I know that many people find it hard to put words on the page. Getting going can be tough. Figuring out what to say and how to say it – like climbing Mount Everest sometimes. But that’s a walk through the park compared to editing.

You want to know what’s really, really hard? Dauntingly near impossible? When you have 700 well-crafted, beautifully placed, perfectly composed words and space for just 500 of them. That’s agony – you have to actually trim out 200 of those hard earned darlings? The first pass probably won’t be so bad – rephrase a few sentences, combine a couple of thoughts. After that, it’s tough decisions all the way. At the end of the day, it’s the thought that counts. You have to leave in your central theme and the main points even if it means cutting out the most clever phrases you’ve ever written. Yes, it’s very sad to delete the sentences that soar, but sometimes it just has to be done. (Old Yeller)

Don’t fret too much – your piece will likely be stronger for the rigorous scrutiny you gave it and if you wrote that well once, rest assured you will write that well again.

And don’t give up on those sweet thoughts that had to be cut from this piece, they may be the beginnings of another.