Yet, even with these changes, my piece remained too lengthy. Did I really want to slice it down further, at risk of losing my reason for writing it? What, precisely, *was* my reason for writing it?

That's when I had an "ah ha" moment. I reviewed essay again, and I began to find entire paragraphs that, although nicely written (in my humble opinion!), did not *directly* contribute to main point. Although these paragraphs provided additional background and perhaps a dash or two of color, could essay survive without them? The answer was undeniably "yes."

So, with nary a whimper, I wielded my pen/scalpel on those paragraphs, which brought piece under word limit. This enabled me to submit it guiltlessly, knowing I'd managed to walk that line between respecting editor's guidelines and maintaining integrity of what I wanted to communicate.

Okay, I'll admit that I *did* save original version as well. Perhaps I'll submit longer, more lush essay to another publication someday. But I'm pleased with edited one as well. And yes, essay ran. (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NAWWWeekly/message/45)

So what did I learn from this exercise that I want to share with you?

1. First, go ahead and just write what you want to write.

2. Then leave it alone for a while. At least a day or so, maybe longer.

3. When you reread it for first time, eliminate obvious flaws. Cut out unnecessary phrases. Rework long, rambling sentences into shorter, sharp ones.

4. Ask yourself why you are truly writing piece, and whether every paragraph contributes to your reason(s) for writing it. Delete those that don't make grade. To assist you through this most difficult step, focus on fact that you want to get your work published. This enables you to let go of any sentences that stand in way of you and your goal.

Finally, to help ease pain of self-surgery, save your original work under one document name, and your edited result under another. You may be able to use those discarded paragraphs in another piece down road.

Writers are always wishing on a far away star, or hanging their dream on a publisher’s needs. They try and capture that illusive theme while trying to juggle family and personal needs. May times money stands in way, yet that too can be turned into a novel. We found pot of gold in our talent, but we don’t quite know how best to use each coin. Gremlins taunt us into quitting or slowing down and yet heavenly inspiration hands us more paper and pens. We are understood by our fellow writers but we confuse those closest to us. Some people regard writing as a career while financial institutions raise an eyebrow. We can see visions of our future but today’s chapter takes all our energy.

So, why should anyone follow their dream to write? Why wouldn’t you? Only writers can turn ink on paper into a loving character with problems and solutions. We can create a better world if one we have doesn’t fit our needs. There is no limit to our possibilities, but only to our degree of perseverance. We can climb mountains but its those darn daily foothills of time restraints. Writers swim oceans of world, but we find trouble paddling our way through puddles of commitments and interruptions. We have corral, but find it hard to get all our horses together and functioning. The world is our playground, but we cry when someone misunderstands our sand castles.

The only way out of this dilemma of being a writer is simply to write. Follow what is given to you as a gift, and accept responsibility and opportunities. The world is your oyster, and someday pearls will form a beautiful necklace of published words and name recognition. Its your world, and you are only one at wheel. Take it where you want it to go and have an acceptance speech ready for that Nobel Peace Prize. Someday is just around tomorrow and today is one step behind future. ENJOY! ©Arleen M. Kaptur 2002 June