"The Art of Patience: How to Thrive While Forever Waiting"

Write a book they said.

Anyone can do it they said.

Tell that to an obsessive compulsive control freak, sprinkle in some self doubt and throw in a dash of self loathing. That's where I am at right now.

I listened to a podcast about where I am in the publishing process and they said two things.

1. Stop comparing your work to other's (no matter what the genre).

2. Stop over editing.

So far, I have done both.

I am sure of it.

I have read and re-read every page probably 40 times or more. Making minor adjustments and, along the way, feeling completely inept and way out of my league.

But today, I ordered the final publisher's proof.

Christy, my editor, assured me that this will be the last time we dissect and correct. The last time to "nit pick" and tweak the essence of each character. Trying to make the story that much more gut-wrenching, to have it dig its hooks into you and drag you in.

It's been an emotional rollercoaster for sure. As a family we've been dealing with loss, grief, and a multitude of other emotions while trying not to lose focus of the project itself. But this feels like a step in the right direction finally. A promise that the official release is just around the corner.