America is a year older.

I love my country, in turmoil as it is. Happy Birthday.

I wrote 2,000 words today on my “off” day. I was very, very happy with that. Tomorrow, my goal is 4,000, and then another 4,000 after that. Wish me luck. Not so much in hitting 8,000 words over the next two days; more so in that I’ll be at the end or close to it after that many words. Please, let it be so.

But, it’s okay even if not. The story must be written until it is over. It should never be rushed, or drawn out, especially in a first draft. In the first draft, the story speaks to me and I listen. After that, for editing and rewriting, I speak to the story.

It really, truly is very, very close to being done. I suppose I shouldn’t dwell on it so much; I should focus on the work instead. Just keep writing every day. I’ll get where I want to go.

My favorite part of the day, however, was in the evening. Liz and I took beach chairs up to the roof, and we watched the San Fernando valley light up with fireworks. It goes on for hours out there, non-stop. We also have a view from our rooftop of the major, sponsored fireworks shows. We caught just the tail end of those.

It was really nice.

Good night.