

Yes, I had a pitch I had to give to the publisher.

None of that has been superseded. What's happened is I now know how to best focus the story to meet the approved plot points.

Writing is a bizarre little business.

I added another 1734 words to Shadows tonight. Might have gotten some more in, but ran into daytonward on Twitter. He was trying to test his new Skype account, so I buzzed him as soon as he'd finished downloading everything. We visited a bit about his Star Trek projects, his other projects, writing in general, our military experiences, especially in basic training (or boot camp for the Marines out there), watching old PBS shows, Doctor Who, Stargate, The Unit, the 4400, and god knows what else.

Two hours later, we decided his Skype system was working. And, the germ of a Star Trek proposal is percolating in the back of my brain. Definitely need to work on the idea and I may have to pigeon-hole kradical at Shore Leave. I'm thinking copious amounts of scotch might help.

It's amazing. Get two writers together and all of a sudden story ideas just appear out of thin air. *grin*
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Words for Today

1753 / 1000 words. 175%

Progress on SG-1: Shadows of the Heart

72502 / 80000 words. 91%

Words for 2009

63938 / 365000 words. 18%

I guess I shouldn't have been surprised, but it was just tough getting going tonight. I've been fighting a document at work (not computer-related this time, more stylistic issues). The problem is, they sorta know what they want in the document, but not really and it's becoming a "I'll know it when I see it" issue. Plus, my supervisor and I are disagreeing on the screen shots I'm using and I have a feeling I'm going to be re-shooting about 75 of them between now and Thursday.

(Notes the divot in the desk seems to get a little deeper every day from the head pounding.)

So, I'm a little grumpy when I get home, I mess around a bit with the interwebs, watch a little TV with the daughter-unit and finally set down to write . . .

. . . and I just don't wanna do it.

The conversation in my head has been like this most of the evening:

Rich: But you have to do it. The deadline's coming and we need all the time we can get for edits.
Motivation: Screw you.
Rich: That's all well and good, but we have to do it.
Motivation: No, I want to goof off and not have to concentrate.
Greed: But, we don't get paid if we don't finish.
Motivation: Rassenfrassen, all right, but I'm not going out of my way to help.
Concentration: Huh? Were you guys talking? I was watching sparkly things.
Rich: *sigh*

So, with Greed holding the business end of the cat-o-nine-tails, we finally beat Motivation and Concentration into doing some work tonight. I wound up adding 1550 words to Shadows, leaving me a bit over a third of the way done with this chapter. Of course, two characters who hadn't been in the book up to now decided to invite themselves for the last chapter. Gee thanks guys.

Still, given the day, I shouldn't complain. When I go back through for the edits, I may have to add a few more scenes in, depending on the feedback I get from wishweaver. But, I hope tomorrow goes a little better. I want to spend some time on Wednesday listening to the UCM Mules playing in the Div II Elite Eight. Keeping the ol' fingers crossed.

Think I'll call it a little early tonight.
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Words for Today

1550 / 1000 words. 155%

Progress on SG-1: Shadows of the Heart

70768 / 80000 words. 88%

Words for 2009

62204 / 365000 words. 17%

Well, we got off to a slightly later start today, but part of that was intentional. I let myself sleep in until after 10 and took my time getting ready. Went out for Indian for lunch with the family and then set sail to find a good place to type.

Panera's? Nope, line out the door and all the outside tables taken.
Starbucks? Nope, too crowded, all the electrical plugs taken. (My Toshiba's battery might last a couple of hours on a good day. No sense taking chances with it today.)
Orinoco Coffee House? Out of business.
B&N? Nope, I was there yesterday, don't want to wear out my welcome.
Books-a-Million? Success!

There was one electrical plug left open and I snagged it and a nearby table. Luckily, unlike B&N, B-A-M doesn't make you pay for the WiFi, so I was able to do a little twittering as well as looking up some SG-1 terminology. I finally was ready to write at 1430 and the next time I looked up it was 1730. I was sitting just over 3300 words. I took a break there and went out with a friend for dinner. We lounged about there and then came home and lounged some more before restarting at 2130. Finally at 2300, I finished my next-to-last chapter and decided enough was enough for the weekend.

Final count for today was 4401 words. Final count for the weekend? 13166 words.

I think that's my highest two and a quarter day total yet. Just shows what a deadline can do for your motivation.

This weekend's experiments with going outside the house to write were interesting. I didn't take my headphones with me for space/weight reasons, so I was writing without my music which is unusual for me. However I did seem to get more work done in less time outside the house than inside. Don't know if it's because I have internet here and not there (usually), so there's less visual distractions or if it's really just the change in scenery.

