Getting Down to Business

August 15. Exact middle of the month.

So we know what that means. Time to sit down with "Standing Room," gather all of the comments and suggestions I've received over the last few months and do another big edit. And then see what's next.

I pulled out my big spreadsheet of agents that I put together in May. I went to Office Depot and bought a package of big envelopes and mailing labels (and some of those little neon bright Post-It flags that are my new favorite writing-oriented office supply).

I'm trying to figure out how to do this. I know myself well enough to know I can make this yet another time table project. I will divide my 300 pages by the number of days I have available and march through it -- eliminating misspelled and poorly chosen words. I will become an expert of agents' submission guidelines.

But how can I be sure I will try to see into the soul of my project? To see what really is missing and what needs to be fixed? I don't know. I feel I have some emotional distance, which I think is good. I think all I can do is hope for the best and clear off the dining room table to spread my papers everywhere.