Blog Archives
Doing my best, as best I can.
I’ve recently sent off my manuscript for Moonlight Dreams to an editor I like and admire. I’m hoping it will be well received. Hell, I’m hoping she loves it so much she wants to pee her pants.
But then, I took another look at it, again, and I’ve found ten (or twenty!) errors. You know, little things like misspelled words, typos and such, and I think Crap, Crap, Crap, why did I do that?
And then I sit back, take a deep breath – to keep for throwing up – and remind myself that what’s done is done. And it all okay. God still loves me, even if no one else does, TYG.
If the editor likes the story enough, she’ll want to work with me. If she doesn’t (like the story) the lack of those ten (or twenty) typos isn’t going to change her mind. At least I hope not.
I mean, really, if the likeability of my story rests on the absence of any and all typos, I’m toast, or perhaps moldy old Swiss cheese, turning green and full of holes. Woe unto me.
But! If she really likes my story, and can get past my tendency to make a few mistakes, (God bless my human soul) then we’re golden. Every day I get up and try to do my best. Some days are way better than others. Some are like sucking lard through a straw. Some days I shine. And every day is another chance to try and do my best. Not Mark Twain’s best, or Suzanne Brockmann’s, or Monica McCarthy’s, or so&so XXX’s best, [fill in blank with your favorite and bestest author]. I can only do my best.
And if I love myself and the world around me – the world will love me back. So here’s to loving me and loving you. Cheers and Enjoy always, T
The Blessing of Experience.
Experience is a grand teacher, perhaps the best.
It’s all well and good to sit in a class room and listen to a speaker or read through a text book for all the important bits of interesting information, but in the long run, (and trust me, I’ve had a very long run) experience is the best teacher.
Before experience all you have is a concept. (Like the Big Bang Theory – I LEA that show.) I may think I’ll react a certain way in a certain circumstance, but until I experience said circumstance, I really don’t know. I only have a concept, an idea, or a theory. It’s only when the ‘circumstance’ actually happens that I really get to test my concept, idea or theory. Only then do I really know what I would really do, because I did it. Understand?? I certainly hope so. If not, then that’s okay, because that’s the experience you’re having regarding understanding this post…. but I digress.
I may think I’m a good swimmer, but what will I really experience if I fall off a raft while shooting the rapids? Or heaven forbid, off my yacht while in the middle of the ocean. I won’t know for sure until it happens. (No, I don’t really have a yacht, remember, this is still a concept.)
Once upon a time, I had a concept of what it would be like to be a published author. In particular, a published indie author. I read and read and read all about authors and the publishing industry and I was sure I knew what I was doing and what to expect. But NO, I was wrong. Not completely wrong, but fairly wrong. It’s been much better and much worse than I expected. That’s the thing about reality, it’s rarely the way we imagine it to be. It was only when I had the experience that I was able to really know how it felt – for me. And only for me. For everyone else, the experience is different.
And that’s another blessing. No matter how many times we hear about how it is for someone else, no matter how many times we image how it will be for ourselves, only the experience will provide the proof.
So I say, God Bless the Experience. It’s the only way to live. And may I suggest that you go out and have a few of your own, experiences that is.
Have fun and Enjoy Always, T
I’m not giving up Chocolate.
Ah, the romance of self-sacrifice! The idea that we would give of ourselves to become a better person for ourselves and for others. Yes, a romantic idea indeed.
Yesterday was Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent in many Christian religions. I was raised as a Catholic and for years I have followed the annual Lenten ritual of giving up something for Lent, the 46 days preceding Easter. (It’s only 40 if you don’t count Sundays!)
While I’m no longer a ‘practicing Catholic’ I still observe Lent. It’s somewhat of a holdover from my traditional Catholic upbringing, but now I make the effort more to satisfy my personal preferences rather than to comply with religious tenets. I appreciate the idea of that I can choose to ‘give something up’ as a demonstration of my own willpower over the choices I make. I like to muster the determination needed to make a commitment and see it through to the end. It requires that every day I be aware of my choices.
For years I’ve given up liquor and chocolate, but not this year. This year I’ll continue to give up liquor – it’s not like I’m a really big drinker – but instead of chocolate, I’m giving up cakes, cookies and pastries. I know I could give up the chocolates, I’ve done it before, many times and I’m certain I could do it again, should I so desire. But I’ve never tried to do the cakes, cookies and pastries thing before, and this year I wanted to do something different. At least that’s what I tell myself.
I’m sure it has nothing to do with the BIG box of chocolates sitting at home in my cupboard. At least that’s what I’m telling myself.
Anyone else out there who still observes the Lenten ritual of self-sacrifice? Just asking.
Enjoy always, T
UNKNOWN
UNKNOWN is a seven letter word. In California personalized license plates have room for seven letters. I asked the DMV if I could have UNKNOWN as my personalized plate. They said no. They rejected my request. Seems they don’t like the idea of my plate being listed as UNKNOWN.
I thought it would be good fun to be able to have a cop have to write UNKNOWN for the plate should I ever have the misfortune to get a ticket, like for parking where or when I shouldn’t or for (god forbid) speeding. Thankfully, I have very little experience with such things, (note: I did not say no experience).
But that’s not going to happen, because the DMV said no.
I also thought it would be fun to known as UNKNOWN. You know me, I drive around as UNKNOWN. Yes, that’s right, I’m the one with the UNKNOWN plates. And since I drive a PT Cruiser I could be the UNKNOWN Cruiser. Pretty cool, huh. But, sadly NO.
Sorry, it’s not going to happen. I guess I’m not truly unknown, only fairly unknown, or somewhat unknown. After all, you know me, so I must not be completely unknown. Only semi-unknown. And I’m far from FAMOUS, because, believe it or not, that one’s already taken. But you already knew that.
Enjoy always, T