I may be wandering down in the weeds, but I'm as interested in the writing process as I am in the writing itself. Tis the curse of being an analyst for so long in the Army. I'm almost more interested in the "why" than I am the "who", "what", and "where".

But, I'll worry about that another evening. It's time for bed.
__________________________________________________________________

Words for Today

4401 / 1000 words. 440%

Progress on SG-1: Shadows of the Heart

69218 / 80000 words. 87%

Words for 2009

60654 / 365000 words. 17%

I took today to seriously work on Shadows. Now, that's not to say I haven't been serious about my writing, but I've been fitting it in around everything else, to include the full-time job. However, I decided to make this weekend the big push to get this finished.

So, after taking the Daughter-unit to her vision therapy, I grabbed my car and hit the nearest B&N. Three hours and two iced teas later, I hit 3400 words. Came home and did some shopping/errands with wishweaver and then got back to writing after dinner. Added another 2,300+ this evening for a grand total of 5749 words for the day.

Go me!

With a little bit of luck, I'll try that again tomorrow and see if I can't knock out these last couple of chapters.

While I will admit, it was every bit as much work or more than my regular job, it didn't feel like it. I was really into the story and was surprised how much better the words flowed when I knew I didn't have to "cram" it in around everything else.

Now, if writing only paid as well as tech-writing. *grin*

But now, it's off to play a little Guild Wars and enjoy myself.
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Words for Today

5749 / 1000 words. 575%

Progress on SG-1: Shadows of the Heart

64817 / 80000 words. 81%

Words for 2009

56253 / 365000 words. 15%

That's what I feel like right now.

Between working on a User's Manual at work (to include all the accompanying screen shots) and then adding 3016 words to Shadows tonight after dinner (to include having the computer crash twice), I am wore out brain-wise.

(Yes, I know I left myself open. Feel free to drive Mack truck through opening.)

I have one more scene left in this chapter and then two or three chapters to go to until I type -30- on this one. Then it's go back in with a fine tooth comb to try and catch all the nit-noid stuff and spend a little more time with descriptions and story flow. I'm so close though, I can taste it and believe me, with all the starts and stops and other stuff, this one is going to be especially sweet.

Which is, of course, why I've already started putting together my next pitch for this franchise. *sigh*

At least the horde of teenagers will NOT be descending on the house tomorrow. I intend to get up, take daughter-unit to her vision therapy class, drop her off here for wishweaver to take to her group appointment while I hie unto B&N or maybe Mad City Coffee and find a corner and type until I can't see straight. (I started to say a quiet corner, but who's kidding who there.)

But now, check e-mail and go to bed.

Tomorrow, writing day from hell.
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Words for Today

3016 / 1000 words. 302%

Progress on SG-1: Shadows of the Heart

59068 / 80000 words. 74%

Words for 2009

50514 / 365000 words. 14%

I woke up sick this morning. Something I ate yesterday did NOT agree with me, so I spent most of the day in bed. Got up, thought I might try writing since I was home.

Did not happen.

Thought I might do some writing after dinner.

Almost didn't happen.

*sigh*

I did manage to get 1192 words written on Shadows, but it was like pulling hen's teeth. I was just highly distractable today. Everything just seemed to be more interesting than writing. I'm hoping I'm not burning out on this project, but I'm really starting to feel the pressure of my deadline coming up.

But, it's coming whether I want it or not, so hopefully I can make up for today's anemic production.

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Words for Today

1192 / 1000 words. 119%

Progress on SG-1: Shadows of the Heart

52443 / 80000 words. 66%

Words for 2009

43889 / 365000 words. 12%

Well, there are good things and bad things about being snowed in. The good thing is I had time to spend with my family and get a good days writing in. The bad thing is I have to make up the eight hours I didn't work today sometime over the course of the month. Not too bad a deal, but it would have been nice to get the admin leave wishweaver gets from her work. *mutter mutter*

I didn't get as many "words" as I had hoped for today, but I think I have good words. This was one of the other pivotal scenes in the book and I went back and forth on how I was going to set it up. I may have erased as many words as I wrote today. Here's hoping the editor agrees with me.

Shadows may not reach the 100K goal I've originally set, but the publisher is looking for stories between 80 and 100K. I'm thinking this thing may run just a little over 80K (which would probably be the shortest novel I've ever written. Therefore I am going to be adjusting my counter to show this.

And, speaking of word count, I did add 2714 words today. I finished Chapter 12 and have started on Chapter 13. Not my best days work, but a good solid one.

