On to what's top of mind for me lately - editing.

The challenges around editing have come up in several client sessions recently.

Truth bomb - and probably no surprise to you - Editing is hard.

No doubt about it.

And it's SO important.

Editing -- I include rewriting here too -- is where you get to:

• refine your choices

• re-vision your story

• ground the action in emotions and sensory details, really bringing the story alive for our reader

What do you do if you don't know how to fix your work?

Then get help!

Where do you get help?

• Critique groups

• Editors (I help here.)

• Beta Readers

• Coaching (I help here too.)

• Classes (I do those too.)

Here are some questions to ponder:

• Do you need help?

• Have you asked for help?

• What help do you need?

• How will it feel with your accept and receive the help you requested?

Hit reply and let me know.

And know, you are creative. Your solutions will be creative too.

So, I want to help you get into action on your editing.

Here's a tip for your success:

Here's the simple but not easy action step:

When you sit down to edit, scope down and focus on what needs to be addressed today. Only today.

As Anne Lamott says in Bird By Bird, see your story in a 1-inch square picture frame.

As you work on your story bit by tiny bit, concerns, questions, worries may likely come up.

That's okay.

Nothing is wrong with you.

Just the opposite.

Your creative vein is open. Yay!

Say thank you to the muse and jot down any and all thoughts that arrive.

I like to do this in my "Journal to write" in Scrivener, where I also house all my story's character notes, world building, research, timelines, etc.

Then gently, compassionately, and firmly, lead yourself back to your story.

Let me know how it goes.

You got this.

❤️