Revision

I'm revising. Last night I tore through thirty pages of edits and feel good with the progress made on my manuscript. I'm hoping to be done tonight. Hoping–but not holding my breath.

A long time ago, when I was doing a book signing for my first book, I met another author–Carole Warburton. She was with a bigger publisher (the one I'm now with), and I was in awe of her. She gave me some advice, advice that is useful every day in my career.

She taught me about edits.

"Edits aren't evil," she'd said. "Edits are a chance to prove you can do it better."

So when it comes time to do an edit on a book I've written, I repeat her words in my mind. Edits are a chance to prove I can do it better. I love a challenge. Of course I can do it better! Just watch and see.

I only wish I could manipulate my reality the same way I manipulate my written world.  I wish I had a delete button when I say something completely stupid. I wish I could rearrange parts of my day so they fit better and accomplish more, the same way I rearrange paragraphs on a page.

In reality, just like with writing, of course I can do better when I don't get it right. Of course I can be more patient. Of course I can speak words of compassion, love, and respect. I can edit my  future, but that doesn't delete the deeds of the past. It's vexing–this reality thing.

The important thing is knowing where we can do better and working towards that. Thanks Carole. The advice is useful all these years later.

Cross My Heart actually has a book launch date–November 4th! It'll be food, fun, and prizes so be there! The address and details will come in the next few days. Sorry about the delay on that. I'm heading to California to do  a book signing at the Disneyland Hotel and we're making a family trip out of it so it's been tough to get all the scheduling to work out. Thanks for being patient with me.