Hurry up!

Ever had a itch between your shoulder-blades? The sort that is driving you nearly mad, but which you know can't be scratched because the act of scratching will only make matters worse and you will end up itching for the rest of your life?

 

Or, perhaps, wanted to treat yourself to some forbidden dainty - and known - just known that you won't be able to stop eating?

 

That's a little like my current position with Mourningtide.  The story is nearly finished, it's almost ready to go – but it just is not quite ready.  There are things to do, things that must be done if I don't want to release a book that is not my best effort.

 

Well, as with any itch, if you ignore it, it will go away.  The story will be finished, people will like it, I'll like putting it out to be read, the cover will look good and I'll smile.  It's happened before, but I'm one of those people who likes to show folks their gifts before the proper date. 

In the mean time, I can laugh at myself, plug in my laptop, fire up Scrivener (did I mention that I love it?), and make corrections, and add scenes that occur to me.

And I can commune with my editor.

 

Have I mentioned my editor?  Everyone needs one, especially one like her.  Even if she is a pain in the neck, she's about as charming as they come.  ...and here she is!

 

I call her my 'attractive nuisance'.  (Interesting legal concept: something that can cause a lot of annoyance, rage, damage, you name it, while being simply irresistible.)  Notice the position of her posterior?  Yes, on the pile of manuscript.  That is her clever way of keeping me from hurrying too much.