I'll be so happy when this whole remodeling thing is done and I have a place other than the living room to work in. It's weird, I can sit in a Starbucks or a B&N and write even with the noise, but somehow I can't block out stuff at home unless I'm away from the TV or the family. I can't explain it, just the way I'm wired I guess.

Well, off to bed. I have to take the car in to the repair shop and pick up the rental in the morning, so I can't stay up too late. (So he says at three minutes to one.)
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Words for Today

2714 / 1000 words. 271%

Progress on SG-1: Shadows of the Heart

39501 / 80000 words. 49%

Words for 2009

31947 / 365000 words. 9%

There is something to be said for just sitting down and writing until you're done writing.

I was working on Shadows today. Sat down, picked up where I left off on Chapter 11 and just buzzed through to the end of the chapter. Really pumped, good characterization (or at least I thought so *grin*), and the hardest part was actually getting the chapter to a stopping point.

So, I finished the chapter and decided to snag some dinner. I grabbed the leftover Chicken Rigatoni from lunch today, tossed it in the microwave, fixed a big glass of iced tea, enjoyed my meal, sat down at the computer

And I had nothing.

Everything seemed to be more interesting than writing. What I did write sounded flat and I fought with Chapter 12 for a good three hours.

AAAUUGGHH!

Now, I did manage a small recovery right about 2200, and all told, I hit 2206 words for the day, but I had hoped to get almost double that. Rassenfrassen sassenfrassen. But that was above the goal I need to hit and with a little extra tomorrow, I'll be right on track. Still, the monthly totals look pretty good. I'd love to keep this momentum up when Shadows is done and I get back to my "own" WiPs. We'll see.

And in other news: Central Missouri won their season finale in basketball, raising their record to 23-4 (16-4 in conference). They will be the #2 seed in the Conference tournament and barring something very strange, they should be in the NCAA tournament for Div II. Final Four two years ago, can they do it again?

Stay tuned, same bat time, same bat channel.
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Words for Today

2206 / 1000 words. 221%

Progress on SG-1: Shadows of the Heart

36787 / 100000 words. 37%

Words for 2009

29233 / 365000 words. 8%

Referring back to last night's post, (technically the day after yesterday's blog since it's just past midnight here, but I digress), I thought about the question about the plot twist and the proposal a lot before dropping off last night. I was debating whether I should run it past Sally, but the question was would we have to run it past the property owners also?

Then, just as I was waking up this morning, it came to me. Go back in, use the scenario from the proposal now and save the scene for a spot two chapters from now where it would be perfect. Voila! Initial crisis averted.

Yep, sometimes, you just need to walk away from an issue to realize it's not an issue after all.

Came home from an appointment with the daughter-unit and my back was killing me. I did the basic stuff I have to do on the computer, (time card, work e-mail, personal e-mail, web comics, UCM basketball web site) and decided to call it a night. Went upstairs, got out the heat pad, and laid in bed waiting for something to happen. Maybe I didn't have a good angle on the heating pad, but it never seemed to get hot enough to do any good. Course, it's not exactly new either.

I finally gave up at 2220 and said the hell with it. If I'm going to be awake, I might as well write. So I did. I wrapped up at 0014 tonight, adding 2539 words. I finished Chapter 10 and am well into Chapter 11. Chapter 11 is giving me lots of chances to do snarky Jack, so it's flowing a tad easier than earlier ones did.

(Wow, I've been following the market too much lately. I wrote Chapter 11 and immediately thought I needed to explain that was the book not the legal situation. *sigh*)

I don't recommend hurting your back to improve your writing regimen, but I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth. As I mentioned to ghostbearmw on Twitter, "It's amazing what pain, panic and a deadline will do for you."

And with that, I think I'll see if the Advil will finally kick in and see if I can get to sleep.
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Words for Today

2539 / 1000 words. 254%

Progress on SG-1: Shadows of the Heart

34581 / 100000 words. 35%

Words for 2009

27027 / 365000 words. 7%

It's always fun when you get really into the groove in a story and then you realize you've completely wandered away from the pitch you sold the story with. That brings up an interesting dilemma, do I stay with the last couple of chapters which are working real well (considering I'm up against a time crunch), OR do I go back in and revise at least one chapter to get this back on track with the original proposal that the editor approved.

Yes, I know stories wander all the time, but this is a serious wander. Now, it's a good wander and it opens up an interesting side plot that I only thought of once I started writing this thing. If I put some thought to it, I can probably find a way to curve the rabbit path and bring this section of the story mostly back onto the original path.

The question is, how much of my writing time is it going to take to rewrite this chapter.

AAUUGGHH!

Lesson learned? Don't trust your memory when trying to remember what you put in the proposal, White. Go back, read it and refresh your memory.

