Saturday, August 20, 2011

There comes a point....

There comes a point in any written work where you have to say it's as good as it's going to get.  It's a foreign concept to my math, science, and engineering background, in which a problem is either done or it ain't, is either right or it ain't, but creative arts are more flewfy than that.  Education kind of got me into that mindset, but I've had to work to get to where I understand it in terms of creative writing. 

Fact is, there is always something that looks like it should be changed.  There is always a comma that you can change into a semicolon.  There are always phrases that you can reword.  There is always going to be a preposition you can switch out for another. 

There comes a point, though, where it has to be done.  Otherwise, I'll keep on revising for the next few years, and it will very likely not get any better in terms of its quality as a story. 

Why is that not so easy to come to grips with?  Well, because the next step is hard.  Technically, it's not really that difficult; all I do is go through and determine which agents would be best to represent me and send them a letter requesting such.  Several of them will probably say no, but I only need one yes.  It's the whole "no" part that gets in my way a bit, though.  As much as I bluster about confidence, this work has really become my baby.  It's a part of me.  I've worked on it for over six months now.  Thousands of hours have gone into it.  To walk easily into rejection just doesn't sit well with my psyche. 

Yet I'm doing it.  My efforts will still of course be chronicled here as they go.  For tonight, though, it's time to rest.

Word count:  90,160
Page count:  300

3 comments:

  1. Such an incredible journey you are on....

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  2. Thanks, Cricket. I have a feeling that when it's all said and done, I'll be able to join a good friend of mine in quoting the Grateful Dead: "What a long, strange trip it's been."

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  3. I'm excited for you! You've done (and will continue to do) an amazing job I am sure. :)

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