“Twiggy. What is that thing?”
“It’s my eel toy. I’m celebrating Friday.”
“Good luck with that.”
Friday. So good to see your smiling face. We can celebrate making it another week. Here in Texas, we got hit by a cold front that took the wind chills down into the basement. Man, it was cold. We are not expected to get back to the 70s until next week. I know, I know you folks in the North have no sympathy. My only defense in being such a weenie is if I wanted to be chilled to the bone I would have moved to Alaska. At least I would know what is waiting for me during the winter. This year here the temps went from the 90s to the 30s overnight. No chance to get used to a gradual decline.
The WIP editing is coming along. I’m at page 223 out of 300. I also cut out about 2000 words so far and am down to 93,000. I would say I’ll be finished in another eight days or so.
This week’s JohnKu talks about having to cut precious words from a manuscript. I hope you have a great weekend.
Sacrifice by John W. Howell © 2019
You hate to do it,
The words were hard to come by . . .
Sacrifice is tough.
Fiction Favorites 
You’ve got my sympathy, John. For a short holiday week, it’s been a long and cold one! Nice job on the edits. Happy Friday!
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Thank you Jill. Say hey to your mom. 😀
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I did! Thank you, John. ❤
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😊
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Double sympathies, John, with both the editing and the weather! Have a nice weekend 🙂
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Yes torture on two ends. Thanks, Harmony.
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Enjoy your weekend. Feel free to send a few degrees up here.
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If we can spare them. Next week is supposed to break into the 70s
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Get out the margaritas and flip-flops.
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Yeah, really.
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Hope it warms up for you…and all the rest of us. 🙂
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Yea, me too. Thanks, Gwen
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It will be interesting to see if your temps go up as fast as they went down. Meanwhile, stay warm and continue editing. … but I can’t believe Twiggy prefers the eel over the burger!
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She likes both but today is playing the eel card. Thanks, Frank.
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We may hate to cut those hard-fought words, but the end result shines so much brighter when we do!
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Thank you, Liz.
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Don’t think of it as editing. Think of it as verbal decluttering.
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A good way to think about it. Thanks, Linda.
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But you’re making it better for us – thanks John.
BTW, we’re not expected to make it back into the 70s until April. Then again, February surprised us with two days in the 70s, so you never can tell. Give the girls a scritch from Maddie.
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The girls appreciated the scritch. I complain because I have to wait a week for 70s. I should just keep quiet. 😁
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It’s ok, John. We choose to live here.
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😁
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Nice job on the editing! Hope it warms up for you. I’m sure the girls will appreciate warmer temps also. Happy Friday, John!
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Thank you, Teri. We are all looking forward to warmer weather.
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The editing is the hardest part, isn’t it? Cutting out words or sections that no longer fit in the big picture. But you’re right, it must be done!
Although you are right, it is hard to feel bad for you, a 60-degree drop is enough to traumatize anyone!! That is nutso!
Hope you have a fabulous weekend!
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Thank you, Dale. I hope you have a good weekend as well. 😁 Yes it may not be all that cold but the difference is shocking.
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Editing is for sure the hardest part of writing a story. Trying to decide what goes and what stays isn’t easy. Yes, this Texas weather has been CRAZY! I’m sure we’ll have more dips like that but for now, we’ll enjoy the 70s!
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Yes. It looks like it is a way off but will be welcome when the warm returns. Thanks, Jan.
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Know the feeling!
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I’ll bet you do. Thanks, Billy Ray
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Excellent progress, John. Bundle up and stay warm — and makes sure the bundle is easy to de-layer for the up and down temps. Hugs on the wing.
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Yes. Layering is key. Thanks, Teagan Hugs.
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He is amazing, John! And so frosty blue! Your poem is so true! Any sacrifice is hard. I’m very sorry to hear about the weather. Too much cold is not pretty nice at all! Keep up struggling! Have a nice week-end!
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Thank you, Maria. Have a nice weekend as well
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You’re whittling and sculpting like a champ. And eight more day? Woot!
As for Twiggy, she has the most interesting toys.
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She does. There is a definate preference to burgers, fries and sea loving creatures. Thanks, Marc.
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Hahahaha! Thatta girl.
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😁
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She’s such a good girl!
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Sounds like you’re making excellent progress on the editing stage, John — hard to “kill the darlings,” but it usually makes a book read better (and that’s what we all want). A 60-degree temperature drop is nothing to mess with — at least you can look forward to its being short-lived!
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So true, Debbie. Short lived is the best.
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That is indeed a sudden shift in weather, John. Have a good weekend.
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You as well, Guy.
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Hope you warm up soon, John. Congrats on the word count! Yes making those cuts is hard but always worth it.
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Thank you, Denise. 😊
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“Precious words” indeed. Nice to have words to spare. Enjoy the warming trend!
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Yes. Spare words are a good thing. I carry them around for use next time. Thanks, Jo 😁
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That is such a true statement about editing. I feel for you.
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Thanks, Craig.
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Looking forward to reading it John.. xx
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Thanks, Sally
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Thank you, Sally
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Sacrificing is tough! Words you wrote seem like your babies, don’t they? Glad the warm up finally arrived.
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They do seem like babies somtimes. I like the warm up too. Looks like we will be in the 70s next week.
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😀
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