Whenever I post about being a little bit crazy, you can almost bet that I am avoiding real work (see yesterday’s post). I have two months until my manuscript is due. Actually, more like seven weeks. I printed out everything I have last week. Call me old school, but I cannot read and edit and see on the screen. I have to hold it in my hands. And also, I am paranoid that my computer will be stolen, the internet will get full and break down and I’ll lose everything. At least now I have a hard copy.
So there is, all way-too-many-words of it. I have to start cutting now. And revising. And making sense of it all. It feels like a bigger task than the writing of it. Time will tell, I suppose. But not too much time, because, you know, I have to turn it in.
All of that to say, I’m toying with the idea of inviting guest posters sometime over the summer. I don’t know in what capacity and I don’t know how many, but I’m wondering if there would be any interest? Just based on your Tuesdays Unwrapped posts, I could get some breathtaking material from you to post here. I know that for sure. Let me know in the comments if that is something you would be interested in.
Now, I’m off to get some real work done. No more colorful poems about numbers. At least, not today.
I can’t really edit on the screen, either. There’s just something about paper…
I’d love to write a guest post for you, Emily. [Probably something along the lines of this: http://www.givinguponperfect.com/2010/05/pink-toes.html. Because I tell you what: that little girl teaches me something EVERY darned day!] Let me know…!
.-= Mary @ Giving Up on Perfect´s last blog ..You didn’t have to. =-.
Emily… I am so excited for you. And looking forward to holding your book in my hands.
.-= deb @ talk at the table´s last blog ..the point of going back is to go forward =-.
I agree, I like to read manuscripts/edit by paper. Reading from the computer screen feels so much harder!
You are close girl, which is SO EXCITING!!! Think how free you will feel when you hand that baby in! Can’t wait to read it!
.-= Megs´s last blog ..IT’S OFFICIAL!!!! =-.
oh my. seven weeks. you’re so near the end of this. this is wonderful news! (and what deb said.
)
and i think guest posts are a lovely idea.
.-= Kelly Langner Sauer´s last blog ..love does =-.
I’d like to guest post but I’m not nearly qualified. I really have nothing riveting to say. ; ) Just nonsense.
Can you believe you’re so close to being almost done?! How exciting!
.-= Rebekah´s last blog ..Doubly Incredible!!! =-.
Congrats on nearing the end, Emily! You can do this editing thang, girl. You can do it!
I would also love to guest post for you, but I imagine a gazillion other gals would love to, also! So, I’ll take my spot at the back of the line!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Kristen
.-= Kristen-Moms Sharpening Moms´s last blog ..SUMMER…I LOVE SUMMER =-.
You’ve been a busy bee. Congratulations on almost being there. I’m with you on the hard-copy. I can’t read/edit well on a screen at all. I sometimes need the entire dining room table for editing jobs…. and scissors have been used … for moving one paragraph to another page… or for cutting up something really terrible.
Guest blogging sounds like fun.
.-= Dayle´s last blog ..The Gift of Silence =-.
Oh what an exciting (and I’m sure overwhelming) time for you! I’ve edited a couple of books and definitely need the hard copy to mark up. I would love to guest post, but am not nearly as good of a writer as you. If you want to peruse my blog to see some of my writing (mostly about my family) and I could post on anything you’d like (I enjoy a good assignment). Happy writing!
.-= Mindy´s last blog ..Checking In… =-.
I wanto get my hands on that stack of papers!
Not sure what you’re looking for, but I love to share my husband’s story with anyone I can! He was an awesome guy who fought cancer bravely for 5 years before meeting Jesus! I blog about the grief and my journey.
.-= Jess´s last blog ..Spotted in my yard… =-.
I print my manuscripts out too. Multiple multiple times. SO excited for you!!
.-= Marla Taviano´s last blog ..when the lights go out =-.
Can’t wait for the books!!!!
.-= Michelle´s last blog ..Summer Reading – The Curious Garden =-.
ah emily! look at that chunk of hard work in your hands. how wonderful!
i always say i’ll guest post for people and then i get stage fright on their blogs.
so exciting. and if you need anything from me at all, just let me know.
xoxo
.-= Emily@remodelingthislife´s last blog ..Thrifty Summer Fun =-.
Congratulations on that stack of paper! Can’t wait to read it someday. I can’t read a lot on the computer screen. My husband reads his Bible and studies on the computer screen. I just can’t do that. I need the paper and to be able to flip and look at several pages at once.
.-= Just a lass… Sharon´s last blog ..Kindred Spirits =-.
the picture I get is of a HUGE (term used loosely) pregnant mama entering the transitional phase of delivery–you are so close, but it feels MILES away….
I would love to try to contribute….trying to get my sea legs on this whole thing!!!
Better to have more words to cut away than less words, so look on the bright side! Although I’m with you, revising is harder than the original writing (at least for me). Guest posts sound fun!
.-= Danielle´s last blog ..Pad Thai =-.
Oh…it’s just around the corner! Congratulations on being so very close. I say take whatever breaks you need…host guests…breathe deeply…watch it all unfold. You are almost there!
.-= deidra´s last blog ..Summer Daze =-.
I completely agree… editing is so much worse than writing.
.-= misty´s last blog ..Room Makeover- Nana’s summer guest room… =-.
I’d be happy to guest post.
I love creating the first draft much more than I enjoy fixing it. And I print the whole novel out first.
Editing is really the hard part – I imagine – Emily.
