To Rewrite Or Not

When I began  writing Marge it was with pencil and paper. I wrote to escape so when I finished writing Marge, I  wrote another version and I enjoyed  finding  out the different results, but when I write for publication, it is a different story and a whole new ball game. 

I struggle with the issue whether I am good enough. I don't have  what it takes to be a best seller and I want to be!  The first thing I have to do is believe in myself!  I realized that I have been given the ability to tell stories and I have to set up expectations for myself. That is when frustration sets in because I have become self critical.. You know, they say we are our own worst critics?  Someone makes a cake and it doesn't measure up to perfection, you berate yourself and you want to do make another cake. Of course, it is more costly to make another cake. What is costly for me is my time.  What I thought was perfect was a story I am working on.  It is called the Butterfly and the Cocoon.

 

I wished that I never read a certain book. Although it has been helpful, it told me that the use of "to be" verbs should be very minimal and  we should "show" and not "tell"  As an amateur author I struggle with that. I write what comes naturally to me and  someone comes along and says "It won't sell if you write like that."  What do I do? I rewrite. However, it has become a nightmare. Instead of enjoying what I do, I get frustrated and want to quit. No, I don't quit, but I do say "Why bother?" because as I look at what I have written, I am finding it is not good enough.  

It is good to take advice from an experienced author. You want to follow in his steps because you know he sold books, but when you set up that person's  guideline as your standards, you are bound to be frustrated. If God  gives you the ability he will also  give you the words to write if you listen to him. If he says to you to take heart  and not be discouraged, then look up and say to yourself, "I can do it!" Do not compare yourself to  others.  God created you to be you not anyone else. You are unique.