So, on Monday I was revising a story for the Polyphony 6 deadline which was a postmark of Tuesday, January 31. This story became a problem and I felt like I was fixing something that lacked cohesion. Monday night before I went to bed I found another story in my files--it had been critiqued late last summer and it would be a much easier fix.

Come Tuesday morning, I took the second story and went through it line by line, clearing up some things, elaborating on others, cutting words, adding words, and the story went from 6400 to 6100 words. Printed and sent by one o'clock.

Not only did I make deadline, but I picked the right story. The second story is stronger. The first story needed more work and I should have realized how much really needed to be done with it before Monday.

In other words, I feel all warm and fuzzy and PROfessional. All too often I bang my head against something without looking for another approach. Deadlines, I can't live with them and I can't live without them. That goes for dares, too. It's nice to know that in various little ways, I'm learning about getting the work done and getting it done right.