46 closely packed pages of text, photos and drafts which are, in reality, more like 75 plus pages, with suggestions for changes and marked typos to be corrected.
So far, two friendly alpha readers have gone through the pages and been kind enough to say what i have to share, should be. On the days I wonder if the wracking of my little grey cells is worth it, my friends assure me it is…
A brief chat with a couple of ‘real’ authors helped put the writing experience in perspective. It doesn’t matter if it is fiction or non-fiction, writing takes time, thought and organization…whatever form that may take. It also takes reflection and editing. Sometimes many times. Frequently, many times. Communication is not a one way street, although it may seem like it as I struggle to find the right words, the correct phrases, to express what I want to say. By having someone else (preferably several someones) edit my words and let me know if they understand the concepts I am trying to convey, hopefully the message will be understandable.
We return home on Sunday with a pile of deadlines and obligations waiting. I have to find some references before I will dig back into the writing. I am far behind where i had hoped to be in terms of word/page count this far into the year, but it is really beginning to feel like a book. A real book.