May
12
Last week I emailed some draft text to Ms.D for her approval. As I mentioned in my previous post, I wanted to make sure that I was taking the right approach with things like language, tone and style. I emailed it to her on Friday. My daughter had been home with a fever (which later turned into a rash which practically covered her entire body) and I was making last minute edits while the poor kid convalesced on the couch.
At one point – after I had made about 100 tiny changes and edits – I had had enough. I could have fussed with it for days, but it was time to let it go.
Normally I’m a lot more confident about my writing. I know what people want, and I know what I’m capable of, but this was different. I was relatively certain that this was the kind of writing Ms.D is after, but what if I got it wrong?
“What if she hates it?” I moaned to my husband.
His answer was something about taking another stab at it. No biggie, right? Although this kind of project is new to me I don’t believe that I’m over my head. I can handle revisions, sure, but I confess, if it’s totally wrong it’ll be a blow to my confidence.
Ms.D was worried about how she’d be portrayed. She is a positive person and wants to be seen as such. She’s very likeable and has a unique outlook on life. I think I got that. Even though I’m writing this from her perspective I think I portrayed her accurately, although there’s a very real possibility that she won’t agree.
I am happy with what I sent to her. I wouldn’t have sent it otherwise.
It’s early to say this – because I only sent an intro and a short first chapter, but by main worry is that I don’t have enough information. We’ve talked for hours, but is that enough to go on? I also worry that I’m not padding it enough. I’m not talking about fluffy space-wasting words, but that meaty in-between descriptive stuff that sets a scene and gets those big ideas across in the best way possible.
Here’s the thing: I sent the text to her last week and I haven’t heard back. And so, of course, I’m imagining the worst. The worst being (a) she hates it (b) she’s in the process of emailing it to her friends and they are all discussing it (b) she has been stunned into silence and doesn’t know how to proceed and is ready to throw in the towel.
But I’m not ready to throw in the towel. Not yet.
I totally do that too when I don't hear back right away ... start imagining it's because the person isn't happy with what's been delivered. But 99.9% of the time they are usually just busy and overloaded and haven't had a chance to respond yet. Don't sweat it. You've done your best and that is nothing more you can do now. Like your hubby says, worse case scenario is that you meet and revise. Onward and upwards! :)