For a long time, opening up the draft of my book was just about all I could manage. A draft that was, at times, more than 70,000 words and I was convinced that the second edit I did had just made it worse. And I was lost about how to make it better. I edit […]
On the Other Side
The first real gut punch of loneliness during this pandemic came just the other day, with a swiftness of realization that took my breath away in the manner of eighth grade gym class. My lungs clenched enough that I had to stop my run, slow my pace and take in long breaths as I walked […]
The Bottomless Rewrite
I miss the cool glow of the first draft. The steady patter of confident fingers on the keyboard, the faith of production stemming not so much from a certainty of brilliance but the sweet enjoyment that comes from putting off one’s problems to another day. Problems, being, rewrites. I have a dear writing friend who […]
The win is in the revision
How a writer’s work isn’t done just because the first draft is. The first draft. It’s an idealized thing. A dump of words on the page, we revel as the tally climbs up, and up, and up. We take the challenge in November or any time at all with daily goals. We think we’ve won […]
Christmas
Channel surfing last weekend we settled for a moment on CNN, and the annual tribute to heroes. “Oh, I hate this show,” I said. “People who are better than we will ever be.” But it wasn’t just my little bout of jealousy or spite that had me looking to find something else to watch. It […]