My biggest writing problem, by far, is cleaning up the first draft. Tonight I took out a Clarion story (“The X-Ray Style” for those of you playing at home) that I really want to send out sometime soon, read the crits (cue waves of nostalgia,) and then started thinking about how I needed to change it. At 6K words it was too long and the majority of people said the middle dragged (though not everyone) so it’s pretty clear where I need to take the hammer and tongs to work.

My problem? What to put in the hole left behind.

I sat looking at the flashing cursor and not getting anywhere. Not getting words down, not finding new paths to explore in the story. I hate that.

My other problem is that I’ve got another story just dying to come out. The water broke a couple days ago and I’ve been fighting off contractions ever since. Tonight I think I’m just going to give in. The main problem is that I’ve fallen in love with the main character’s name and I can’t get it out of my head. I’m not sure if it’s cool. It might just be me.

His name’s Tyler Castleneff. :neutral:

I started coming down with a cold shortly after my birthday. I was reflecting the other day how I had been in a good mood for a long time. I was reflecting because I was no longer in a good mood. According to my Mood Icons for 2006, it’s been a streaky kind of year.

01/02 – Current Mood – Tired | :tired:
01/03 – Current Mood – So So| :neutral:
01/04 – Current Mood – Pretty Good | :smile:
01/05 – Current Mood – Not Bad, Surprisingly | :smile:
01/08 – Current Mood – Happy Happy | :grin:
01/11 – Current Mood – Surprisingly Content | :smile:
01/13 – Current Mood – Friday| :cool:
01/17 – Current Mood – Good Enough| :smile:
01/18 – Current Mood – Unprecedented Streak of Good Humor | :smile:
01/18 – Current Mood – Exhausted by Paperwork| :tired:
01/19 – Current Mood – Still in a good mood? | :smile:
01/20 – Current Mood – Still in a Good Mood| :smile:
01/23 – Current Mood – Is This A Headache Coming On? | :neutral:
01/23 – Current Mood – Idiots! | :evil:
01/24 – Current Mood – Irritated | :???:
01/25 – Current Mood – Down About the Whole Thing | :cry:

Let’s hope I don’t go on a 10-post fussy streak.

Current Mood – Rather Blah |
Currently Listening To – Wilco – “A Ghost Is Born”