It's done! My 24-hour Spring Short Story Contest entry flew out of my outbox just after 11:00. I am so pleased. I don't care if anyone else is or not!

This was an interesting experiment. I'm happy to report that these weeks of writing practice paid off in a large way. This story went together so much easier than the last one did. Now of course it could be that the prompt and I were simply more compatible, but I really don't think that's true. I think my mind was more used to exploring ideas and possibilities. I got the starter prompt and within minutes I had it pulled apart and the ideas were flowing thick and fast. One took me by the hand and led me through the process. I didn't even play with the other ideas that I had listed.

I wrote straight through from beginning to end and wound up with a story of 1,700. Now it was time to trim it back to the word count limit. 950. Ugg.

By the time I gave up and went to bed I was down to 1,265, and which time I typed WAHOO! and decided to sleep on it. Actually my dh decided to have me sleep on it; he was rather irritated that I was still up past midnight. I didn't tell him I was doing this this time around for fear he'd want to "help." I never get anything done when he does that. :)

I woke a little after 6 and felt I should get up, but the bed was comfortable, and I didn't want to have to explain why I was getting up so early. I don't know why I have such a hard time telling my family how I'm driven to do this. I do try. They don't understand. It gets complicated and frustrating when it becomes "discretionary" time in their books and "vital" time in mine. So mostly I go about my business and pray they continue theirs.

I was going to take a walk and let things simmer. Decided to print a copy out first. I read the story and was completely tired of it. There was still so much to cut. Some of the really good stuff had to go. I decided instead to play Bejewelled for awhile. Did great. The cobwebs were dusted out of my mind, and I got busy around 9:00.

By 11 I had a satisfying revision of 949 words. Can't beat that! This is the earliest I've ever finished. No holding the breath to see if I squeaked in under the wire. If this one doesn't arrive....!!! It won't matter. I met my goal, finished my mission, and now I think I will take that walk.

1,700 to 950 words. 750 words chopped and the story is still intact. I just think that's amazing. But it makes me wonder what I need to be doing with all those other pieces I have in the files........Maybe I can get Angela to set me some word limits. :)