Thursday, July 24, 2008

STDev and book update

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I just had to let you all know--because I know you're awaiting the news as eagerly as you're awaiting the next Twilight book--that I got an A- on my STDev test, which gave me an A- in the class.

I am clearly not the perfectionist that I was in college the first time, because that minus sign only bugs me a little. (Stupid little minus sign.)

Still, for the moment, I am a straight A student. I will enjoy it for this one class streak. Yep. It feels good.

Oh, and speaking of updates, I'm on 10,905 words of the new novel. I'm trying not to get discouraged about the many words I have left to write. After all, you eat an elephant one bite at a time.

Of course, if you were really trying to eat an elephant one bite at a time he would probably stomp on you and gore you with his tusks. In a lot of ways, this is just like writing, so the metaphor works doubly well.

13 comments:

Annette Lyon said...

Excellent metaphor. Really.

(Congrats on the A. Minus, schminus.)

The Golfing Librarian said...

Whew! Now I can stop holding my breath!
Don't you think that if you were to eat an elephant one bite at a time, you wouldn't try to do it while he/she was still "kicking"? I think I'd roast it alittle and him him/her with mashed potatos and gravy, etc.

BTW- you're 10,450 words AHEAD of me on my project!

Marcia Mickelson said...

Congrats on the A.

Did you mention Breaking Dawn in an "Orlando Bloom" kind of way? Just wondering.

Don said...

I always pictured the "one bite at a time" elephant as going green and rancid after a few days in the sun.

Which is kind of how I feel about my WIP when the writing goes extra slow.

Melanie Jacobson said...

An A- is great. It's B+'s that make me mad. What does that even mean? You're almost good enough? Hmph.

10,000 words...do you think the first ten thousand or the last ten thousand are easier to write?

Janette Rallison said...

The last 10,000 words definitely. Because by then you know the characters and where the story is going. The first part never seems like a real story and I have to keep reminding myself that they all start out that way.

Rachelle Christensen said...

Well I'm glad you passed the test with the right acronym! I loved the previous post. Good on ya, for getting closer to that degree.

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

I've got this vivid mental picture of a writer being gored by an elephant. It feels as if one of the characters in that scenario is me...hold up...I'm getting a clearer picture now...

Dang. I'm the elephant.

Anonymous said...

I'm so excited another book! please tell!

Janette Rallison said...

This one, assuming that my editor doesn't hate it, is about a girl who doubles for a rock star. And beyond that I don't know myself what it's about.

Anna Maria Junus said...

Congrats on that A!

Kari Pike said...

congrats on the A! I took STDEV 100 about 8 years ago..yep, I recently got kicked out of the program because I still have 8 classes to go before I finish and they give an 8 year deadline! They did say I qualify to reapply. I even think I can finish this time!

thanks for making me smile!

Janette Rallison said...

Ahh--I can't believe I hang out with a drop out!