Day 106, July 14, 2010

Here we are: After three-and-a-half months, 493 pages, almost 150,000 words, the first draft of my novel is done. Hallelujah. It was a long, hard ride but an extremely satisfying one. I read a newspaper story this morning about a guy who won an ultramarathon—135 miles—through Death Valley and other harsh places. Finishing this first draft feels about like that, only without the sore feet and the sunburn.

Knowing that I would be reporting my progress each day helped me to increase my productivity. I didn't want to report: "I slacked off today. Again." Not that I do too much of that stuff in any case but the blog was an added incentive to get to work each morning. I learned that when you love to do something you can set a pace that would leave you in a heap at the side of the road, if your heart weren't in it. (Sometimes using the subjunctive tense looks really funny.)

As to our heroes and villains: some got just what they deserved; most got varying degrees of pleasure or pain. Which is pretty much the way I see real life. In the story context, I think each resolution fits and will satisfy most readers.

Finally, for those who might care, when this novel is published I will identify it as being the subject of this blog.

Until we meet again, mes amis…