The proposal for Strange Flesh, five chapters and an outline of the whole novel, is now complete.

In terrible shape, but working on the novel nonetheless. It's going to the agent next week come hell or high water. Have finally resolved the bloody languages problem yey.

First Draft (chapters 1-4, 6), 22,350 words.

Far out - I'm within spitting distance of a complete First Draft. I may yet get this sucker done and dusted by the new year.

Trying to get to Draft One. Which means filling in all the fiddly little missing bits, and making decisions which have been put off for months (well, do they send probes to new planets first, or don't they? Who can speak what language?! etc). Plus adding some extra local colour details to the settings, which came out a bit cardboard on the first

That's Draft Zero. Still plenty of work to do, but every scene of the five sample chapters is there. Now for a nap.

Work to the novel,
Live to the novel,
Love to the novel,
Slave to the novel

Right then, Strange Flesh. You kill my father. Prepare to die.

ETA: Using my kitchen timer - 30 minutes writing, with no interruptions (especially teh splat!) except for loo or coffee. Then 15 minutes housework. Then back. I can get a lot done if I don't fall into my net-addicted stop-and-start pattern.

OMFG I HATE MY NOVEL STAB STAB STABBITY STAB. That is all.

I want to swipe a quote - the bit where Saavik says to David, approximately, "The time has come for total honesty between us." Anybody got the movie and a mo to check the exact wording for me? (Incentive! You get to name a planet too!)

ETA: Got it! Thanks, folks!