Pressing Send
Lots of Fridays. And today I sent the manuscript off to the editor.
Friday is my writing day. And every Friday for the last months I've sat in my writing chair, or hightailed it out of here on a writing retreat where I can focus, organize my writing goals into a kanban board on a window with post-its and markers and make thousands of words. A herculean effort sometimes. Easy at others.
There were moments when I looked at the manuscript and thought "How the hell? How will I get to the end?"
But one kanban board at a time, one writing session at a time, one section at a time I wrote it.
This Friday morning I sent it to my editor.
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I feel a weird lightless and pride and sadness all at the same time. From here it will be re-works and edits and arranging things this way or that. But the creation part, the originating of the book from a blank page, is done. It's sad because I'll miss you. You weren't here but you were.
As I built the frameworks to help you Ask Like an Auctioneer, and mustered the courage to write with the energy and irreverence that will make this book fun for you-I had you with me. My readers. Potential readers.
It was weird- like you were sitting right by me and I was figuring out how to explain this idea or that- listening for your reaction and watching your face light up or your brow furrow in confusion. I listened for when I might have cracked you up or evoked some tenderness for yourself and your dreams. I wrote it like I was reading it to you.
When I started this part of the journey, I wondered if I'd like it. If I could be one to say "I love the process of writing and the way it has me to spend my time". The answer is yes. I can see now, that I love writing books. To name and claim that is big. To recognize there's a joy in this process is a delight for me to see and recognize. I have a funny feeling that once this one is all the way done, I'll be wondering what I write next (I already have an idea) and longing for the day I can sit in front of a blank page, a blinking cursor and have you beside me again.