Will you have written that story you’ve thought about for years?

Is the story of your dreams in the hands of readers today?

How will you feel when someone says, Thank you for sharing your story?

I’ve asked myself these questions many times. I still do. I’m not one to rest on my laurels, so my published articles from kayaking to the art of Feng shui and sundry others may count in the general scheme of things, but I know there’s a lot more to come.

You see, my notebooks and journals are overflowing with story ideas. Fiction, nonfiction, and occasionally a poem will surface from overheard conversations. Memories of growing up as a military brat,* the loss of loved ones, and even deciduous trees and broken seashells invite me into their natural worlds without hesitation. And I’m so very grateful. 

It’s as if my DNA is laced with never wanting to miss a thing — even the chance to watch a room full of people sitting mostly...

Do you write by the seat of your pants without a plan? Or are you a plotter who sets out knowing the who, what, when, where, and why of their next creation? Either way, all writing begins with the first draft. And first drafts, shall we say, stink. Inevitably, they fall far short of our expectations.

Take this post, for instance. I chose the title first, wrote a few notes, and listed some key points. Then, I opened my MacBook and began, fingers flying across the keyboard in a rhythmic tapping, the distinct sound of progress.

An hour later, I came up for air and quickly diagnosed an article suffering from severe bloat and dislocated pieces. It was a typical first draft: crappy. We all write them. There’s no way around it. And that’s the bad news. 

Whether you’re working on your seventh novel or your first short story, getting through that initial rough draft can be challenging. Cutting those darling little words and smart phrases on a rewrite can be...