Once I have a first draft, I know I need help in moving forward. I have now completed seventeen chapters with approximately 60,000 words. Are these too many or too few? I have no idea. I recognize that my collection of stories does not have a connecting thread. I contact Canadian author Merilyn Simonds who had been one of the leaders of the Emerging Writers Group of the Sage Hill Writing Experience that I attended last summer. She offers to take me on as my mentor. The next step for me is a manuscript evaluation. Merilyn will review my manuscript and send me a detailed report that itemizes the work that remains to be done on all aspects of the manuscript including character development, pacing, structure, language, etc.

I wait with trepidation to receive Merilyn’s report. This is the first time that anyone has read my work. Not my husband, nor my children, no one has read it. Her report begins “On a sentence by sentence basis, this story is very well written, with a thoughtful, curious voice.” Whew, so it is not a disaster! Then, “What is needed now is more motivation and more analysis.” “Character development, motivation and deeper analysis of the meaning of events: these should be your focus for the next draft.”

I have my work cut out for me. I go back to basics. I develop a character portrait of each member of my family, including myself as narrator. I try to be as honest and forthright as I can. I find this daunting. It is easier to use general descriptions rather than peel back the surface to display what is underneath. I am also conscious of not wanting to hurt anyone’s feelings, especially my grandchildren. I keep going. I have to be brave, not hold back, to tell the story, warts and all.