Tomorrow night is likely to be very busy.
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Words for Today

1564 / 1000 words. 156%

Progress on SG-1: Shadows of the Heart

32042 / 100000 words. 32%

Words for 2009

24488 / 365000 words. 7%

Didn't get any writing done last night. We had to go visit the accountant for tax time and then just stuff kept coming up.

*sigh*

So, I sat down and did some figuring. If Shadows is going to be 80,000 words, I have to do 1400+ a day between now and 31 March or 1100 a day until 12 April. If it's going to be 100,000 words, I have to do 1900+ a day until 31 March or 1500+ a day until the 12th.

Now, it's due the 12th, so I'd really like to get this done by the 31st so I have time to do some edits and rewrites if need be done before I have to turn it in.

Those aren't encouraging numbers given my productivity lately (and my abysmal typing speed). But, there it is and that's where we're at. However, the goal isn't going to be met by staring at it, so as soon as I finished dinner this evening I went to it.

I added 2058 words tonight and Chapter 10 is coming along nicely. I'm projecting 24-27 chapters, so the story's about on schedule at least. Sometimes, I find I've blown through my projected word count because I chase rabbits and I have to go back in and weed them out. Sometimes the rabbit trails become new story lines in themselves though, so I seldom waste them. There's a little folder on my computer where I store them to be recycled and it's growing at a nice clip. However, I've been able to stay mostly on the trail with Shadows. I think it's the time crunch that's keeping me true.

And now, I think I shall enjoy myself, finish up my glass of Scotch and call it a night.
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Words for Today

2058 / 1000 words. 206%

Progress on SG-1: Shadows of the Heart

30478 / 100000 words. 30%

Words for 2009

22924 / 365000 words. 6%

I had to go into work today to make up some time I've missed this month. 2008 slammed me for leave - I went from over 160 hours to just a little over 14. So, all the time I've taken off with my car and family appointments the past couple of weeks has got to be made up before the end of the month. It was pretty productive, but five hours later, I'm discovering my back is a lot stiffer today than it was yesterday.

Not. Fun.

Luckily, the chair in front of my computer is a lot more comfortable than the chairs at work. I was able to get some good writing in today and added 2621 words to the story. Finished up the edits to Chapter 8 and *almost* finished Chapter 9. I did get to the reveal of one of the villains of the piece though before stopping for the night. Plus, since Twitter was all awash in Oscar commentary, that helped me focus on the writing instead of the tweets since I really don't pay attention to stuff like award shows. Now if it had been the NFL draft, that could have been a problem.

I'm finding on days like Saturday and today I'm writing in fits and spurts rather than just grinding it out like I do on weeknights. I wonder if it's because I know I have "time"? I'm hoping I can restore the discipline I had the first half of last year, but all things considered, I can't complain. I've almost caught up to my goal for February, then (maybe) I can start working off the deficit that January left me.

(Hey, living this close to Washington, it's hard not to get sucked into deficit thinking *grin*)

However, it's time to take another dose of aspirin and get some sleep. wishweaver is wanting to go in to work a little early tomorrow, so if I want to ride in with her, I better be ready.
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Words for Today

2621 / 1000 words. 262%

Progress on SG-1: Shadows of the Heart

28420 / 100000 words. 28%

Words for 2009

20866 / 365000 words. 6%

O.K., deadlines can be good and they can be bad.

Like anyone, I hate deadlines. I hate knowing I have only X amount of time to finish because I keep thinking, I could do this or maybe tweak that or do a little more research.

However, that's the good thing about deadlines. I have to just sit down and write.

I added another 1330 words to Shadows tonight and I'm headed into one of the scenes that sets the stage for the rest of the book. This is the one scene I've been looking forward to and dreading because there are so many ways this could go wrong. I'm definitely going to rely on wishweaver to make sure the conversation sounds right.

Keep your fingers crossed here.

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Words for Tonight

1330 / 1000 words. 133%

Progress on SG-1: Shadows of the Heart

22408 / 100000 words. 22%

Words for 2009

14854 / 365000 words. 4%

(insert image of writer letting out a large sigh.)

Man, the words did not want to come tonight.

I started out well, but it seemed like everything that could possibly distract me from writing tonight reared it's head. So, I wrote a bit, talked to the daughter-unit who was not having a "good day", wrote a bit, got an e-mail I needed to read, wrote a bit, decided to see how my alma mater did in Basketball last night (Central Missouri won btw, 82-58 over Emporia State), and so on.

I kept at it though and still managed to add 1046 words tonight. Not quite the 1500, but at least I hit my intermediate goal of 1000 words. Given the evening I've had, I'll take it.

