A New Book is in the Works . . .

 

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. . . if  I can bring myself to submit it.

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That is a pretty big if, too! Submitting a manuscript is much like sending your last child off to college. The baby is gone. The nest is empty. Now, what are you to do? The manuscript is gone. My beloved characters are gone. Ideas for future works are lacking. What am I to do?

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And, so, I hold onto the manuscript. From time to time, I might add to it and make changes to it. From time to time, I think of things I need to double-check, but I find that I’ve already made those corrections. The book is ready to go. I’m just not ready to let it go. That is where Life on the Rise stands.

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Actually, I’ve sent it out, twice, and I’ve recalled it twice. The first time, I knew it could be better. The second time . . . Well, the publisher was a disappointment. The information provided about how the book would be handled was incomplete, to say the least. Enough said.

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I am given pause to remember something my aunt told me many years ago. My cousin, her daughter, was writing her dissertation – and writing and writing and writing. From time to time, my aunt would ask her how it was coming along. My cousin would reply that it could be better if she rewrote it – and rewrote it and rewrote it. Finally, my aunt asked her, “What is your goal, to write the perfect dissertation or to earn your degree?” My cousin submitted her dissertation, earned her degree, and enjoyed a long career in her field.

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It is time for me to ask, “What is my goal, to write the perfect book or to have it published?”  I also need to remember that we are our own worst critic. It’s true! I had similar doubts about my first published book, Tales Along the Way Home. Not long ago, I went back and read through parts of it. It was good! Why had I had so many doubts? Even the parts I thought I should have left out worked beautifully! The book is good the way it is.

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So is Life on the Rise. Is it perfect? No. Any critic who wants to find fault with it probably can. But it is good, and I need to let baby bird go, so it can fly on its own.