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Happy New Year … and back to work!

Wednesday, 2 January 2013  |  Posted by Brenda Drake

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season. The labs where my husband works closes down for the week between Christmas and New Year’s each year, so I go missing to reconnect with him and the family during that time. We go offline, as much as we can. Yes, I did get eye twitches, but it was well worth it. Family time is rare as our family grows older and the time we spend together is priceless. We had great times and new memories to add to the virtual scrapbook. But now it’s time to get back to the writing life.

As the mentors for PitchWars work with their writers and get ready for the agent round, I’ll be blogging about my editing journey with my publisher. I received my edits from my editor on January 1. Happy New Year to me, right? In my quick read through, I noticed several things that I did that I point out in the critiques/edits I do for others. Why is that? I swear I had several “Doh” moments reading through it.

So that got me thinking, not how dense I am, but how it really takes a village to get a book to it’s best shine before sending it off into the world. When I first started getting critiques on my writing, I used to think I was dense, not good enough, a terrible writer. Now, I think, cool, I can make it better.

Each step to publication is a learning journey. We are taught our weaknesses each time we put ourselves out there. In writing, it seems, we are never perfect. There is always work to do to get us close to perfection. I’ve discovered that perfection shouldn’t be our goal, we can never really achieve it anyway. There will always be someone who doesn’t like what we produce.

So, I’m letting go of what I can’t control and accepting what I can, and so can you. Tell the best story you possibly can, put on that tough skin and send it out into the world. You’ll only get better, but never perfect. Once you accept that, you’ll be happier. Do your best and surround yourself with people who only want that for you. Get rid of the negative, embrace the positive in your life. Live long and prosper (love Spock quotes, by the way). Come meet other writers and find critique partners on our new website to help you reach your goals.

CPseek

I’m not making a New Year’s resolution (I stopped doing that a few years back), I never keep them. I’m pledging to let go of  negative thoughts. I think I’ll go logical like Spock this year. Actually, I think my husband is Spock *glances over at him to see if he has pointy ears*. Hmm…

What will you let go of this year? And if you do make New Year’s resolutions, which one did you make this year? Or what’s your favorite Spock quote? I leave you will this one…

I am what I am, Leila, and if there are self-made purgatories, then we all have to live in them. Mine can be no worse than someone else’s. Spock in ‘This Side of Paradise’

Filed: Misc

7 Comments
  • alexia says:

    Happy New Year and welcome back! One of my goals is to live in the moment, so I guess I can let go of worrying about the past or future.

    Good luck with edits!

  • Donna Hole says:

    I know what you mean; I see in my writing what it “should” say, not always what it does read. Gotta have those CP input.

    Happy New Year Brenda. Enjoy a brief break to reconnect with the family.

    ….dhole

  • A new year is a bit like the first day of school for me. I think, “This is my year,” and then plow through it, at some point becoming frustrated. But the bloom is on the rose right now. I’m determined to plug away and create something beautiful. I’m learning to focus on the aspects of writing that are within my control, and perfecting my craft definitely falls within that realm!

  • Casey Roach says:

    I want to know what you’re currently writing, if anything, so I tagged you! You can chose to head over to my blog and check it out (it’s the post titled http://caseyroach.blogspot.com/2013/01/blog-hop-extravaganza-elleganza.html), or not. It’s up to you 🙂

  • Here’s to new year and Pitch Wars. I’ve fallen in love with my MS all over again through the amazing notes my coach, Stacey, is giving me.

  • Hi, Brenda,

    Happy 2013! Sounds like you had a wonderful holiday with family. I am glad for you.

    Sounds like your polishing is doing well. Congrats! I am starting to get the shami cloth out and do the same on my first novel.

    Started to query BG again. Polished up that novel already. Keeping fingers crossed for some amazing news for this year. I am always positive and hopeful.

    I’ve missed you at my blog. Drop by any time you have a free moment. I miss your thoughts and coyish smile, holding your cup of coffee. LOL.

    WIshing you ALL THE BEST this year!

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