Why you even gotta do a thing?

Man. Don't go through what I'm going through. Don't do it. It's no fun at all.

That's my personal crap, though. On the writing side of the coin, things are all shiny and spit-polished.

I'm making unbelievably rockin' progress on Baptism for the Dead. Hooray for outlining! It's still some of my strongest writing ever (I feel, anyway...we'll see what other people think, such as my agent). I have partnered up with my friend Lori to exchange 2500 - 3000 words every Tuesday for critique, and this has been no problem for either of us to meet since we both write at least that much daily. It is, however, keeping us very focused and giving our brains something to do other than write.

Which brings me, apparently, I suppose, to the topic for this slightly-overdue blog update. We all know that it's important to have your own work read and criticized by others. But did you know that's just as important for you to do that reading and criticizing of others' works? Not only because this is a bit of an exchange system -- you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours. Without readers/critics, the system collapses. But also because it's fantastic practice for your own self-editing. When you become able to quickly identify problems and solutions in writing, you gain the amazing superpower to do so not only with others' words, but with your own.

Of course, it takes a lot of practice. And of course, it's not failproof. You'll still probably need to get regular readings of your work from sources you trust to rip it to delightful shreds and then put them back together.

That's it. That's all I've got. Now I'm going to eat some chocolate eclairs while I get my daily writing done. I have just enough time for 2500 words before I have to run to work.