[Clarion West 2k1 week 5: the never-ending story...]

Thursday.

"Let There Be Life" weighed in at 3,100 words. While this may have been the tightest plotting I've done for a story yet, the story still went in a direction I didn't expect while I was writing it. Certain elements took on a greater significance than I had originally intended (which seemed to work fine as far as I could tell), and I ended the story short of where I originally thought I would go. I lit the fuse, so to speak, but didn't describe the explosion.

Went to class and handed in my story. For various reasons, the class agreed to go with five stories for Friday rather than the previous tradition of four, so four of my fellow Clarionites were also enjoying the benefits of at least *some* sleep deprivation that morning. Nonetheless, as we arrived and handed in our stories, one of the administrators commented on how surprised she was to see us coming in quasi-early. She said that she was more accustomed to folks showing up at the last minute to turn in their stories.

Class was excellent as always. I'll pause to mention a couple of things discussed: copyright issues and writer/editor etiquette. On this last subject, let it be known that it is bad form to puke on an editor if you are an aspiring writer. I take this to mean that it's okay if you're an established writer. :-)

After class, most of us joined Ellen for lunch at the nearby Indian restaurant (Maharaja). Much good conversation and good food was enjoyed by all.

Went back to the dorms. Settled myself in for a nap, knowing that I'd be spending the evening reading and critiquing more than the usual load for a Thursday night. Drifted off to sleep. Phone rang. Talked to the person who called me. Drifted off to sleep. Phone rang. Talked to the person who called me. Drifted off to sleep. Woke up twenty minutes later expecting the phone to ring. D'oh.

While I was sleeping, a couple of my compatriots went shopping for a gift for our instructor. We had decided upon the very specific item we wanted to get, and I had given them directions on how to get to the store where they could find this item. When they returned, they told me that the store in question wasn't where I'd said it would be; that it had closed.

"No problem," said I, "I know where there's another store just like it on the Eastside." We agreed to all head off to the Eastside to find this item.

The store in question,