I returned to the long-delayed novel today and was happy to discover that it had not evaporated from my brain. (7,000 words to date) Continuity with a project is a problem when one is flitting off to a conference or workshop or school. I recall asking my friend James Giblin how he managed to be so many places at once and also produce such well-researched and written nonfiction. "Blocking," Jim said. "I block out time on my calendar to research and write, and nothing interferes with it." There's a lesson there.

It's the monsoon here in Tucson. I trust Colorado--where I will go next week to write--is getting a bit of the moisture.