Oh yes! This past weekend, I finished my final edits on my second YA manuscript ‘Almost Perfect’ and sent it out into the world. It’s been a long journey. On Sunday morning, I hesitated and wondered if I had done ‘all that I could do’. Probably not. I’m sure I could continue to polish, hone and refine and perhaps my novel would be whittled down until it was a poem. And years would pass.
Those were my musings. I thought about areas that still needed work, and fussed with them. I thought about my heroine Steph and fussed with her. And finally, I realized – the time had come. It was the moment to let this novel sail away.
Then of course, I was left with the strangest feeling. This manuscript was a part of my head. A part of my life. I felt uneasy, nervous and disconnected.
I went to a party that evening. ”I finished a novel,” I said to a guest.
”How lovely,” she replied. “What was it called?”
“Almost Perfect.”
”I’ve never heard of it.”
”It’s not published yet.”
“Oh! I thought you meant you finished ‘reading a book’. That’s amazing. Well, congratulations!” she said.
We lifted our wine glasses. “I’ve always wanted to write a book,” she said,”but I never had the time.”
It was my turn to smile. I’m proud of myself. I made the time.
“I could continue to polish, hone and refine and perhaps my novel would be whittled down until it was a poem”
So true, Jodie. Congratulations on sending it out while it was still a novel!
And even more kudos for using your time, discipline, and creativity to write it in the first place.
Congratulations, Jodie! Looking forward to hearing about your next project.