Don't look at the word count Gud! It's a killer.

I need to really pay attention to my word count so I don't go too high. The rough draft is 178,000 words which is way too much. I'd like to bring it down to 130,000 to 150,000 maximum. I'm going to have to strike a real balance between detail and word count and probably cut another section of plot somewhere.

Gud, just revise, without worrying so much about the word count. It's only a first revision. After you have a complete revision under your belt, you'll be better able to see the rhythms of the writing and where more can be cut or added.

Signed,

Been there, done that, have the scars to prove it. :)

That's probably good advice. Hopefully, by the time the first revision is done, my plot cuts will let me hit at 130k without really having to mess with it too much. That's where I'd really like to be.

I think it's good to work on keeping the word count downish at this point, but I wouldn't obsess about it yet. Tell the story that needs to be told -- there are plenty of ways to trim later.

Also, I just got a box full of my last book with my former publisher. I wish I was excited about it.

At long last I got some feedback, yea! Feedback conclusion, fail. Sigh.

I think I'm going to end up multitasking my revisions. Latest feedback was also exact confirmation of my worries. I think I've come up with more plot cuts to help make room for a bit more detail and remove some traveling by eliminating a location. Some tough work ahead.

Someone tell me to quit reading the deals on Publisher's Marketplace. It only depresses me and makes me think I'll be gray and infirm before another contemporary women's fic will be bought that doesn't involve a murdered or terminally ill child.

Stop, Barb. It does hurt, I know.

I think we should do a Buffistas short story anthology and go Lulu on it, though. We certainly have enough talent.