My goodness, what wonderful comments!
Don, you're right...to a certain extent, it is procrastination. But, I just can't go on when I'm breathing that last bit and know it can be better. I have to self edit. And when it's all done, I'll edit and revise again. Hemingway said to write the best sentence you can and then you go on to the next one.
Jewel and Annmarie, I so appreciate your input. Putting myself in the reader's place does help. I'm glad I'm not that big a dork.
Dean, and Don - well, I'm not exactly writing comedy, but some parts are going to naturally be lighter than others and what happened was I put the MC into an unfamiliar setting to her and she was non-plussed to say the least. And I had her stand up and be brave to the consternation of others. So, this serious lady handled her unfamiliar and, bizarre to her, surrounding in a totally unexpected way.
Chord, yes, I remember reading what Gyppo said about personnas and I have to laugh at your 'self-punishment', But I totally intend to remember to take it on when the time comes.
Gyppo, I promise not to laugh at serious scenes. But I didn't feel the emotion when I wrote a sad scene, so I'm going to have to look at that one again. (Btw - have you ever read or seen the play, "The Complete Works of William Shakespear, Abridged, Revised" ? It's hysterical.)
And, um, Chord and Don, and anyone else who's interested - I promise I will never want to sleep with anyone's wife!
Thanks all.