For the last few weeks I’ve been spending a lot of time writing in the evenings. Aside from a couple blog posts I’ve made, I’m mostly working on drafts of other essays to clean them up for third parties. I thought this would be tedious and frustrating, but I’ve actually found it to be quite exhilarating to see what can happen to a little idea once I give it two, three, or even four tinkers.
So far I have passive aggressively bullied Bryan in to reading all these essays (“Here’s another one to read when you get a minute, of course), despite the fact that he probably doesn’t have time. But he’s just so good at making me sound fantastic! He has this amazing ability to draw out of me the right images. “Take me into the room of that conversation,” he says. “I want to hear more about that moment.” “It sounds too formal here,” he said another time. “Show me, don’t tell me.”
I keep telling him that when I’m famous and have a book deal with cash advances, he’s the only editor I want. Which brings me to the fact that I keep day dreaming about getting published. Recently Bryan was acknowledged in Scott Berkun‘s book, The Myths of Innovation, because he read and reviewed a few chapter drafts.
This, of course, got me thinking about who I would acknowledge in the notes of my first book. I have a mental list of friends, blogger friends who can say they knew me when, my favorite waitress at the wine bar where I write…. Probably not unlike the actor who practices his Oscar acceptance speech in front of the mirror – only he’s actually made the movie.
I haven’t acted this silly since I was practicing my signature with every boyfriend’s last name.
Show, don’t tell, is a total cliche. Don’t listen to him! (hi bryan if you’re reading this)