The Undiscovered Country

December 20, 2014

What's so special about that day?

It's no one's birthday. No one's death, not even a wedding anniversary.

It is, however, the day I should find out if I suck as a writer.

That's right. I finally sent off my manuscript that I wrote -- get this -- nearly 14 years ago.

April, 2001 is when the idea of my first novel hatched and spent the next three months writing. Sure I spent three months vomiting all 103,000 words of my idea on paper, but I spent a lot more time than that editing, rewriting, editing some more, let sit and collect dust for a few years only to edit and rewrite again -- and streamlined down to a mere 94,169 words.

Even if it doesn't pass muster with this publisher, I have no regrets. I learned more about writing and writing well with that book than most of the others I've written since.

For the next eight weeks, I will remain hopeful, but not expectant.

That doesn't mean I'm above praying for a specific outcome, however, and I'm sure you can guess what that is.