Nine Draft 5 is done.

I’m going to let it sit for a couple of weeks then read it over for the final final polish.

I turned 30 today. I was dreading it for a while, but it was fun actually. And rather productive.

The day started out with breakfast. BF made it. Well, he always cooks breakfast, but today was exceptionally nice: a cheese omelet with red bell peppers and some spicy potatoes.

And while he was working, I revise two chapters, checked emails, etc. I also got a card from Mom with an international money order inside. (BTW — note to everyone: if you send an international money order, make sure to fill out every single blank space you’re supposed to fill out or it’s going to be near-impossible to cash it.) BF and I had sushi and cake for lunch. I revised another chapter, then practiced the new scales (with something like five sharps and one double-sharp) and read. Very very satisfied with the day.

P.S. If you’re wondering what BF got me for my birthday — he gave me a copy of Rascal. It’s out of print, but he found a nice hard cover. W00t!

I just re-read and made some changes to the final chapter. I still like it a lot, which is unusual for me since I usually want the story to end (so I can stop revising!). There’s a bit of sadness but a sense of hope and the character arc, especially for Eve, who really has to change the most throughout the story. I really think the ending fits the story perfectly.

Condensed a 100k novel into a 2 page-long synopsis, double-spaced, TNR 13. (It’s a one-pager if I single-space it.)

Well…my throat’s better now, but my nose is completely congested. Kinda like 495 at 8:00 a.m.

Am feeling slightly tired, but slept a lot, so maybe it’s okay. Finally finished reading the last act of NINE. Am semi-pleased with what I have, but I have a ton of stuff to rearrange and fix. Am making a bunch of revision notes as well. I need to add a very minor subplot, then print the entire draft again and make more changes.

Finally NINE Draft 4 is finished. But the ending still needs some work, so it’s not technically finished since I plan to spend the next three days reading the last hundred pages or so and make any revision notes, etc. But I’m happy with what I have so far, which is the most important thing I guess.

Of course, this may change tomorrow when I realize how much more I need to do on it, but for now…let me bask.

I got about five hours of sleep last night, and right now it feels like my head is about to split open.

Today I got the following done (I don’t think I’ve ever been this productive in 2008…):

• NINE: Revise Ch. 5.
• NINE: Finish revising Ch. 26.
• NINE: Revise Ch. 27.
• NINE: Add 10 pages.
• NINE: Print synopsis for review.
• THE BILLIONAIRE’S VENGEFUL PROPOSITION: Revise Ch. 3.
• Practice the new scale (I think it’s D# minor…or something…has like six sharps or something — my brain’s too tired to remember) and Kayser Op. 20 No. 17.

I was hoping to write The Billionaire’s Vengeful Proposition Ch. 4, but I don’t think I’ll be able to do it. I’m just too tired to think much less write anything decent.

BTW — as I was working on NINE Ch. 26 & 27, I had a huge revelation about the villain. There was a minor matter that just felt wrong but I ignored it for a while since I had no idea how to fix it. Now I know. Yay!

A major plot problem that’s been bugging me for a while has been solved!!!!! Yay me!

My crit group is doing a 30-day long accountability challenge starting today. It’s for members who are interested only. (Sorry, non-members, but if you want, you can apply for the group…)

I’m hoping that it can help me focus better. For some reason I’ve been a complete slacker…

BTW — Fionn & Silke are on my team, which is great, not that I don’t like the others, you know. *wink* Go Team Calliope!

Out of many many things that can make me pull my hair out, the worst — or one of the worst — thing is when everything changes on me.

I finally figured out why I got stuck with WIP. I had the right goal, but not the right motivation for one of the central characters. This means about 85% of what I’ve written must be changed.

Yay ~ (sarcasm)