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The most difficult challenge a writer faces is learning to be less critical of themselves. To allow the work to stand on its own. Learning when to stop editing themselves and how to let go of the work when its time.

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Click, click, click… Typing away at the keyboard. Minutes morph into hours, then days, then weeks. Before too long, months have gone by. A hundred thousand words on a manuscript. The deadline for the first chapter is in a month. It’s time to edit that first chapter. And edit. And edit. And edit that first chapter.

Typing away at the keyboard. Minutes morph into hours, then days, then weeks. Before too long, a month has gone by. Ten thousand words edited to the fullest of my ability. All the little finalizations required get attention. That nervous shiver of whether or not something is going missed. Confidence is hard to have, but I know it has to be let go eventually. And it’s submitted. Whatever happens happens. No going back now.

Mistakes become apparent immediately.

Should have fixed that. Should have changed this. Misused word. Incorrect spelling. Excessive punctuation. This sentence over that sentence. Too much detail. Too little detail. Too many metaphors. Not enough metaphors.

It’s free. Nothing can be done now.

Deadline for chapter two is in a month. Editing.

Typing away at the keyboard.