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FRUSTRATION

Kathryn Neff Perry
Kathryn Neff Perry, Yahoo! Contributor Network
Jun 17, 2011 "Share your voice on Yahoo! websites. Start Here."




I shoved my chair away from my desk. I had been pouring over a manuscript for months. Meeting my daily word counts, and feeling somewhat satisfied with that goal.
However, something just wasn't right. No matter how I changed the story line, it just wasn't happening.
I remembered a line from Stephen King's book, On Writing, and I'm not quoting, throw the manuscript in a drawer for a while.
How could I possibly do that? How could I just put my "friends" away and forget them? They are "real people" to me. I have lived with them for months. I wake up with them, and fall asleep with them.
Something just wasn't right. So I took Mr. King's advice, reluctantly.


I tucked that manuscript away for a while. I tried to forget all about it. In fact, I started, and finished another writing project.
Whenever I thought of the manuscript in the drawer, visions of paper shredders and scissors came to mind.


I decided yesterday was the day to pull that manuscript out of the drawer and dust if off.
I found a comfortable chair, glass of iced tea and sunglasses.
As I began reading the manuscript I was even more upset than I remembered. Who wrote this? Ugggghhhhh. I think I was more focused on word count than content.
Anyway, I labored on and started liking it again. I also realized what I needed to cut and what could stay.
I would rather write than eat, except chocolate.
I feel refreshed and renewed and ready to tackle this project to the end.
After reading with "fresh eyes" the problem I had been dealing with for so many months became so obvious.
Putting this manuscript in a drawer for a while was the best present I could have given myself.


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Published by Kathryn Neff Perry

Kathryn writes inspirational Christian poetry. She is also a Christian motivational speaker who strives to inspire and encourage with a little humor along the way. She is the author of the Boone's Creek myst...  View profile

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