For the first time in many years, I have a deadline on something I’m writing. The past two weeks, I’ve been focusing more than ever on completing my Christmas novella, The Journey of Joseph Winter: A Christmas Fairy Tale. I am delivering it to my editor no later than October 28, and I want to make sure it is as perfect as I can get it. My apologies for my lack of updates, but I’ve had to focus my attention elsewhere for a short time.
The deadline makes this project feel more real than anything I’ve worked on before. That is both exhilarating and frightening as hell. For the first time, someone outside of my inner circle of friends and family is going to read what I’ve written, and their job is to look at it with a critical eye. I love feedback and try to encourage those friends of mine I share things with to not be gentle, but be honest. We know, however, that friends never want to hurt friends’ feelings, so they may pull back a bit when giving their critique. My editor will not do that, and for that I am grateful, excited, and downright scared.
But mostly, I’m excited and grateful.
Will the story I’ve written hit all the right notes with someone who doesn’t know me and understand me on a personal level? I hope so. I’m excited to find out.
One thing I do know is, I’m looking at this deadline and I’m comfortable knowing I’ll be delivering something I’m happy with. Whatever the feedback, it will help me with my craft. It will make me a better writer. I view critiques as someone in the gym may view a personal trainer. I’m just working on different muscles.
And for that I am grateful.
Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash