It seems that
I have spent my whole life tying up loose ends. Once I think I’m finished, I
see something else that needs to be done before I can say that the job is complete. This obsession with loose ends often impedes
my ability to finish a task. I find it
difficult to walk away knowing there is something left undone. I find myself constantly revisiting past
projects to improve and make them better by tying up one more loose end.
On the
other hand, I sometimes find that the amount of work required to tie up all
those loose ends, is so daunting that it is easier to give up on a project rather
than tackle the task. I’ve never thought
of myself as a quitter, but I admit that there have been times when I backed
away from a job or even a promotion because there were so many unknowns and
loose ends. I was too discouraged to
even begin!
But the old
adage is true: “Every journey begins with a single step.” I took that step when
I wrote and self-published my first book. I knew nothing of publishing and I
was reluctant to turn the whole process over to someone else without knowing
what I was getting into. So I closed my
eyes and took a deep breath and forced myself to take that first step. I asked
questions. I made mistakes. I
learned. I am by no means an expert, but
I am no longer terrified.
Now I find
that the more I know, the more I need to know…more loose ends! It is so easy to get caught up in the details
that I lose sight of the goal. Lately, I
have immersed myself in learning the ropes of marketing myself and my work. I
have spent hours researching and building a following on social networks. I have developed press releases and promoted
myself at book signings and book clubs. As a result I have neglected the most important
and joyous part of being a writer…writing!
After
publishing my debut novel, I still wake up in the middle of the night thinking
of ways to make it better. I’m trying to stay focused on my next project, but I
am haunted by the loose ends from my previous work. I know that at some point I will revisit it
and republish a second, improved edition for no other reason than to bring some
closure to those loose ends.
As I near
the resolution of the plot for The Stone House Legacy, I am consumed by
the amount of loose ends that I have left dangling. There are so many details
that need to be flushed out and explained before this draft is complete that I have
allowed myself to become paralyzed by inaction. The task is so overwhelming that
I have been unable to move forward. I have even contemplated giving up on the
whole idea.
I have come
to this critical decision point so often in my life. Looking back, I see that
there were many times when I gave up on something when taking a single step
forward would have gotten me moving again. I believe I have a story to tell. I
believe that it will not only be entertaining, but insightful. I believe that
the story will not be told unless I tell it. I think I am ready to take that
next step. Wish me luck!