Maybe, with a little luck, I can sneak in some writing tomorrow at lunch to try and catch up. The big challenge for me will be Saturday. I definitely want to get away for a bit and hit Mad City Coffee or Panera's and write. Hopefully, I can knock out about 3,000 words or more on Saturday, which will go a long way to make up for days like today.

Still, every day I'm writing puts me closer to my goals.

And now, it's time to kick the cats out of my bed and call it a night.
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Words for Today

1046 / 1000 words. 105%

Progress on SG-1: Shadows of the Heart

12998 / 100000 words. 13%

Words for 2009

5444 / 365000 words. 1%

(Typing the title just as a song from an anime soundtrack comes on . . . talk about serendipity.)

Some friends of ours recently returned from a tour in Japan with their company. Outside of being highly jealous because I'd kill for that opportunity . . . (OK, that might be a bit extreme. I might maim for that opportunity), I was pleased for them. Chris and Jodi were two of my kendoka friends, in fact, Chris is the one who introduced me to Kendo.

Just before they returned, Jodi contacted me regarding getting the daughter-unit a kimono to hang on her wall. The package just arrived and the kimono is absolutely gorgeous! I don't have any pictures of it yet, but as soon as we can get it hung on her wall, I'll be posting some. wishweaver received a cute little stuffed "lucky cat" and I received a neat sake set, which I hope to put to use sooner than later. *grin*

Chris did look into picking up a katana while he was over there, but the one he found that he really wanted . . . well, let's just say he could buy a house here in Maryland outright with what they were asking for it. *yikes!* I suspect we'll have a lot of stories to swap when we get time to get together after they settle in.

This all dovetails with my Stargate story, because I am using the Shavadai (from Emancipation (Season One)) for Shadows of the Heart. I've been busy going through the various "baby name" web sites looking for Mongolian names to adapt to become Shavadai names and comparing Mongol history and artifacts against what was on the show and trying to blend the two.

(And who said doing tie-in work wasn't educational?)

Speaking of Shadows, I added 1458 words tonight, coming close to the 1500 I'm shooting for a night. It was a fairly easy section to write. Once I got going, the conversations just seemed to occur naturally, rather than thinking about how X would respond. They just did and transcribing is a lot simpler than writing. I love it when that happens.

Besides jimhines's book, The Stepsister Scheme, I'm currently reading two other books. One is Charles de Lint's Little (grrl) Lost and the other is H.P. Lovecraft, Complete and Unabridged. Just reached The Call of Cthulhu and am about halfway through it. On the nightstand, I also have The Journeys of Marco Polo. As I said once, one story launched a thousand adventures, the other, a thousand nightmares. *grin*

Yeah, I have eclectic reading tastes.

And now, to bed, perchance not to dream of Software Requirement Documents . . .
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Words for Today

1458 / 1000 words. 146%

Progress on SG-1: Shadows of the Heart

11952 / 100000 words. 12%

Words for 2009

4398 / 365000 words. 1%

Three big projects coming up at work and for once, I think I'm actually holding my own. Of course, 90% of my time is still spent fighting Microsoft Word's inability to format the same thing the same way twice. *Fhtagn* (The Lovecraftians will recognize that word . . . and run.) Still, things are going well and I'm still managing to get in some writing at lunch. I'll probably have more to add to Harbinger this weekend.

Got a copy of The Sky's the Limit and The Quality of Leadership off to my folks tonight. Thanks to the gang at mikescomics who went above and beyond getting me some copies of TQoL. I know Dad loves showing off the books to everyone . . . just hope he enjoys reading them also.

BTW, If you're wanting to pick up the Doctor Who book, don't wait for Amazon to get around to bringing it over here, Mike's is the way to go. (This was a completely unpaid and heartfelt plug. I like supporting people who take care of their customers.)

Had to take the Matrix in for an oil change, so while wishweaver was playing with her new shiny (see this entry for more raving about her new iMac. Well, almost new . . . it's refurbished, but it's definitely new to her and it's frappin' HUGE! It's got a bigger screen than our small flat-screen TV. I can't wait to see how it handles a DVD.

Anyway, while I was at the Jiffy Lube, I snagged one of my writing notebooks out of the trunk and spent some quality time writing. Yeah, I guess all that Army training is coming in handy. Not only can I sleep damn near anywhere now, but it seems I can write almost anywhere, background noise notwithstanding. Oh, and by the way , I was not trying to sell books while I was there, for those who follow the NEPAT or the Never-Ending Publish America Thread over at Absolute Write.

(Wow, tonight's theme really seems to be parenthetical asides and inside jokes.)

