This semester's schedule is jam-packed for me, with four classes to teach, a long commute, and plenty of papers to grade. I'm doing my best to keep all these things in perspective, and to remember that my novel is the most important goal, the finish line nearing on the horizon. That's right; I'm getting close enough to the final chapters of the first draft that I can almost see the end. So when I found myself with an unexpectedly free weekend, I knew I had to take advantage of it. I spent an hour or two writing each day this weekend, and it allowed me to get some important work done. (Read more »)