Back to the Drawing Board

Last week I printed out the first draft of book 2. I scheduled Thursday as the day to do my first read-through.

I started…

I fell asleep.

I stopped reading about 1/3 of the way through the 217page manuscript, because it was completely clear that it isn’t working.

Why am I sharing this?

To point out that failures and successes are always wrapped up together. They stack on each other. Succeeding doesn’t mean you’re done with failing. And failing doesn’t mean you’ll never succeed.

I know how it is. You look at someone you feel has succeeded, and you think “getting it right” comes naturally to them. I do this all the time with people I admire—set them up on a pedestal, setting myself somewhere far below. Do you, perhaps, do the same?

Let’s take a step back, and recognize that successes grow out of failures. Brilliant achievements, like gorgeous flowers, are fed by mounds of compost.

I leave you with this quote:

“Failures, repeated failures, are finger posts on the road to achievement. One fails forward toward success.” — C.S. Lewis

I’m back to the drawing board—send me good thoughts!

If you can, please come to the “Creating Creature Worlds” Author Panel, Friday, July 24, 3—4pm at the Port Angeles Main Branch Library. (In the Raymond Carver Room). Especially if you want to write. There’s little more useful than hearing other authors speak about their process and experience. Hearing from those who’ve traveled a bit beyond where you are currently, makes those great walls seem far more scalable.

I’ll be there in the company of authors Lish McBride, and Lisa Mantchev. (I don’ think having the initials “L.M.” was a requirement for this panel, but…you never know! It is a library, where they make great use of the alphabet!)  ;>)