Word diet!

I had the Symphonians up to 97,126 words. So I started paring.

Today I got it down to 89,570.

I was really elated until I realized that I'd cut only 7,556 words. Which sounds pretty wimpy compared to the word dump my novel has become. Seven thousand words is one of my shorter short stories.

Now you see why I have a hell of a time writing poetry.

So I'm thinking, okay, then let's cut 10,000 words altogether, because that sounds like a big number and a worthy goal. Also I don't have much farther to go if that's my goal.

And then I have to strengthen the Kay/Noel relationship in the book, which means I get to add them all back.

So it goes.