Finding Grace Again

Asking for help is hard to do. But I did it and an amazing editor, with 25 New York Times bestsellers under his belt, came to my rescue. Asking for (and getting) constructive criticism can be intimidating. Be careful what you wish for, Beth. I said this to myself many times during my recent writing journey.

The biggest lessons since asking an editor for help: be open to change and don't quit.

At one point my beloved editor (it can be a love/hate relationship if there is truth involved) told me, and I'll quote, "Sometimes being a good writer isn't enough." Ouch!

The story I wanted to tell in my novel "The Weekend at the Inn" all culminated during a weekend at an inn. But my editor had different ideas, and thankfully, I've listened.

Before throwing in the towel (which I have not yet done) I was open to his suggestions and more of a story began to unfold. He told me to find conflict for my main character, Regan, and to stop spinning around and around in thought and show her conflict through action.

What is beginning (and I stress beginning) to surface is a story with a beginning and a middle and an end, rather than one that was stuck (very stuck I must add). My new novel ideas look very little like my original ideas, which began several years ago.

This writer has evolved, the main character has changed and she encounters several conflicts with multiple layers - just like life.

My new novel is renamed and is now called "Finding Grace Again" and if I keep asking for help, keep telling the story, stay focused and face the fear, it may actually be a book one day.

I'm discovering that writing is a lot like life - if I'm willing to do the work, ask for help, listen with an open heart, not fight change - there is   g r a c e   to be found.