I have a reputation for being fairly prolific, but I have to tell you here and now that I’m not one of those writers who can bang out a coherent rough draft in a couple of weeks. For me, writing a first draft is torture. I have to drag the words out one at a time, conscious all the while that much of what I’m writing is sheer and utter crap. In fact, the only comfort to me during the first draft phase is the knowledge that this is only a first draft and that the miracle of editing is coming -- and that soon my lame and halting prose will be up and running.