Last night I typed in word number 50,000! I have offically completed my first NANO. Even better, the story really came together and I think with some revisions it will be a keeper.
Looks like they have already been updating the NANO site. When I logged in tonight to update my word count to 53,000, I found myself surrounded with WINNER signs all over the place. SWEET!

The mail person was mean today. She delivered a big, fat R from Harlequin Intrigue. I guess it is time to go back to the drawing board.

I will finish my NANO project, but then it will be time to take a serious look at my writing career. I think it is time to decide if I can really make it in the writing world, or continue on the path of insanity.

Writing is easy. All you do is sit staring at a blank sheet of paper until the drops of blood form on your forehead.~ Gene Fowler

The mailbox held a small surprise for me today. Fun For Kidz will publish my article, "Real Funny Names" in 2009.

The Acid Monster was requested by Free Spirit Publishing. This is a company who specializes in self help books. They requested my manusript last month and it arrived in their office today. Their email said 2-6 month wait to hear back. Another wait. Oh well. At least it is sitting on an editor's desk.

I'm still alive, but only 1440 words into the 50,000. It has been slow going at the start and I am not happy with the first chapter. I hope that will all smooth out in the rewrite. Here is the rough, rough, rough first paragraph:

The third watch at Station 30 was known to be chaotic and thrilling, but after a twenty-four hour shift it was close to impossible to think clearly or even function. Sleep was an unknown verb. Relaxation was unheard of. If the crew was lucky, these smoke eaters had enough time to fix a quick bite to eat between calls. That was if they were lucky. Some nights it seemed the calls were neverending. Tonight was no exception, especially with their elusive arsonist reeking havoc through the town.