Argh -- where did this week go? I was supposed to have a whole lot more stuff done on my SF novel before now, but it looks like I'll be lucky if I get done revising my opening 1/3 of the book. It always seems to to three times longer than I'd planned to revise something. I've got to be more generous with my planning...

But the book is coming along nicely, and I feel quite good about what's been done so far. I hit a slight snag today, having messed around with the chronology of events, so I ended up with a character referring yesterday to an explosion that happened TODAY... Doh! What can you do? Must rethink.

Actually, this is the kind of problem I love to work on. It means that I'm working at the micro-level of the novel, on the details and character motivations, and not on the big-picture stuff. I'm sure I'll figure out a way to work out those 4-5 paragraphs that are out of chronological order, and the story will be better for it.

At least, that's what we're hoping.

[[Totally unnecessary update -- figured out what to do about my "mistake," and I frickin' love it. Someone pinch me, I'm all a-flush! ]]

So I've got about 30 pages to get through before I take the week off -- Elizabeth had her boards today, so she is DONE with grad school, and we're celebrating by heading back to the Snowbird Mountain Lodge again, the same place we went for a long weekend for her birthday last winter. It should be fun, and man, I'm ready for a break! What with jamming on the novel and work becoming busier (and much more hectic thanks to the damn viruses), I feel like I haven't had a second to sit still and get my head on straight.

And if I don't get all the revisions done before we hit the trail early Saturday for parts west, it won't be that big of a tragedy. I'm happy with the progress I've made on the novel, and more than anything else, I'm ready to relax and celebrate with Elizabeth at the end of more than two very hectic and hard-working years of grad school. I'm ready for the Bird! Later...

Now Playing:
"18," Moby

Now Reading:
The Scar, China Mieville

Stories out to Publishers:
15

Today's Words:
1,200

Words for '03:
110,300

Today's Quote:
The moment was there. Ally felt her own hand move, poised to either grab the capsules the Blur from Jenae's quivering hand and run. She could do it. She had to do it. Then she thought about the images on her Netstream, and Jenae calling her "Wantaviewer." All those disks in her closet to incriminate her, guilt by alien association. Jenae wouldn't hesitate to turn Ally in as an alien-lover if there was any hint of profit in it. Ally nearly bit through her lower lip as it curled up with fear and disgust.