I have a question. If my closing date is mid-December, is that a nice thing? I mean, I didn't expect to hear anything so soon. And the list is jaw-dropping. Vampire People mostly went to small/indie houses. Sam is going to all the big boys. I'm sort of kind of floored. And intensely happy.

What do you mean by closing date, Allyson? Is that by when Kate expects to send it out? Or when she expects to hear back from editors?

It just means she's putting an end date on when she'd like a decision from them.

Ah, okay. I've never heard that term. *files it away for future reference*

Well, I'm assuming? Closing is a term you'd generally use for an auction, but here I guess it just means that she'd like a response by then.

I guess, you know, I could ask her!

But I felt dumb.

It's not dumb -- it's a new process for you. And remember, she works for *you*. Ask her whatever you need to.

I was a bit pinched for time this weekend, but hopefully tonight or tomorrow night I'll finally have 25 behind me and I can move onto 26.

I have reached the stage of the evening where my sentences say things like "Although arguably less rigorous in terms of validity and [the other one]..." because I am too tired either to remember or look up the right term. It may be time to stop writing.

Be that as it may, we are at 7000 words, people! Only 5-6000 more to go. (And some more research. But, still, y'know. Is good.) I am panicking slightly less. Which is not an entirely good thing, since it's mostly the panic that gets the work done. But it's a lot less tiring without.

Which is not an entirely good thing, since it's mostly the panic that gets the work done. But it's a lot less tiring without.

Good god, I know that feeling. A deadline motivates me like nothing else. Especially one that's way close.