I've looked over the beginning to the novel and did some tweaks, and I'm happy with it. Call me arrogant, but I've never hated something I've written like I've heard other people say about their own work. I usually feel like I've done a good job, even if it's something I'm not sure about 100%. Maybe I'm just deluded that way.

So yeah, I've got all 308 pages printed out, and I've just stuffed the whole manuscript into a file cabinet to rest for a month or so. If you're interested in reading it, feel free to email me and I'll send you the draft. Just remember it's a draft, and as a result, I'm totally open to your comments and suggestions and questions. And if you do read my novel, I'll gladly do the same for you in the future. (By the way, I won't be looking for any feedback 'til early or mid-June.)

As a public service announcement, I'd like to share some insights I had while working on this novel.

All told, this novel took me from September 2002 to April 2003 to write, a little over half a year, and part of that time I was working on the Wannoshay novel. I'd say the total time I spent writing it was closer to 4-5 months, really. I expect to spend at the most a month revising it.

Writing a novel fast works really well for me -- it keeps me from losing focus and doesn't let me procrastinate. It also helped having a tight deadline, one that seemed IMPOSSIBLE at the beginning of April.

Ultimately, my goal is to write two novels a year, along with a dozen short stories or so. So, using my writing speed from this past Dare, I've come up with a schedule for writing a novel in six months.

First Two Months: Preparing
Read, research, and outline. This is when I get caught up on the books I want to read, and as always happens when I read a good book, I get inspired (for May and June I have Mieville's THE SCAR, Silverberg's 1st LEGEND antho, Zelazny's NINE PRINCES IN AMBER, an H.P. Lovecraft antho, last year's YEAR'S BEST FANTASY AND HORROR antho, the first two DARK TOWER novels by King, and Emshwiller's THE MOUNT for fiction, along with the Maass BREAKOUT NOVEL book and Campbell's THE HERO WITH A THOUSAND FACES for non-fiction).

The plan is to read a lot in those two months, grabbing ideas and inspiration wherever I can, and beginning the outlining process. And get some research done -- I've found that doing research ahead of time makes the outlining easier, and enables you to have all your sources handy during phase two. And I have to have a good outline, even if I don't stick to it for the whole process.

Second Two Months: Drafting
Most people can do 1,500 to 2,000 words a day, I think, if they have a good outline and a good routine. If you do 1,500 words a day for two months, you've got a 90,000 word manuscript. That's six double-spaced pages. I've gotten to the point where I can do that much in two hours or so. If I can do it, anyone can do it! The trick is to stay focused, and DON'T EDIT YOURSELF. Just get the words out and write that shitty first draft. Don't stop yourself. Just write and get the story down on paper. You'd be surprised at how fun it is.

Third two months: Recovering and Revising
Take a month off to get away from the novel, and spend the last month editing and revising. That month off is important -- after 2 months of intensive, manic drafting, you need to forget about the story for a while and get to know your family and friends and the outdoors again.

Then, in month Six, get a hard copy of your novel, and take a weekend to read the novel from start to finish, marking up stuff and flagging pages to come back to later to fix up. The very last thing you should do is look at your first 3 chapters again and make sure they are THE BEST introduction to your story you can write.

And that's it. That's what I've learned. I'm already looking forward to my next novel. But I plan on enjoying some time off for the next few days! Later!

Now Playing:
"Scarlet's Walk," Tori Amos (one last time!)

Stories out to Publishers:
17

Today's Words:
400

Words for '03:
89,000