Dead eye word count

I realized this morning how odd it is to not have a deadline.



Few words mean much.

In my life I have never liked deadlines, never liked anything hanging over my head, weighting down my shoulders, always there and waiting. For now, coming up with a new column, something fresh, something which I consider universal enough to share with readers, is off the table.
I will admit:
I
Am
Relieved.
To singularly focus on a project, to fine tune the tunable, to dead eye the result, is inspiring.
I had to give up something, to get something. Isn't that always the way, especially when we write.

So I ask my few faithful friends, what do/did you have to give up in order to make your word count?

My book came back from the editor.

Looks like a roadmap to the obscure. She said nice things, encouraging things, things which make me feel as if I’m on the right track.

But my head…a bucket of rocks.

Lots of stones, pebbles and grains of sand, all sharing the same space and settling for position.

Yup, hard headed and eager to shift the load. Foundation is built, time to chink the cracks.