Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Making Dreams Come True...


This saying really captures how I'm feeling right now, because I have definitely been paying the price to get this book done. As a mom of two little girls, I don't have much time to sit down and edit. This means that my evenings, after the girls go to bed, are spent locked to my couch with my trusty lap top and the paper edit spread out next me.

I relish my alone time. It is a little piece of heaven to sit in a silent house and not have a two year old pulling my arm and dragging me all over my apartment. The hours following bedtime are my favorite time of the day, without question.

This past week I have sacrificed this special solidarity to my WIP. Every free moment I have had has been spent with TRANSFORMATION. I have longed to curl up with a good book or to watch a great movie, but I haven't allowed myself those pleasures. It's been all about my book.

And it's paid off.

In one week I have finished eleven of twenty-three chapters. (It was originally twenty-two, but I added a chapter during this round of editing.) This is my second to last round of editing, the one that requires the most attention. I'm attempting to make my WIP shine and it is time consuming. I'm lucky if I can get one chapter done in under an hour.

It has been difficult, and every evening I have to force myself to grab my paper edit and set it on my lap. But within minutes I am pulled into the world I have created. It feels like all I do is blink and it's midnight and I have to force myself to finish up and go to bed.

This has been an amazing journey. The difference between my first draft and my current draft is almost comical. I have to wonder if people would even think they were the same book. (Okay, that might be stretching it a bit, but it is pretty drastic.)

If I can keep up with this pace, I will definitely make my goal of finishing by June 30th. Even if I can't keep it up, all I need to do is one chapter a day and I should still be able to meet my goal. That is if I can get all the formatting, back cover synopsis, and the layout done in a few weeks as well. I can't think about that...one thing at a time Kimmel.

The point is, it's worth it to me. I long to hold the finished product in my hands, to feel that sense of accomplishment that is reserved for only published authors. I want to join the club.

So now I have to ask, what price are you willing to pay to have your dreams come true?

8 comments:

  1. I totally hear you Kimmel! It is not easy being a mom of little ones and finding the time to write! But it is so worth it to have the end result in your hands! Keep at it!

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  2. Kudos for sticking to your schedule! I know it would be hard for me to not get distracted.
    Plus,I"m sure there are a lot of us out there who would be just as excited to have Your book and our hands if only just to say "Hey, we know her and she's awesome."

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  3. Susan, it helps that my husband has been gone for five months. I have a limited number of distractions available to me. But I'm glad there are people out there, like you, who are excited for my book too!

    And, thanks for thinking I'm awesome! I'm only awesome because I have awesome people in my life!

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  4. When it's done Danny. Hopefully in a month or two!

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  5. Lack of sleep has been my biggest sacrifice. I've sacrificed some time with hubby as well, but I try not to let that happen too often. Best of luck on reaching your goal!

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  6. So proud of you and doing what it takes to get closer to your dream. I'll do the same one day...just need the right idea for a book (ha!)

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  7. So proud of you! I can't wait to get my copy either. =)

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