book update

Current word count: 9,400 (out of 30,000)

I’m not as far along as I’d like to be, but I’m making progress. I’d hoped to hit 15,000 words by the end of October… that’d take a miracle at this point, I think.

But really, I’m not terribly behind. I’ve started interviewing a ton of awesome crafters, but I’ve integrated relatively little of their information into the book. So once I start doing that, it’ll write itself. (Or so I keep telling myself.)

In any case, I’m almost a third of the way there with about four months to go.

The title meeting for my book was the week before last, but so far there’s still no final decision. I pitched a few ideas, as did my editor, but there are many more people in on the discussion—the publisher, salespeople, marketing managers. I hope there’s a decision soon… I think the book will start feeling more real when there’s a title attached.

Steve Martin, “Shopgirl”

I love Steve Martin.

THE LOWDOWN
Published: 2000, 144 pp.
Obtained via: Library
Date started: 9.29.08
Date finished: 10.3.08
What I liked: In this story of a shy glove saleswoman, her slacker friend with benefits and her older admirer, Martin acts as an omnipotent narrator, describing their lives in detail without ego or judgment.
What I didn’t like: This book was much more about description than dialogue, and although it worked, I felt like I wanted to hear the characters more. Maybe I’ll be satisfied with the movie.
What I learned: Steve Martin can really do fiction.