OK, it's official, I hate editing! (Or whatever it is I'm doing to this book!) I have worked through 200 pages -- 100 more to go (single spaced right now, I have the thing sitting at about 92,000 words) and I want to scream when I think about sitting down at the computer. Everything I write feels like tripe, and the main character is developing a mean streak a mile wide. (Gee, think it could have anything at all to do with the fact I HATE EDITING?) However, I will press on, because I'm close to the end. Well, a lot closer than I was last week at this time. And if it is all tripe, I will take a couple of weeks off, and then go back and restart. I'm getting this finished and out, one way or another.

The City arranged a "Thank You" for the Oilers today, and I'm going. I didn't officially announce my fandom to the world by wearing a jersey or covering my car with flags or anything, but I think this IS something I can do. Funny thing, though. the City forgot to tell the Oilers. Most of the boys are going home or already gone -- but apparently there will be some of them available to bask in our adulation, one more time.

Received my 3 Day Novel Contest registration form in the mail a little while ago. 72 hours to write a novel, on the Labour Day long weekend. This will be my 3rd go. What a wild weekend it is! I went in without an outline last year -- and that's a bit like entering a marathon without really training. Day 2 was the worst -- I distinctly remember pounding on the keys and screaming "Then what DO you want to do?" at my main character, who was obstinately drinking coffee and staring out a window (curtains closed, of course) until I got my act together. However, the pieces I managed to put together gave me a really good idea for a novel. And THAT was the point of that one. I knew, going in, the story was too big to write in just 3 days -- and the truth was, it felt too big for me to write at all. So I gave myself 3 days to see if I could figure out what the story was. And I did. This time, though -- this time there will be an outline. If I ever get the novel I'm working on now finished, that is.

2500 new words, 1000 old words since the last time I posted. Most of the new words -- tripe. Sigh. Maybe I should go work in the garden.