Christian Author Donna Dawson

Duke the Chihuahua is all a-dither.  He has just received the alarming news that my brother did battle with an errant moose.  I would have taken the time to explain to Duke that the moose lost the battle--and my brother's SUV did as well--but my brother is quite fine.  Duke, however, couldn't wait to get on the phone with his cousin Pugsley and verify the condition of Pugsley's own pet human.  I'm sure that the word will spread quickly thereafter and the remaining members of Duke's online bridge foursome will be made aware of the event. Even a misplaced moose and an overzealous Chihuahua can teach us much about the writing industry.

Let's say that Duke represents the average newbie writer. (I dare say, Duke would be put out to have me call him a newbie anything but since his teeth are long gone, I'm not worried about the ever-threatened nip.)  Full of energy and ready to take on the world, he bounces through his manuscript. throwing phrases together, sauntering from scene to scene and then wham!  Along comes something that side swipes him.  What does our newbie do?  He runs off in a dither. 

How often have newbies received that rejection notice or had an editor hit them with a particularly hard piece of editing?  It hurts and the impulse is there to run away and commiserate with sympathetic peers.  But wait!  What would happen if the newbie stayed put and forced himself to listen to the whole message--even the underlying tones that aren't actually written down but subtly implied?  What if that newbie pulled out other critiques and edits and looked for the common mistakes?  They would save themselves much heartache in future submissions because they would repair those common flaws before sending that manuscript to the editor.

Duke eventually went to a good source to find out the details of the accident but he could have made things much simpler by waiting to hear me out.  He would have learned that all was well--with the exception of one very unhealthy--unliving--moose and a smashed vehicle.  He would have learned that Pugsley is maintaining a stoic attitude and that he had already contacted the other two of the bridge group and was just going to contact the venerable Duke. 

As writers, it is so very important to value the words of professional editors.  No, you don't want to lose your writing voice in the quagmire of extreme edits but you don't want to take on the process with your emotions on your sleeve either.  Editors don't hate you--unless you send them repeated emails begging them to take your manuscript and whining 'Is it done yet?  Is it done yet?'   They have a job to do.  That job is to make your work shine.  When the moose sideblinds you in your writing world, don't fly off in a panic.  Stop.  Listen.  Analyse carefully and apply the wisdom that you learn.