I wasn’t sure I was going to make it, but I set March 10 as the deadline to finish the first draft of Can’t Help Falling in Love. The day job blew up right on schedule, but I kept pushing and today I typed “The End” at about 58,000 words. I’m short but it’s the first draft.

(Yes, I have a graph. I need to see progress. This keeps me from rolling up into a ball of defeat around 15,000 words. And 20,000. And 25,000…you get the idea.)

This is not fit for public consumption. I write cleanly but there’s still so much story, so many details, and loose threads to tie into a neat bow.

Next up:

REVISION ROUND 1: FIXING IT

REVISION ROUND 2: HEATING IT ALL UP

REVISION ROUND 3: CLICHES, REPETITION, AND OH, YEAH…THIS IS BETTER

Then off to lovely editor where stuff gets real. And so much better.

Writing: it takes a village and about four drafts before the final first draft.