What a lovely start to the weekend. Some much-needed rain and a couple hours talking shop with a fellow writer.
A former colleague and a forever friend, Tracy is one of my only local friends who understands my writer dreams. She nods in empathy when I say things like, “I wish I could just write all day,” while most of my friends look at me as if I have three heads.
She gets it because she wants to write all day, too. Just like I do, she wants to slip through the elusive crack in the door of Publication Land.
Tonight, we caught up on each other’s latest projects and breakthroughs. We affirmed each other’s determination to keep typing away toward our goals.
Tracy’s taking a writing class, and she graciously passes on nuggets of newfound writer knowledge to her buddy, LeeBird.
Tonight, we talked about how important it is to have someone in our lives who won’t have a problem using the “B” word: BUT.
All writers need people who will read their work with the eyes of an editor.
As much as I crave affirmation, I know good and well that the only way I’ll grow as a writer is if I have people who will tell me how to improve my writing.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I love it when people are encouraged, challenged, and touched by my writing.
Just today, my buddy LeAnn declared that the short story I sent her made her cry. I love it when my writing makes an emotional connection with people. Love. It.
Well, that short story landed in my friend Tracy’s inbox before it landed in LeAnn’s. Tracy had good things to say, too, BUT…
She took the time to print out my short story and bleed red ink all over it. At first, the sight of all that red ink caused me to shrink back in dismay. Why? Because the dozen or so other people who read the story before Tracy gushed over it. Beautiful! Loved it! Couldn’t put it down! Wow!
But Tracy circled overused words and highlighted poor verb choices. She pushed me to elaborate in some spots and simmer down in others. She passed on information she learned from her writing teachers and challenged me to apply it.
She loved my story, BUT.
The BUT made my story BETTER!
Affirmation is my love language, but I’m learning the blessing of the BUT.
The beauty of the BUT.
The benefits of the BUT.
Not only do I have my beautiful Tracy “butting” me toward excellence, the Lord gifted me with a writing critique group. We have different writing styles and varied writing goals, but we share the common bond of desiring to use our skills in ways that make a difference in the lives of our readers. And as hard as it is, we’re not afraid to say, “I love your submission, BUT…”
Then, there are a couple sisters further along in their writing journeys who, for some sweet reason, choose to invest time and attention into me. Thank you, sisters. You know who you are. I vow to pass it forward, both now and later.
Writer friends, if you don’t have some writers in your life who can “but”ter up your writing, ask God to give you some. I suspect He’ll get right on it.
Lord,
Thank You for the beautiful “but”terflies You’ve brought to my life. And thank You for giving me the readiness to receive and apply their guidance.
