Barking at a Knot

When I began my writing journey, I felt like I was barking at a knot. That’s cowboy slang for engaging in foolish or futile activity. So I worked at my craft, studying, writing, rewriting, and learning from the wisdom of the seasoned writers in my first critique group. I grew a thick skin. And my confidence grew. A few years later, I entered a writing competition. I placed 2nd behind a published author. I was elated. When I read that entry now, I want to hide under a rock.

The problem wasn’t my writing style, voice, or even point of view. It was pacing and a sagging middle. Several years and two critique groups later, the story came together. In the meantime, I had landed an agent, been diagnosed with a chronic illness, lost said agent, eventually won another award, then got a publishing contract, won another award.

Never give up on your dream of writing a book.