The Writing Process: Waiting on the Proof

For two years my mind, while pumping out tons of random things, has been constantly coming back to one idea. An idea for a children’s book. An idea that became words on paper with pictures in my mind. Pictures in my mind, thanks to an amazing Illustrator, became pictures on paper. And now as I wait for my proof copy to arrive in the mail I feel like the term “proof copy” is more than fitting for the process by which it has come to fruition.

Wanting to tackle all the pieces of the puzzle to create a physical book has been eye opening. The different physical stages for an idea to become reality has been easy compared to the psychological stages it has taken for me to be prepared to move from one step to the next. Fear of my work not meeting my own expectations of what my mind held was one of the most challenging aspects. The desire to personally feel like I had done each step myself and succeed despite the fact that I needed to let go of certain things and stick to my strong points was another.

Bringing other people into the process has been less about giving up control and more about sharing a vision and excitement that helps an idea grow and flower.

I would like to have thought that I would have powered through all the steps in a matter of months and not years but in the end I am happy for the process. I am looking forward to holding the "proof" in my hands of how far this piece of work and I have both come.