Somewhere in all this, I did get work done on the unnamed project. I added 1376 words and have completely confused at least one of the main characters. I may need to go back and flesh this scene out a bit more tomorrow night before pushing on (lots of talking, not so much description). I may want to readdress how I build up some of the tension here before I get to one of the early reveals. It's still early, but I'm already having fun with this book and once we get out of the "recap and reintroduce characters phase, it's going to pick up steam in a hurry."

But for now, I'm running out of steam, so it's off to bed.

Night, LJ.
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Words for Today

1376 / 1000 words. 138%

Progress on Unnamed Project: SotH

3723 / 100000 words. 4%

Words for 2008

157252 / 366000 words. 43%

I won't go too far out on a limb, but given May's lack of production, the fact that I've strung three straight days of writing together is encouraging. Looks like things are going to get a little busy at work too, so we'll see how well we can separate out work writing from project writing.

I think this project will start picking up some speed when I can quit looking stuff up. That's the problem with some projects, even when you know what you want to say and you know exactly what it is you are describing, it's the fine details that make or break a project. Yeah, I know, good writing trumps everything, but I'm a historian and getting things wrong, whether it's calling a pole arm by the wrong name or forgetting what level sickbay is on the Enterprise, annoys me.

I feel comfortable with the characters and I feel very confident about the plot. It's those little niggly details that can really add something to a story if they're used right that are slowing me up for the moment. Especially since I'm hoping to use a few of these things later. Sort of a "see, there was a reason for this level of granularity, guys."

Contacted Register.com - still trying to move richardcwhite.com from Register to Sitelutions (my web host). Hopefully, we can get this fixed before I have to pay Register another year's worth of registration fees. Yes, I know my poor web site needs a face lift and I hope to get to that one of these days once I get the other six hundred other things that seem to need dealing with handled.

Also fired off a few e-mails to Archon. I'm hoping to get a small hall table to promote the two new books while I'm there. I like Archon, but I like having a table rather than just wandering around a con. Must be all those years doing comic conventions. I find if you have a table and a half-way decent display, it's a great opportunity to meet new people, pitch your work and meet interesting people. Of course, there's always a few who take a "Hi, how's it going?" as an invitation to hang around your table for hours at a shot, but that's the risks you take by being out in public.

I got started on Chapter Two of SotH tonight, adding 1284 words. Like I said, a tad under what I had hoped for, but after May, I'll take it.

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Words for Today

1284 / 1000 words. 128%

Progress on Project: "SotH"

2347 / 100000 words. 2%

Words for 2008

155076 / 366000 words. 42%

Wow.

At least I almost redeemed myself this weekend. I set out with the greatest of intents to get some major writing done this weekend to get myself back on track. As you can guess from the title of this post, it didn't quite happen.

I did get 2542 words written on Harbinger on Saturday, but that was mostly transcribing what I'd put together over a few lunches during the week. I took the computer with me to go out and write on Chronicles twice on Saturday, but both times, things came up and nothing actually got done. I think I wrote a whole three paragraphs on Saturday and didn't bother trying to count them toward the weekend total. I just managed to stay ahead of my yearly goal.

Today was wishweaver's and my anniversary. Yep, she's put up with me for seventeen years so far and believe me, I appreciate it. We took the daughter-unit out for lunch today and then I went shopping while Wish worked on her mid-term some more. I picked up a wedding present for kradical and terri_osborne, as well as picking up a couple of things for Wish. (Yeah, I know, you're supposed to shop ahead of time, but it took a while to get Wish to give me a hint what she might be interested in. I'm telling you, this girl is hard to shop for. *sigh* Well, outside of getting her iTunes gift cards, that is.)

We went out for dinner tonight to our favorite Japanese steakhouse and had a nice conversation with the couple who were sitting next to us at the hibachi grill. Yeah, we splurged a bit, but the meal was nice and it was good to just relax and not worry about school, house or work for a bit. She liked her presents (huzzah!), so I guess she'll keep me around for another year. *wink*

Came home and started work on the sekrit project. I'm a little nervous about getting started without the contract, but I'm going to take the editor at her word until events prove me wrong. The first chapter is kind of short, (1063 words), but there was a great stopping place and it feels like adding any more is simply just padding. I'd rather save the words for the end of the book since I usually run over my word count anyway on the first draft.

I would say, "Hey, Glen Cook gets away with two page chapters in his latest book", but then again, he's Glen Cook and I'm not.

Well, in for a penny, in for a pound. The sekrit project is officially kicked off as of tonight.
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Words for Yesterday

2542 / 1000 words. 254% done!

Words for Today

1063 / 1000 words. 106% done!

