Have you ever written something that editors reject and tell you to rewrite? Well, I have. I’ve just finished an early chapter book about Brigham Young. Editors say they want a rewrite. I’m now in the process of modernizing it and sticking some ‘electronic-age’ into it.
The thing that has been interesting to me is that there is a grieving process that goes with letting the old manuscript rest, hidden in the documents of my computer. I am sad to not spend time with it every day. It’s almost as if it had a life of its own, and we were very good friends. It has moved on and so have I.
At first the new manuscript and I didn’t know if we even liked each other. We struggled to get to know one another and begin our friendship. We are better acquainted now and find each other more than tolerable at this point. The story is showing me the way to go, and I’m getting to like it.
I still grieve for my old friend, for it is part of me and I’m part of it. My life is better for having connected with it, and I’m grateful. Sadness still cradles itself in my heart, but it lessens as the days go by.
So here’s a tribute to my rejected writing. I am better for having written. And happy that the manuscript and I can look at the synergism that we created and know we are both standing on higher ground.
Christy Monson, Prophets in Person blogspot.com
7 comments:
Ah, rejection. It always hurts a little. Keep writing. LG
Ah, rejection. It always hurts a little. Keep writing. LG
Is there an echo in here? LG
I always seem to save all my little rewritten words. I just love them too much to let them go. Nice post today Christy! =)
Ah our dear old MS, you spend so much time on them, they do become your friend!
I save my edits as well, you just never know when they may come in handy another day. ;)
I always thought I wasn't attached to my words, but when I've needed to go back and cut, cut, cut, I bleed.
I'll toast to that!! We have to write to improve. Sure, some of it will be rejected, but like you said, we are better for it.
Post a Comment