I sent off my first submission for the on-line writing workshop the other day, and I discovered a hitherto unrealized law of the universe:

When you are about to submit a piece of writing, and you glance at it one last time, the first page will instantly, automatically disintegrate into complete dreck, that you are embarrassed to have written. This law applies equally no matter how many times you have rewritten the introduction.

Ah, well. I pressed “send” anyway. We’ll see how it goes…