Secret Project Update

     Earlier this week, I finished my eighth round of edits on my secret project.  Believe it or not, I think this story actually has a chance.  Maybe my judgement is impaired because I am writing this at roughly 3 hours past my bedtime, but I feel encouraged at the moment.  And I hardly would have thought that possible a month or two ago.
     It's funny the emotional journey associated with this project.  Early on, I had to rally my courage just to let my beta-reader see it.  Later, my sister expressed her regrets that she didn't have time to read it at the moment, and I told her that I would let her read it later if it won (and that, if it didn't, "nevermind - because it must not have been worth reading anyway").  Then I let two young friends read it because they were so excited and encouraging and willing to offer their feedback.  And now, I am leaning back with a feeling of satisfaction and a tingling hope that it just might win.  It's the craziest feeling ever.

 

 

     I know a number of skilled, talented writers who are entering this contest.  Frankly, it's a little intimidating.  I feel like they have so much more experience than I do, and I wonder (since they seem so confident) whether my story even has a chance.  And that is not the feeling that I want to give you when you read of my "tingling hope."  Instead, I want to instill in you the understanding that any of us have a chance...and even more so if we work on our craft.  I want to promise that, even if a first draft doesn't seem prize-worthy, it can be improved upon.  I want to assure you that, somewhere down the line, you will look at your revised manuscript with a smile and say "THIS is better."

     And, yes, it is a pretty cool feeling.