The Golden Heart

Last Wednesday, November 26, I finished the second draft of my book. It’s short, and I have enough To Do’s to start again, writing from start to finish. I’ll be doing that soon. A year ago, I made a list of goals, a four year plan. My goals for 2008 were:

Complete the manuscript
Enter The Golden Heart

I accomplished both last week. The manuscript has a beginning, middle, and end. It’s continuous without gaps. My heroine solves a problem and grows in the process. I’m not done. Like I said, another draft is waiting to be written, but the story has a life of its own now, outside the confines of my brain.

The Golden Heart is a contest for unpublished writers sponsored by the Romance Writers of America. I don’t expect to win or to final, but I entered. Having the goal with a deadline forced me to finish.

My manuscript was delivered in yesterday’s mail, a day before today’s deadline. A year ago today, my dad died. I miss him. It’s ironic the way the calendar works. One of the lessons Dad taught me was perseverance. Thanks, Dad.