“If the plan doesn’t work, change the plan, but never the goal.” — Author Unknown

This little quote could apply to just about anything I guess, but it inspired me to use it for one of my favorite subjects - EDITING. I recently found a novel I wrote thirty years ago. The idea is good, worth reworking, but I wrote in when I thought that the writing was over when I wrote the last page! I was so anxious to have a few friends read it, only later realizing some were very polite, others non-committal, but I didn't get the enthusiastic feedback I was hoping for. Now I see it - my first great effort needs serious EDITING! When an editor told me my first novel was too long, I cut twenty thousand words. A little painful at first, but they were right and my story was better.

So, some of this is experience, and a lot of it is EGO. Experience is gold, valuable. Ego is valuable too, and important, but can get in the way. Let your work sit for a few days - go back to it with fresh eyes. Is it interesting? Is it your best effort? Imagine you're browsing the book store - would you buy that book based on the jacket blurb? Not everyone can afford an editor, but find a trusted reader who will find typos, tell you if something is boring, confusing or anything that needs fixing to make your work the best it can be! Keep writing, have fun, and BE SAFE!