New Beginnings

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I read something today that was encouraging. I went to the library the other day and browsed, trying to find a few books to read. I picked up Sword Song by Rosemary Sutcliff, and there was a note about the author in the front matter that was encouraging. It went as follows:
"Throughout her working life my godmother and cousin, Rosemary Sutcliff, wrote each of her books in three consecutive drafts."
Why is this so encouraging?  Because I just finished going through my manuscript and decided to take my story in a completely new direction that means it needs almost a full re-write. The decision was not easy. I wanted to ignore the promptings that brought me to it. It would be far easier to make light edits and call it good. But I do not want a good book, I want to write an excellent one, and if that means it takes me ten years to complete it, so be it.
Finished editing my manuscript with this as my view














With that said, it was a little discouraging to create a new Word document, copy and paste the first draft into it, and then savagely cut away most of it. I went from 70,000+ words down to 7,500. It is a process of learning, growing through it, and challenging myself to keep going even when I do not want to.

It helps when I can use a hammock as my office. It's nice to get out of town occasionally and enjoy nature, and that was where I was inspired with the new direction for my story.

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