Campaign Finance

A productive session yesterday; I logged in a series of articles on the Chiles' campaign finance reform package passed at the start of the governor years. I got bored with some of the primary source documents.

It called to mind the expression: "no surprise for the writer, no surprise for the reader." I didn't throw them away of course; I simply put them in my "finished with them for now, but will review them one more time" pile. This operation is becoming more organized by the week. Documents that I truly feel ready to store away for perhaps one last final look after the manuscript is done I will put in a special marked plastic bin--once the pile gets big enough.

Thankfully, my desk is big enough now that I can sort documents with ease--no clutter, no wasted time.

I may be working fewer hours on the book these days, but one good hour is worth a thousand wandering ones.

Tomorrow

All the remaining material for the book has been collected and tomorrow I'll add it to the "starter pack" I worked with two weeks ago. Ah the joys of the paper trail...I want to settle my accounts with the paper archive before I take up the interview trail once more.

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving.

I will resume book work next week. During Turkey Day I will be collecting the remainder of my files for transfer to my new workspace. These files include a rather crucial directory of contacts I compiled in Florida--as well as the bulk of my press clips.

The 5-Hour Rule

It's now become settled law in my mind that my work sessions on the book should never, never last more than 5 hours (including lunch break) at a time. It's simple and predictable diminishing returns once you exceed the limit. Adding sloppy, unproductive time to the schedule hurts the book more than it helps.

This rule became obvious six months into the project in Florida. I saw it, I ignored it, and kept working.

I hope to never make that mistake again.

Education Anew

Originally, I had decided to cut education as a policy issue from the governor years. Health care is Chiles' signature issue and I've only allotted so much book space for the governor years. I'm reconsidering that though for a couple reasons. One: education is not possible to ignore. There is some good verbal grist in some of these education press clips.

Case in point: the "Get Off Your Duff" incident. It's all about anecdotes.

Day One of Year Two

I'm halfway through day one of year two of work on the book, as I define my schedule. It's pleasant to see the old articles and a few new ones as I sift a cardboard box full of some of the best press clips I collected in Florida.

Friday

Things are all set to begin writing again Friday. I have no idea where I'll begin. First I think I need to figure out exactly where I stopped in each chapter and in the interviews. It's been a while.