Dateline: above the garage in Portsmouth RI, 26 January 2005
Reached the half-way point and it feels good. Today's section ended up being called, "America's Most Important Future Allies Are New Core States," because, to my surprise, the Outlook piece from last year in the Post ended up providing more of the theme than I expected, with material from the recent Esquire article serving quite nice in the blueprint-for-action mode, which I am slipping into with more ease with each successive section.
The piece ended up being about 7,600 words, giving me roughly 70k so far. I know we promised Putnam a 75k book, just like we did last time, and I'm certain there will end up being a granite-like 75k of text within the initial first draft that may run twice that length. The question for Mark and I will be deciding how much more than 75k really needs to stay in the book.
If we end up cutting huge portions, I won't have a problem with that. I wrote my magnum opus last time. This one I want to serve a more specific purpose, so I'm going to give Warren as much latitute as possible to boss me around this time and make his desired changes at will. Last time Mark was very concerned that I should get out on paper all that I really felt needed to be said, but we both agree that this time that is not the paramount goal. I am no longer being introduced as a character, so we shift from "Star Wars" to "The Empire Strikes Back," and we understand the fundamental difference between the two works.
Does that leave room for Vol. III? I contemplate many Vol. III's, as does Mark, and both of us have a specific sort in mind most of all. But when that book will make sense for me is really beyond my power. Anyway, I have a strong desire, as does Mark, to prioritize "The Emily Updates" next. Then again, we shall simply have to wait and see.
Today felt much better than yesterday. Tomorrow I seek to finish the chapter before I hit the road for three days in DC, a quick overnight to Denmark and a day of interactions in Copenhagen, and then back home on the 1st of February. I aim to both plan and write section 1 of Chapter 4 in DC and plan section 2 to and from Denmark, getting back home to write it on Wednesday of next week.
Tomorrow's section will really feel like getting over the hump: three chapters will be done at that point, leaving two to go, plus the conclusion and preface. I am beginning to imagine life beyond the first draft, which of course will involve living with Mark in my ear for hours on end. I gotta get a new earpiece for my cell!
On an end note, gave an hour interview to the DC bureau chief (Klaus Justen) of Denmark's leading newspaper (Jyllands-Posten) tonight while driving daughter # 1 to and from a knitting lesson off-island. It will appear next Tuesday in Danish. I will definitely ask the guy for an electronic version and hope someone will translate it for me. It was a great conversation. It'll be interesting to see how it turns out in the paper's "International Section" next week. I should be able to pick up a copy before I fly out of Copenhagen at noon. Nice going home present!
Tough going to bed after a long night of writing. I will be up past midnight just unwinding. Plenty of cleaning to do in the kitchen. Tomorrow we have a special adoption social worker coming by to check us and baby Vonne Mei at our six-month point. Amazing to think it's been six months already, and yet she has still spent less than half of her life with us.