I will rather timidly say that I would be interested. I am old enough to be everyone’s Mom, so I’m not sure I would fit the bill! In any event, I love visiting and reading your posts.
.-= Linda´s last blog ..When I Am Afraid =-.
I’m the same, darn way about editing stuff. It looks like we all are. I think we sort of missed that computer bubble… When I started a job years ago that required writing, I still wanted to write it all out, on a legal pad. Shameful!
As for the guest posting? Who wouldn’t jump on that! Sounds like a wheel barrow of fun.
.-= Flower Patch Farmgirl´s last blog ..Wanted: Contentment =-.
I’m so excited that you’re one step closer to finishing and I’m one step closer to having your book in my hands!
Guest posting? Yes please! I love what you do here Emily, and would love to be a part of it:)
.-= Kimberly´s last blog ..The day the pack mule crossed the border =-.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who uses random blog posts to avoid “real work”.
Only in my case, “real work” involves weeding my flower beds and selling (what feels like) half my life on craigslist so we can downsize a bit for this big move. Still, I think it must be easier to downsize household items than to downsize words! You are getting so close!
It’s been such a treat to follow you through this process, my friend. May your summer’s work go surprisingly fast, and may your summer’s play feel like forever!
.-= Jo@Mylestones´s last blog ..The Road Less Cluttered =-.
I e-mailed you back but got a message that it was undeliverable.
So, here’s what I said:
Aw, thanks. No, I didn’t know.
One of my favorite things to do is encourage people, so thanks for sharing.
I do all the editing myself. I’ve edited professionally, so I’m pretty confident that I’ll catch just about everything.
Have an awesome weekend, Emily!
p.s. I’d love to guest post, but it looks like you have plenty of volunteers.
.-= Marla Taviano´s last blog ..when the lights go out =-.
Hi Emily!
Good luck, and blessings, as you near the finish line of your book. I can just imagine the manuscript with scribbles and arrows, all marked up with edits.
I’d love the opportunity and be honored to guest post. Run a search for Tuesdays Unwrapped on my blog to see the reflective/poetic side of my writing.
Thanks for giving us the opportunity to share every week!
I, too, would love to guest post. All the way from South Africa! You can probably stop blogging for a year and be covered, it sounds like. But I don’t think anyone would be happy about that decision!
May the editing continue with grace and persistence! xCC
.-= Caroline@carolinecollie´s last blog ..Free for All Friday: Poverty and Beauty =-.
I can only do the hard-core work of editing with pen and paper as well.
Look at that giant hunk of paper! I know the hard work still looms but still, you have a book in hand. How thrilling!
Oh, and I’ll be a guest of yours anytime. : )
.-= The Scooper´s last blog ..Right, Left, or Middle? =-.
I ran across your site from either Mary (giving up on perfect) or Lisa-Jo (gypsymama)… a few weeks ago and Love it! Especially your Tuesdays Unwrapped. Would be honored to be a guest poster so you can pursue your manuscript writing/editing/publishing.
Thanks for your wisdom, love your blog!
Jenny
.-= Jenny´s last blog ..Friday Favorites: Round 7 =-.
so excited for you emily & i have loved cheering you on.
can’t wait to hold one of the finished works in my hand
would gladly love to guest post for you some time
you rockstar
xo
Cant wait to see the finished product!
.-= That Crazy Family´s last blog ..New Windows Coverings!! =-.
Guest posts sound like a lovely idea. Praying for you and your words, friend.
.-= Imperfect´s last blog ..A Simple Escape =-.
You made me laugh when you said, “Two months, well actually, seven weeks.” No pressure, right?
I would love the opportunity to guest post, that would be awesome!
Peace be with you.
.-= imoomie´s last blog ..It Hit Me… =-.
Oh, and I’d be willing to guest post too, if you’d like. I feel so shy to say that.
I envy you gals who find the first draft easier than the editing–completing the first draft was such a challenge for me and the editing came easier.
I would love to guest post for you if you need another post so you can get some work done! Enjoy each moment and envision your book on the shelf changing lives!
Jamie
.-= steadymom´s last blog ..To Do and To Remember =-.
It must be an amazing feeling to be *SO* close to the final product. So excited for you!
.-= Brambleberry Grace´s last blog ..Apples and Pear =-.
I’ve never guest posted before… but I think it would be a lot of fun.
I am always up to the challenge.
Let me know if you need me so you can get in some extra work.
Bless you
Congrats Emily for getting this far in your process! I can’t imagine how that must feel…
I’m offering to guest post to offer my support–not sure you’d want me or need me with all of the volunteers here.
I have been so inspired by your writing here, and would love to be a part of what you do. And I can’t wait for the book!!
.-= dawn´s last blog ..We are not ants. =-.
Emily! That looks thick.
I can’t believe how quickly you are accomplishing this enormous feat. I really am so excited for you. I can’t wait to read it.
And I don’t know if you’re still looking for people to guest write here this summer, but if you need another, I’d be delighted. No problem, either way.
keep writing…we’re all here shaking our pompons at you.
-elizabeth
.-= Boy Crazy (@claritychaos)´s last blog ..starfish =-.
Father, I pray that you would give Emily your strength and joy as she continues toward this deadline. She is your humble servant and I know you delight in her! Show yourself strong, that as she edits and tweaks, your voice comes through even stronger than it already has. Bless her today with your peace and grace to guard her heart and mind!! Amen
.-= Shilo´s last blog ..I Love Being a Mother =-.