Progress on Harbinger of Darkness

7697 / 120000 words. 6% done!

Progress on Unnamed Project:(SotH)

1063 / 100000 words. 1% done!

Words for 2008

153792 / 366000 words. 42%

The month of May started out so well and has turned into a flaming wreck when it comes to getting new writing on the page. Although, I do have a small excuse for last night, since I wound up missing work today with a sore, swollen throat and just general blah feeling.

Still, I'm aggravated that I've squandered my word count cushion. I've gone from being over 10K words ahead to barely being over 1500 words ahead. If I don't re-motivate myself, I see serious issues with making my goal. Although, once I get started on the "sekrit" project, I'm going to have a deadline. Maybe that'll be the boost I need to get going again. Lord knows, it can't hurt.

On the good side, though, I did pass 150,000 words for the year tonight. That is a bit of a milestone, so I'll build on that.

I'll post a belated review of Balticon later. Just not tonight. Lots of distractions tonight, but I did manage to hammer out 1632 words tonight on Childhood's Tears.

And now, bed.
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Words for Today

1623 / 1000 words. 162%

Progress on Childhood's Tears

42975 / 90000 words. 48%

Words for 2008

150187 / 366000 words. 41%

Work went well today, all things considered. I finished my proposed revisions for the users manual and hope to get started on that (as well as some other documentation) next week. The funny thing is, now that I'm not working on that other project . . . now, they're coming out of the woodwork needing assistance with their web site.

*sigh*

Still, until they get their own tech writer/web person, my management has asked me to still help out now and then, so I guess that'll me one of my projects tomorrow.

And, I still found some time to work on Harbinger.

In fact, I wound up spending most of my time tonight transcribing all the stuff I did at work tonight. I was fully intending to copy that stuff in and work on Steel on Target, but it just took a little longer to get the writing going this evening. Once I got going, it went well, though. I added 2783 words tonight, finishing up the first chapter of the revised work. Yeah, I know, I wasn't going to start this rewrite until I finished one of my other projects, but I wanted to capture the new first chapter before I forgot all the stuff I thought of the other day.

I'm planning on taking Friday off from work. Hopefully, I can get some decent writing in, since I'm going to probably lose some writing this weekend with the convention. Still not sure if I'm going up to Balticon Friday evening for the Meet the Guests shindig. Not sure it's worth the price of gas for that, but I'll make that decision closer to time. If I can catch up with perivayne, we'll discuss doing a reading or a signing and when.

At least tomorrow is my last day at work until next Tuesday. We'll be happy for what we can get.

(Oh, and I thought I'd break out the new Raven avatar for my girl Raven, the star of Harbinger of Darkness.)
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Words for Today

2783 / 1000 words. 278%

Progress on Harbinger of Darkness

5155 / 120000 words. 4%

Words for 2008

148555 / 366000 words. 41%

After my daughter's appointments this morning, we hit the Apple store where she fell in love with the 20" iMac. We picked it up with some writing software (iWorks) and a Manga drawing software suite. She finished downloading all of her stuff from the old dying laptop after we got home and then after dinner tonight, we pulled the iMac out of the box, uploaded all of her stuff and started having fun with it. We're going to have to track down her WACOM drawing pad software to see if there's a Mac version or if it's universal software. Worst comes to worst, we'll just have to try and contact WACOM and have them send her a new CD. She's still having too much fun with her new "shiny" to worry about the drawing pad for the moment.

Of course, wishweaver fell in love with it too, but that's a purchase for another day . . . way far away. I never saw her as a Mac user, but Microsoft Vista is definitely pushing her toward it. Let's just say, its unreliabiliity is only exceeded by its memory-hogging slowness. I have a feeling we'll be blowing Vista off of her desktop soon and replacing it with XP. Hell, I'm thinking about doing the same with this laptop. Vista was NOT a better idea, Bill.

After all that, I uploaded my Bach collection into iTunes and prepared to write. That's where I hit a wall. I don't know why, but I just couldn't get into writing tonight. Maybe I'm already looking ahead to starting the sekrit project or maybe I was having too much fun visiting my old novel yesterday, but it was tough getting into the Chronicles tonight. So, after about two and a half hours, (most spent doing stuff other than writing), I finally logged 1,187 words. They're not bad words, and they were starting to come faster and better toward the end, so I'm encouraged by that.

Perhaps things will feel better after a good night's sleep.
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Words for Today

1187 / 1000 words. 119%

Progress on CSD: Dragon Couchant

92550 / 120000 words. 77%


Words for 2008

144156 / 366000 words. 39%

Not a lot to report about tonight.

