Revising

I spent the better part of this week revising and polishing a 50 page proposal to go out. Here's how it went:

Step one:

open Word doc

Step two:

Procrastinate by reading blogs instead. Find lots of interesting info then come across Jane Kennedy Sutton's blog on Overused Words and Redundancies think, fabulous this is what I need to revise. Follow her link to a list of overused words. Print out list.

Step three:

Use find and replace to replace all words on list with a blank space. So that I can go back later and fix. Oh, boy, notice many other words I over use. Write them on list-creating my own list of repeated words.

Shred manuscript into thousand holes- who knew I liked to use the words so, that and glance so much?!

Step four:

Run from holey manuscript convinced I am a hack and am only published because publisher was desperate.

Step five:

Go back to procrastination by reading great blogs. Discover Howard Hopkin's blog "Who do you think you are?" about Creepy Thought Gnomes

Realise that I might be a hack but I can always revise. Thought Gnomes are hacks!

Step six:

Go back to shredded sentences with thesaurus in hand. Discover that holes make sentences stronger. Writing better. Revising easier.

Step seven:

Print out final copy of proposal. Place in envelop with Query letter, bio and SASE. Take letter to the post. Celebrate!

Step eight:

Thank ALL new blogger friends-wish I could mention all the great blogs but that would only cause more procrastination on my part.