I'm spending more and more time doing web stuff at work, which I like doing, but it's giving me headaches. At the moment, I'm trying to figure out how to do automatic paragraphing in the way that journalscape does with its "blank lines become new paragraphs" option using PHP, and then removing the paragraphs when the entries are edited. At the moment it works okay for ordinary paragraphs but doesn't take too kindly to paragraphs following headings. Bah. This kind of stuff is really above my level. I'm not really a computer person.

#
We spent an entertaining day yesterday trying to persuade Nika to drink some water. Whenever she gets ill she just refuses to drink anything and so gets dehydrated. I've been reduced to pathetic strategies, all of which only work once and then for a single lick of water.

#
Writing progress has been frustratingly slow. I haven't written a short story for over six months, and I fear I've forgotten how to. I've made a few abortive starts, but they've got nowhere. The main reason is that I've been concentrating so much on novels that I haven't had time. But a novel is such a different form, the attempt to transition back is difficult. If I have to choose between the two, I'll go for novels, which are what I prefer, but I'd rather not choose, not least because so far I'm being far more successful with the short stories.

If anyone knows the forgotten secret of writing short stories...