Each book I finish requires revision.<\/p>\n
First, I take a break from the book, usually a month.<\/p>\n
Then, I start over<\/strong>, from the beginning, and ask myself:<\/p>\n “What kind of book do I want this to be?”<\/em><\/p>\n It’s a wonderful thing, this starting over.<\/p>\n It’s never easy.<\/p>\n You can ask the same question of your life.<\/strong> I have.<\/p>\n “What kind of life do I want this to be?”<\/em><\/p>\n In the past five years, I’ve chosen to start over in lots of ways. For instance:<\/p>\n While the decision to start over can be made in an instant, the process itself is slow. It should be slow.<\/strong> You can’t revise a book–or your life–overnight.<\/p>\n Now:<\/p>\n I have found new joy in decorating my home. Investing in art. The beauty of starting over has helped me find my style. With blank walls, it’s easier to envision.<\/p>\n I love fashion and pretty things, along with simplicity. My closet is neat, and not too full. I experiment with style. When things stack up, I simplify again.<\/p>\n With writing, I try to follow Neil Gaiman’s advice, and only take on things that bring me closer to the mountain (my dream career).<\/p>\n There have been times since quitting my day job that I’ve felt anxiety that I wasn’t doing enough–making enough money, doing enough freelance, etc.<\/p>\n The key, I’ve found, is to focus on my mountain<\/strong>–my dream career–and not the careers of any other writers I know. Only mine.<\/p>\n Happy revising.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Each book I finish requires revision. First, I take a break from the book, usually a month. Then, I start over, from the beginning, and ask myself: “What kind of […]<\/p>\n\n
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