14 Notes to Myself Prior to Entering the Cave of Rewrite

1.  You are about to enter a hole in your imagination. It is cold and it is very dark. Do not be frightened. Take a moment to let your eyes adjust, then walk forward into the black unknown.

2.  There is only one way in (starting the rewrite) and one way out (the finished draft). Do not stop until you’ve groped your way back to the light.

3.  Your manuscript currently stands at 52,000 words. You must read each and every one of those words, weigh their merits, and decide their fa...