One hundred and fifty-seven thousand, seven hundred and nine.
One hundred and fifty-seven thousand, seven hundred and nine words…
…(not counting some front and backmatter, which thankfully, I can deal with a few days from now) with which I am — at this precise moment — finished spending just too damn many years writing, researching, editing, rewriting, re-researching, re-editing then AGAIN re-researching, re-editing and spit-and-polishing an ungodly number of times.
I already had my happy cry. It was intense.
I need a bath.
And my bed.
Addendum: To be filed under Y for Yep, our bodies are as amazing as I just wrote they are: in my insane stretch of nonstop, hyperfocused 16 hour + workdays and so little sleep, I hadn’t even noticed my period was several days late.
Until I got it, not even two hours after I finally crossed the finish line. And it’s the mean ovary/tube (we can never figure out who the culrpit is), too, so getting whacked with it mid-steam would have totally broken my stride. It’s like my body and my brain made a deal. How cool is that?
Brain: “Our deadline is nigh, and it is imperative we complete this task, well and on time. Is there any way we could perchance enter into negotiations to forstall your reproductive process?”
Body: “Dude, I don’t know WHAT the hell you just said. I’m SO wasted: we haven’t slept for days. All that damn coffee’s got me all nervous, then I gotta sit still all day, and I feel all… whack.”
Brain: “I empathize completely. I acknowledge it hasn’t been easy on you; it’s been challenging for me, as well. But if you could just set your needs aside for but a few more days, including your required shedding of endometrial tissue, I’m sure we can design a compromise.”
Body: “Endo me– ohhhhhhh. I getcha. The crampy thing. Yeah, okay. Howsabout if I wait, you get me some sleep, a couple Advil, a lotta cookies, then buzz off so I can get some tail and then grab a spin outside?”
Brain: “Your terms are acceptable.”
Body: “Uhhh..whatever.”
Thanks, adrenaline! Thanks, my body!
November 15th, 2006 at 5:42 pm
WOW. Just for comparison’s sake, my book was a scant 60,000 words. You’re amazing!
November 15th, 2006 at 6:55 pm
Rock on, babe! I swear, I’m surprised that you’re not an alcoholic, sometimes. Thankful, but surprised. Congratulations on finally hurdling yourself through the gauntlet, and I just got to say that I have, for one, pre-ordered a handful of copies that are going to be distributed as incredibly late holiday presents.
November 15th, 2006 at 8:55 pm
Congratulations! And sleep well, you’ve earned it.
I ab dot having dose issues today. Much better!
November 16th, 2006 at 7:44 am
Congratulations - I can’t wait to read it.
November 16th, 2006 at 9:01 am
Congrats, babe!
November 16th, 2006 at 3:22 pm
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 16th, 2006 at 3:48 pm
Yay Heather! Every word was worth it, Congrats!
(and the period thing: very cool, can you teach me how to do that?!)
November 17th, 2006 at 1:05 pm
AWESOME. i love your writing style, and can’t wait to read your book. saw someone mentioned pre-ordering…can i do that? where???
November 17th, 2006 at 1:16 pm
should have done my research BEFORE posting the previous response. i just saw it for pre-order on amazon.com…only $11.53? that’s not a bad price, if it were a stephen king book or something.
is there somewhere else where i might actually pay closer to what the book is worth? besides, i’d rather go somewhere where i feel like you’re getting more of the money and my $11.53 won’t be paying every single person down the amazon line until you only get $.02 of it.
November 17th, 2006 at 1:26 pm
ahh, i see the rationale behind the price now. btw, sorry if i came across a bit harsh before, but obviously you understood that i said what i did with good intentions.
thanks for the suggestions, i’ll take them all into account, but honestly, i can’t wait to see the final product!