I'm wondering how evil it is to use a word count from Word instead of applying the 250 words x number of pages formula. Because Microsoft tells me that Evergreen is now down to 9600 words, but in manuscript format, the story is still 44 pages long. And 44 x 250 is… 11,000. And a word count of 11,000 is a lot scarier than 9600.

Although both word counts would still keep me from being able to send the damn thing to Strange Horizons.

Anyway, I've cut (according to Microsoft) 2500 words from the story to this point, and I am not sure I can cut another 600 words (according to Microsoft) without sacrificing important bits of plot. I've already axed everything my critters agreed needed to go, because, well, it really did need to go, plus some. A lot of it went because I tightened the prose. My two most recent stories -- Evergreen and a little 400 word flash -- I've played slice and dice with to get their word counts down for market limits, and the process has really proved to be eye-opening for me. I wasn't aware how loose my prose really was. So at least I can comfort myself with the fact that, although I have not been writing much lately, at least I'm improving somewhat.

I hope.

Anyway, I've gotten a number of things done in the past few days. We made an offer on the log house, the one with the large pond full of monster koi and moose tracks through the yard. (And no, I am not lying, they really honest to God do look like moose tracks.) But the offer hasn't been accepted yet and one of their documents requires a legal opinion, so who knows what our odds are there. We had an offer on the house in St. Louis today, though, so maybe there's a ray of hope there. Mother's Day was cold and windy, but we went to the New York State Museum and Andy made chili for me and so it was a good day in spite of the weather. Using my rudimentary and newly acquired sewing skills, I finally managed to sew up the holes in Garrett's stuffed cat, and I also finished the paperwork necessary to homeschool in New York. I had a doctor's appointment and heard both babies' heartbeats. I did laundry and cut 2500 words from Evergreen and subbed a poem that was rejected and subbed it again. I listened to two squirrels scolding each other across the yard. I planted pansies and a couple pots of strawberries. I read Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain and Tender at the Bone by Ruth Reichl. I found the Natural Foods store and bought a dozen free-range eggs from a farm near here, and I picked the dozen that included one with a pretty green shell. I tasted dried strawberries and cantaloupe for the first time, and let me tell you, they are better than candy.

So that was my week. And now, if I can just figure out how to work 130-150 grams of protein into my diet, and cut 500 more words from Evergreen, I'll be doing pretty good.