Man alive, we're in week three. Today, by the way, is the halfway point. I'm not at the halfway point yet. I'm just sayin.

We all got a rah-rah letter from Chris Baty yesterday, and it did boost my confidence. He also reminded us that we have to put a little more effort into writing craptacular sentences. I keep forgetting. He also said to not look at the word counts the way we had been, but instead to just try to do 1000 at a time...keep plugging, keep plugging.

Here's an attempt at craptacular for you:

I do not know if I have ever written anything that anyone would consider Chicken Soup for the Soul. I did do some ad copy for bread once. So maybe I could be the “bread for the soul” expert. If they needed one. I think bread for the soul would be something very much like Wonderbread, by the way. 9-Grain bread would never qualify as being bread for the soul. Neither would marble rye.

Wow, a novel in a month. I'm impressed! Good luck to you and the team.

Reid--I read your excerpts from your two fiction novels. I have to say that "Strange Friends" got my attention. Look forward to the completion of it. Will watch for your name in the book stores.

Hang in there and "keep on writing!"

I hate abandoning projects, but ya know, life just got in the way. And I'm so far behind that I would have to work like a mutha to catch up. I also feel like this is just not a priority for me right now. Thanks for piling on the guilt, tho. It really appeals to my Catholic roots. ;)

You are given a pass this year. Sorry if it seemed like I was trying to guilt you. Okay, I was. I was trying to guilt everyone. As you can see, it's hardly working. I was hoping to have someone else stick it out just so we could prod each other with sticks.

I'm behind, but not too far.

Well, with all the time we don't spend writing, we might find a few minutes to poke you with dull stick or something. If you want...

I was totally joking. Any guilt I feel is self-inflicted for not finishing. I did toy with reviving it, but I just can't deal this year. It's hard enough doing the things I have to do, never mind the want-to-dos, as they say in that stupid Stop & Shop commercial.

I think the marble rye reference is pure genius.