[The Pelagic Argosy]

I think I have a healthy relationship with my internal editor. She's like a boss that I actually get along with. Everyone likes to grumble about their boss occasionally. But I can tell when she steps out of the office for a few hours -- everything goes straight to hell. While I do a lot of backing up and rereading, spot editing, and "that doesn't sound right," my internal editor will actually keep an eye on the clock too. "You've been on that bit too long. Let it go."

I never count words, although it is satisfying to reach the end of a page. I could probably stand to set more goals for myself, but I don't think a daily word count is for me. I'll stop tinkering with one chapter at the end of a week and move on to the next one. And maybe when I get twenty five pages written, I'll print them off and roll around in them naked.

It is a bit discouraging when I think about how much work I have left to go, and that prods me on. But for me it's more discouraging if I'm not reasonably happy with what I've written in the first place. I have to be able to face it the next day.