Almost there!

I've been sitting here for hours, reading out loud. I'd gone completely through my ms, making changes, cutting whole paragraphs down, editing sentences, until I thought I was done. But just to be sure, I thought I'd read myself the story out loud to catch any mistakes I'd left behind.

OH MY WORD!

I'm so glad I did. My ms was riddles with little things I would have been embarrassed to leave in. I tend to be lazy--to think, 'It's good enough.' I do this with most aspects of my life. It's something that has always bothered me but not something I've put a lot of effort into changing.

So . . . I'm so glad I read it out loud. I've found lots more to cut, being redundant like I am, and better ways to re-arrange sentences. My kids have loved it too--sitting at my feet listening to the story unfold.

This draft is going to be great and I'll be really surprised if there are a lot of things K wants me to change. We're getting so close and I feel a sense of euphoria, anticipating the finish line. I sigh in relief, afraid my next book won't compare.

Do you ever feel that way? That there's no way you can write another book as good? I know it's not true, but that nagging thought is always at the back of my mind. Go away, bad thought! *smirk*

Source: http://melissajcunningham.blogspot.com/2010/07/almost-there.html