First off, congratulations to Rich Berlew who's fine web comic, Order of the Stick, won an Eagle Award for best web comic of 2007. He didn't win the best Graphic Novel of 2007, but somehow he didn't mind losing to Alan Moore. Huzzah, Rich and hopefully we'll get a chance to hang out at another convention here in the near future!

Worked with one of the developer leads at work and created a template for his team to use to do all their reports. That took about half the day to get everything "just right". But, it was a nice change of pace from the other assignments I've been dealing with lately. No frantic deadlines, no fate of the world rests on this, just a "hey, if you have a bit, could you work on this?"

While I was getting ready for work this morning, I had one of those blinding revelations regarding Harbinger of Darkness. I understand now where I need to go with its rewrite. Chapter 7 is really Chapter 1, Chapter 1 is probably around Chapter 4, the sub-villain is actually one of the more important villains, the whole church thing needs to come out and be saved for the second book and we can't kill off one of the characters until much later in the book, and he MUST be introduced in Chapter One, not Chapter Four like he is now.

(Yeah, I know, this doesn't mean anything to you guys because I think the only person who's read this thing and my blog is wishweaver, but work with me. I'm on a roll.)

Of course, I'm already stretched for time to write on the various projects I have going, so what the heck am I doing even considering another writing project? Heck if I know. Still, when the answers just reach up and slap you in the face, you have to pay attention. So, I'm going to stick to my current strategy about writing for the rest of the year, but I'm taking copious notes on what I want to do with Harbinger and working on the new Chapter One in my spare time at work.

*sigh*

Have I mentioned I'm a glutton for punishment.

And speaking of projects and stuff, I added another 1,152 words to Steel on Target tonight. I was a bit distracted tonight and it took me a long time to get into the flow of the story. I don't know if it's the changing weather, the rather uncomfortable chair I'm sitting in or what, but I need to figure out a way to try and get more focused on my writing when I'm at the house. If I can do 4,000+ at a coffeehouse, I should be able to do better than just over 1000 when I have two hours plus to write at home.

*grumble, grumble, mutter, mutter*

I think it's time to go to bed.

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Words for Today

1152 / 1000 words. 115%

Progress on Steel on Target

50703 / 95000 words. 53%

Words for 2008

140597 / 366000 words. 38%

Wow, with the two major projects put to bed, I was happy to go back to work today. I didn't exactly skip up the sidewalk to the building, but I will admit to whistling the tune to Willie and the Poorboys from CCR as I walked from the parking lot.

Now, yes, I do have other projects at work, but none of them seem to be quite as dire as the one's I just discharged and hopefully, we'll stay ahead of the game this time (provided people give me deadlines before they're crisis deadlines).

wishweaver has been drawn over to the dark side . . . yes, we caught it when Nicktoons began rerunning Avatar, so we've been spending every day from 7-8pm watching back-to-back episodes of the show. I know it's not "anime", but it's probably the most grown-up cartoon I've seen produced by an American team in forever. It feels anime-ish because it's plot driven not episodic like most cartoons and the characters have depth. No one is completely good and no one is completely evil. OK, well, maybe Azula's completely evil, but then she's a psychopathic witch with serious daddy issues.

Worked on Childhood's Tears again tonight, adding 1511 words to the story. I know I'm going to have to make a decision here soon as the editor with the sekrit project told me I could go ahead and start writing on it while we're waiting for the contract to come back from the licensor. The editor told me they're notoriously slow, but she's almost never had them reject a story she passed on to them.

So, I have to decide, which of my current writing projects do I push to the side to work on the sekrit project? To be honest, I"m thinking I'm going to drive on (bad pun there) with the military SF story Steel on Target and set Childhood's Tears and Chronicles of the Sea Dragon to the side. I really enjoy writing fantasy, but I think, given my military background as well as my experience in the 3rd ACR, this might be the strongest of the three. Plus, I'll need to set some time aside to work on Shattered Mirror and my college proposal, Black Satin Nights, which will need editing/rewriting between now and January.

So, I will keep working on my current schedule until Balticon and starting in June, I'll shift my schedule to Sekrit Project on Sat/Sun/Mon/Tues, Steel on Target on Wed/Thurs, and Fridays will either be down days to recharge/read/play some PS2 or else work on Shattered Mirror when it's my turn to write.

I hate to leave Rowena and Asheera in the lurch, but there's only so much time and a whole lot of writing to do. I may see if I can slip in a little work on them during my lunch hours, but they'll just have to be patient with me.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Words for Today

1511 / 1000 words. 151%

Progress on Childhood's Tears

39727 / 90000 words. 44%

Words for 2008

138182 / 366000 words. 38%