And all that drafts

I’m swimming in drafts.

I don’t say drown for the truth is that I know what I’m doing now. The knowledge I acquired through those years of learning the craft of writing is like a life jacket, so I float for I have tons of things yet to learn. But this doesn’t change the fact that I created a pool of drafts and dived into it for quite some time.

Each one of those drafts is a new version of the original story; some consist of the tiniest details while others are completely different. And yet, I need just another draft, to rewrite the book, for this is the best way, that’s a tough lesson I learned.

But there’s a problem.

Have you ever left too attached to your book? I cut one thing and the next minute I’ve rewritten it without realizing how this happened. But I don’t need it. I don’t need that part, and yet it comes back to haunt me whatever I do. So I realize that I can’t let it go.

This is my favorite baby and even though I’ve written and rewritten the second book in this series, the first one is giving me such a hard time. I’ve started a new draft but I’m ready to delete it and start again. Have you ever felt like that?

I know that I must be harsh with this book, to look right into those pages and decide what I need and what I really don’t. But this is my darling and I do not want to kill it!

We need to grow a thick skin and that’s not only necessary to protect us from criticism. Those of us who do everything alone, we need to be:

• Objective
• Harsh and
• Bold

Bring it on!