Isn't this the truth? With whatever you do, if something doesn't work you revise. Many years ago, I decided to travel on this path to publication. I had written for many years, but never thought to get serious. At the time, writing was lots of words on paper that created something that was a story. At least in my head. When I read it now, those words need a ton of work.
Over the years, manuscripts were written and finished, then rewritten, revised and finished. It doesn't end there. It goes on and on, a constant circle. Really, I'm still revising manuscripts I wrote eight years ago. Writing is just like life. We grow and change then revise who we are, hopefully becoming a better human. It's not an easy feat. There are pains and aches through any process. I try to keep this in mind, because just existing is not an option. Living life is. Experiencing things are. Enjoying loved ones is.
This is where I am. I'm trying to not only write and revise a manuscript to hopefully (fingers crossed) get published one day (the near future would be ideal), but to also revise me as a mom, wife, friend, sister, daughter to those around me. Finding time and energy is what is hard. And, trust me, there is no special magic that will make it all flow in the easiest way possible. If there was--I would have it. It would be very awesome. The only magic I know of is tea and chocolate, which doesn't help my waistline. The thing is unless we try different things we will never know if they will work or if what we are doing is helping us grow.
Mistakes are the things that are hard to swallow. I'm a perfectionist, so mistakes are usually like a jab in my stomach. No one likes to make mistakes, but they are the only way we will know how to fix a problem in the first place. Really, it's true. We may have a fit after we make one, but in the end you learn something.
So, if you are stuck in the rut of--why am I doing this? Why do I keep going back and changing rearranging then doing it all over again? Think of yourself. Your life. You didn't get this far by staying the same.
What keeps you going when revising?
Have a great day!
