Manuscript Editing & Critiques

October 14, 2002

For years, I would show my work to people, and for years I would hear the inevitable question, "Have you submitted anything for publishing yet?" Of course, my answer was always the self-effacing, "Not yet". I have always had faith in the writing gift I was given, but found a lack of confidence in my ability to wrap that gift up and present it to the world unblemished. So, like many a writer, I kept my gift under wraps. Oh, I'd let a few friends take quick peeks knowing that I was "safe" with them, as they would never say anything that would bruise my ego. But with no nurturing, my gift started to feel more like the proverbial albatross around my neck. I had terrible cravings to set my words free, offset by a more terrible thought I wasn't quite 'good enough'.

That's where Lynette came in. She taught me that the only difference between a "published" author and myself is that the published author overcame their fears by doing and that the unpublished author (me) remained overcome by fear. Lynette became my dragon-slayer. She taught me how to fight dragons and win. She taught me how to take falls, yet remain hopeful and purposeful. She is more than an editor. Lynette is combination marriage counselor, babysitter and friend. For most writers, the written word is like a lover. It is our first love. And it is difficult for us to see the faults of our "loved ones." It's tough for us to edit out words that have been bathed in love and tears. Lynette was both compassionate and skillful as she gently uncovered those incongruent sentences, unclear plot lines and weak characterizations in my short stories.

Lynette lovingly sat with my words as they incubated in her intensive care unit. Tense I was as she deftly nipped and tucked, cut and spliced the heart of my words, weaving them together into cohesive units. With her help, my words have taken on a life of their own. Not only did she encourage me as she edited my writings but she also demanded that I reach for the best work inside me.

©UniqueCritique is unique. I did not receive a simple pat on the back and all is well when I went with her. I also received the necessary kick in the pants all would be writers require. We are a sensitive and stubborn lot. We are creative, yet terribly egocentric (smile). We have the utter audacity to believe we can shake the world through the stroke of a pen. To my surprise, I found that not only does UniqueCritique subscribes to this way of thought, but demands its clients to slay dragons, build castles and shoot for the moon. I've not yet reached the moon in my writing endeavors but I've surely caught a rainbow or two in the process.

Before working with Lynette, I was afraid to examine my work too closely for fear of "messing things up." Now I ask the daunting question, "What would Lynette say?" It feels good knowing that I can write with the confidence of knowing that my baby is in the hands of a master surgeon. ©UniqueCritique deliberately breaks the mold with every client so that each can be what he/she longs to be...unique.