Nearing the 9000 word point on the novel in progress. Though I am calling it West of the Pecos as a document, I can’t bring myself to refer to it as that even as a working title. But it will have to do until something more appropriate comes along. I have another title I’m tempted to use because it is bizarre, obscure and intriguing, but it gives too much away, so I can’t. Shucks.
The book has been going along in fits and starts. I get about 1500 words written in the morning, and perhaps as many as another 1000 by the end of the day, so I’m well ahead of schedule. I’m off from work starting in about 45 minutes until November 14th, so I might get a lot done ‘tween now and then. Or not. Remains to be seen! My goal is to have 25,000 words done by the 14th. Halfway through the month, halfway through the NaNoWriMo challenge. That would be cool. I have lots of the building blocks of the novel in mind. Scenes from later on in the story. Characters in the wings awaiting their chance to come on stage.
I’ve had a couple of personal successes at work lately that help remind me it’s more than a day job. Sometimes I coast along, doing my hours, doing my job without too much thought. I’m in a very good place in my day job. The parting shot from last night’s CSI episode rang true to me. Grissom had just rescued a doomed homicide trial by testifying against an expert witness who fudged some data. The lieutenant in charge of the case is so appreciative that he offers to do anything Grissom wants. If he’s looking for more responsibility, a higher level job, etc. Grissom fires off a quote from Oscar Wilde as he leaves the courtroom. Ambition is the last refuge of failure. It’s a throw-away line, a pithy saying, but I identified with it. I like what I do, and I’m good at it. If I wasn’t content, I might go in search of more responsibility, a promotion. However, I’m a happy camper.
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