The re-vision process
This is my first post of 2014–this may be the first time I’ve written “2014.” Somehow I’m comfortable with the idea of this new year already, only nine days in; I was ready for it. This is the year I’m finishing my book. This is the year I’m finding an agent and a publisher. The penultimate sentence I type with reckless, relieved confidence; the latter, not so much confidence as hope. But that’s okay, first things first, one step at a time. I’ve got to focus, though. I’m close to finishing a revision that could be the last. I desperately want it to be the last. But I’ve got a haunting fear that I’ll read it through and find it wanting, that I’m facing a whole new re-vision.
I’m a perfectionist. It’s not a good trait for a writer, because perfectionists have trouble letting go. Kristen Lamb wrote on her blog a few days ago about knowing when to quit–when to put aside a manuscript, when to go on to a new project or even a new genre.
Deep breath. All right. I’m finishing up this draft this month and sending it to my two fantastic critique partners, Jodi Kendall and Gina Carey. Here we go.
alexandra alger 