Time and Light Switches

So it would seem I underestimated how long it was going to take me to edit. I’m still stuck in the ending of the story, only slightly further along than I was this time last week. Because of the nature of this story a lot of things come together in the end and not a moment sooner.   While I’m editing its taking a whole other level and kind of self discipline. In the first draft I could just write and write and write, without thinking too hard about story structure, continuity, or grammar. The first draft simply had to exist, now I have to make it work and make it make sense.  I am loving my book just as much as when I was writing the first draft. The character and her journey are so timely in my life and its such a joy to tell this story. As much as the process can frustrate me and make me doubt myself, it remains a process I’ll be happy to do over and over again.  In over news the season is changing, and it’s getting colder.  I wanted to stop there with that...

One day at a time. One mountain at a time, one victory after the other. I have two days left in this part of my editing round. I’ve been noting grammar things and pointing out where I’d like to revise. After I apply the edits and revising to the digital copy I’ll have a second draft of my book. I keep finding myself surprised at how quickly I am able to move through this process. A little over three months of active writing was all it took to write the first draft. Now it will only have taken me 5 sittings to have completed the first half of this round of editing. If I had to guess I’d say it will take me a couple weeks to do second half. Like I said I’m surprised by myself and my speed and capacity.  In no way is this meant to be bragging, I am truly shocked that I’ve been able to accomplish what I have. And I will be exponentially shocked if the next book goes half as smoothly. Psst, if you’d like to know a secret I already started some notes for the next story I’d like to wr...

I doubt myself. As I edit my book and work on my story, I doubt myself, doubt that I have anything truly worth saying. That perhaps I’m not good enough. That maybe the story I’ve written isn’t worth telling. It’s an honest part of the work, being your own worst critic. But then right before it can turn terminal I remember that if I find value in it, if the story means something to me then there must be at least one other person who will as well. I’m not unique enough to be the only one touched by my words.   Doubt is okay as long as you let it go. It always shows up to tell you something. Maybe its just there to poke at your wounds, but maybe it’s there to make you believe in yourself. I’m allowed to doubt myself as long as I turn around and doubt the doubt. Maybe I’m not enough, but maybe I am. Maybe my story isn’t all that great, but maybe it will mean something to someone. Maybe the story is too soft, but maybe the world needs more kindness and more gentle hearts.  Soft...

  I started editing my book this week. The amount of peace and fun I had while doing so is a testament to the benefits of only crossing the bridge when you come to it. I wrote the entire first draft without editing a single thing beyond correcting spelling mistakes when I saw them. And while writing the first draft the idea of editing the whole things was daunting. Now that I’m in the thick of it however I am loving it.   I’m editing in two parts. The first is marking up a physical copy of the draft, noting sentence changes to aid in the flow, typos, ect. The second will be to apply the changes to the master copy of the book. I don’t know how others do it, but this is the process I’ve used for editing and revising since I was in school.  It won’t take me more than a week or two more to get through this first stage of editing. Taking all things in bite sized portions really does wonders. Its been a quiet week, editing doesn’t have the same rush and excitement as first ...