I've continued my writing every day, with few exceptions, which has consisted exclusively of editing my short story Rain. As it stands, I have about five more pages to fine tune, then the last of the story is ready for critique. I received especially helpful advice this last go-around. Seems the middle of the story lacked any description whatsoever. The story moved along well enough, but I got the impression the reader was left with action played out by faceless supporting characters in a void. So it was back to the books for a couple weeks, reading anything I could get my hands on regarding adding description: when to, how to and how not to.

I also read more about how to edit a piece. During my reading, I picked up some great tips, one of which is reading your work out loud. And it works. Reading the words you're so confident are perfect shines a light upon weak sections, leading to moments of humble realization.

As with other new methods of improving my writing, reading work out loud is painful in that the writer can't continue to lie to himself. We could just as easily hide ourselves away and "know" our work to be unchangeable. Going to critique sessions, reading work out loud, trudging through daily prideless editing or otherwise divorcing one's self from the illusion of perfection are all acts of bravery and commitment to improvement. I credit myself and my fellow authors for stepping into the fire. It's as difficult as heading to the gym on a rainy or lazy day. You know it helps, so you do it, knowing the hardest part is getting started.

As far as Rain goes, I can't describe how much improved the work has become. I reread some of the first draft a couple days ago. It was a first draft. What can I say? But when I first wrote it, you couldn't have easily convinced me there was much room for improvement, but side-by-side with the story in its present state, the differences are staggering and include virtually every aspect of writing.

Do I beat myself up over having written so poorly in my first draft. Of course not. It's been quite a learning experience. I know my next story's first draft will be much better than was Rain's, but I also know it won't be perfect. It won't be close to perfect. It will be exactly what a first draft needed to be: a record of the story as well as it is formed in my head at the time of writing. It should be fresh and fast and full of feeling, but it shouldn't be good at that point. That's where committed editing comes in.