Ingredient - Write AND Publish

To be a writer, one must write! We've all heard it - write in the morning, write every day, or write once a week. It doesn't have to be good, just write!

It's not the writing part I have issues with. It's the "doesn't have to be good" part. By Golly, I want it to be GOOD! Good enough to publish. So I write, then revise, then edit, then reread, then revise, then edit... and the cycle continues. Basically, the writing cooks too long and by the time I see the smoke my writing is burnt, suitable only for disposal. I'm a cook who's burnt the soufflé once too often. It makes it hard to get back in the kitchen and try something new. 

Like any good child, I blame my mother. She drilled into me, "Do your absolute best!" (I can actually hear her.). When something matters, like writing does, I strive to 'perfect' it, expending enormous mental angst trying to make the thing better. However, with the Grand Champion of Soufflés on the horizon (a.k.a. doctoral exams & dissertation)  I must learn to accept my writing even though it's not perfect. 

This is me stepping back into the kitchen to write AND publish, the second ingredient to the "Writing History Recipe." The blog will help me establish a writing pattern, not a style, at least not yet. First I need a pattern. The plan is for me to develop a writing theme, write a short article (300 words), save the draft, and edit only once before publishing on Fridays. I need to let the writing cook without constantly opening the oven door; thus, causing the soufflé to collapse. I’ll write, turn on the oven light once to check its progress and then reveal for consumption.

Word Count: 297
Total Edits: 2