Nikki: Well, I suppose it’s a tad bit easier. Meaning I have a deadline and someone waiting for it. It’s still difficult in that I want to send her a perfect story. I know she’ll have suggestions and changes, but I still have that perfection gene that wants me to send the best work possible — and get an A+ on it. I’m still working on convincing myself that I’m not writing for a grade. But that’s because I’m new to working with an editor. I keep flashing back to my thesis committee… *grin*

Hi Terry,

Unique and effective! Loved it!

Nikki.

Thanks for your reply

I was wondering if you’ve found it easier or harder now that you have an editor to speak with?

Nikki.

Cyn, it’s hard to let people read your work, but it’s a necessary step to growing as a writer. It’s difficult to hear your prose isn’t perfect, your characters undeveloped, or your plot full of holes — but it’s necessary for growth.

Robin, thanks! PC and I are throwing the party together, so she’ll be here with me to make sure things go well. And yep, it’s hard to let go, but at some point you must. Otherwise, it’s just you reading it and that’ll never move you forward. Hugs, because I SO understand!!!

PC: You persnickety? No way!

SP: Ha!

Nikki: Hmm, that’s more difficult. I *have* thrown manuscripts into the trash heap (actually, I just leave them on the computer and stop messing with them) without ever showing them to anyone. I think I did that with 2 as well. Sometimes, you just know. But it’s not a wasted experience, and it doesn’t mean the idea isn’t salvageable later.

As for techniques for letting go? Truthfully, it was contest entries that did it for me. They have deadlines, and they only require a few pages. Electronic contests are even better because it’s easier to hit the send button than to print, clip, address an envelope, take it to the post office, stand in line, etc.

Good luck!!

I’m a perfectionist in the worst sense and I don’t have benchmarks or mechanisms in place yet in regards to my writing so… in the past year I’ve written two complete manuscripts AND thrown them on the scrap heap after the first read through lol because I just knew that I would be editing them until doomsday.

Strangely enough I’m great with deadlines I don’t have any problems letting go for competitions but anything that doesn’t have a date (even when I set one) is fair game for obsessive compulsiveness

I’d love to hear about anyone else’s techniques for ‘letting go’ even if it’s a case of your partner chaining you to a chair while they go and mail the thing for you

Hope your writing is going well

Nikki

Now I’m off to tidy *my* house…the Geek is having more geeks over tomorrow night.

Good luck with your party Friday night! Have fun.

Perfectionists do it better

And yes, I was raised by a perfectionist so I have some of those perfectionist tendencies. I am getting better at letting people read my “masterpieces.” LOL

Cyn