A Mid-Term Goal

I have spent to better part of last week working like a crazy woman on the book. I'm happy to say that I am making progress. The "pile" of articles I've already referenced is growing at a good clip. (It's amazing how motivating that is.) And now I've made enough progress that I think it's time to set a mini-goal: I want to have a complete first draft by January 10th.

Why set this as a goal? The main reason is to keep momentum going. I find that it helps to set smaller goals on my way to a big one.

I'm also finding that as I get further along in adding new material that I am becoming a bit more selective about what I include. At first, I felt like I needed to include "everything" that was new on this subject. But there has been a LOT of new material on this subject. As I worked, I started noticing that the "next" article in the pile wasn't really adding all that much--so why include it?

Overall, I'm pleased at how the new edition is coming together. It's just still SO much work. It's also kind of funny. I'm always shocked at how much work a book is. And you would think, after 21 previous books, that I would finally get it. But, nooooo! I think it's a lot like labor. It the midst of it, you swear that you will never, EVER do this again. And then they hand you this sweet baby and you think, "you know, that really wasn't that bad...." So you decide to have another one. And suddenly, you're in labor again. And you think, "Oh, NO. I remember this....."

So a mini-goal is good. It will get my through my second stage and on to holding my "other" sweet baby (i.e., my manuscript) in my arms.....And then I'll think, "you know, that really wasn't so bad...."

Have a good night.  :-)