Done…Again

The first time I ever set a manuscript aside and said those magic words was probably close to two years ago.  Now if you’ve been following along, what was before I considered myself a writer.  That was back when I did this for “fun”.

I distinctly remember the moment, however.  I suspect I will always remember it, being that it was the first.  I was sitting on the floor of my living room, white pages of type scattered around the low coffee table my Dad made me and marking up the pages with a blue pen.  My husband was sitting on the couch watching something on TV, or perhaps mindlessly channel surfing (I don’t remember that part).  I reached the last line.  I read it again.  I liked it.  I looked up at my husband, equal parts surprised and proud, and said, “I think it’s done.”

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There were no fireworks, but it felt like a fireworks kind of moment.

Absolutely nothing happened with that manuscript after that.  Oh I put all the edits I found into the computer, I saved the file.  But I didn’t give it another thought, unless “it’s not even remotely worth anyone’s time” is a thought.  Until a few months ago.

A few months ago, after finishing my WIP I opened up that file again.  I think it was more out of curiosity than anything else.  Sitting there in the computer chair, I started reading it again.

“Hm, this isn’t bad.  I bet I could just change…”

I was hooked.  I printed it (again) and brought out that pen.  This time, armed with my new knowledge of the writing process and tips from some great writers, I made a lot more changes.  I moved whole chapters, I removed lots of words.

Today I reread it again.  Guess what, it’s good.  It’s not what I had been writing recently (read: it’s not young adult) but it’s good.

It’s done…again.

Only this time it doesn’t have to sit in a figurative drawer (literal google drive).  This time it’s hitting agents near you.

2016 might just be the year.

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