STILL waiting to get the scores and critiques back from that writing contest. I know from when I was having my mail problems that they were supposed to go in the mail last week. You'd think that even if last week meant Friday or Saturday, with priority mail postage (which I know they had, since I had to provide a return SASE) they should be here by now!

It's a stupid thing to angst over, I know, but it's the first time total strangers have seen the opening of the wip, so I'm just dying to get the verdict here. Did it miss the finals by one point? Tank? Have one judge love it, one hate it, and one give it a meh? Inquiring minds are going crazy with the not knowing!

I'm making myself wait till Friday's mail arrives before I email the coordinator or ask on the contest discussion loop if anyone else has gotten theirs back. Because I don't want to be That Contestant.

With her perfect skin, she looked no older than 27, but, in her violet eyes, he could see something ancient—and eternal.

OK, this completely nailed me. 27! You picked an exact age with no explanation!

Perfecto.

erika, I quote my editor, so please believe her if you can't believe me:

Plot is the easiest thing to fix.

Really. I probably won't be able to get too much more done for a few days - I'm also editing for Roz Kaveney and the pass pages for Matty are due on Friday - but I loves it a ton and expect to love it more.

You picked an exact age with no explanation!

That was exactly what I was going for. I am so happy you noticed.

Congrats to AmyLiz and Kristin!

I do believe you, Deb. It's the *process* of having to unravel the pages for it that I'm finding tiring in the short-term. I know the story will come...it's chipping away the stuff that doesn't look like...Pelecanos, uh I mean David, that is...sometimes annoying.

It's the *process* of having to unravel the pages for it that I'm finding tiring in the short-term.

Oh, I hear that - trust me. When Ruth offered to buy "Weaver", she did it on the basis of 213 manuscript pages, written with alternating chapters telling the modern story and the 19th century story. She offere with the caveat that I lose the entire 19th century story and rewrite it so that the modern characters did all the discovery. As she put it: "The interesting thing about these ghosts? Is that they're dead. It's the modern characters who make the book."

So yes, I do get the sudden drop at the pit of the tum, the whole "oh, shit, I have to do what...?"

But the book was a bazillion times better because of it. And the other result? Concentrating on the modern characters allowed it to become a series, rather than a one-off.

And, much like my social life, I have to do most of everything one-handed.

And, much like my social life, I have to do most of everything one-handed.

choking

Has anyone told you, oh internet wife of mine, that you are EVIL?

"I haven't been evil for a very long time. Why does everybody keep telling me that?"

This isn't creative writing (much) but I am starting the scary process of sending out covers and resumes for teaching jobs.

Would anyone be willing to take a gander, for proofing, ideas, whatever? Feedback is SO good.

Erin, you can send it to me if you'd like. Profile addy is good.