I have to say, hitting the word “END” on a manuscript is especially satisfying. Particularly when it’s a full three days before I thought I would. I just sent it off to my uber-agent and we’ll see what she says.¹

One of the things we talked about at the workshop this weekend was the importance of meeting goals. Different participants had varying views on whether wordcount or time spent writing was a better metric for a goal. Personally, I think you need both.

As James Maxey pointed out, we’re paid by the word. BUT without sitting in the chair, that wordcount isn’t going to go anywhere.

I set a wordcount goal, but I’ve timed myself so that I know how long it takes me to write. I write an average of 1000 words per hour. Which means that if I need to hit 2000 words in a day, that I need to block out a minimum of 2 hours. I’ve been trying to train myself to write fast and clean first drafts because it’s obvious, from looking at friends who are farther along on the career track, that the ability to hit deadlines is a really important trait.

So reaching the “END” point in the manuscript early gives me three extra days to polish the prose. It means I won’t be scrambling and turn in something sloppy. And that makes me a happy camper

1. AFTER the weekend, ’cause it’s a holiday, people. [↩]

I had a nice visit with Grandma. She’s tired, of course, but as spunky as ever. She wanted to hear all about the writers’ retreat so I caught her up on that.

My Aunt Gen and Uncle Marvin were there so we talked a little about me staying to help take care of Grandma when she goes home. It would only be a couple of days longer than I’d already planned to be here and I’ve got the most flexible schedule right now.

We saw Grandma briefly as they were taking her to her room. She was awake and cracked a small joke. “I’m awake, so don’t ya’ll talk about me.”

As they were wheeling her on, she said, “You all go on home and go to bed. I’m sorry I was an inconvenience.”

That’s my Grandma.

As I started writing this, the surgeon walked into the waiting room and told us that Grandma is going to be fine.

She started having abdominal pain earlier this evening. Her doctor paid a house call and told her that she needed to go straight to the hospital because it looked like a hernia. The surgery went without a hitch.

They didn’t put Grandma under and she chatted with the staff the whole time. My cousin (who is a surgeon and so was in the operating room, observing) says that one of the staff said, “Gosh she’s awfully clear-minded.”

Richard said, “Yes. Everytime I go over she makes me feel like I’m a little slow.”

We’ll get to see her tonight. The surgeon said that they are going to keep her in ICU and then here for a couple of days. “Just because she’s 103.”

I can’t tell you how relieved I am.