We all want to arrive. We want to win the contest, get the publisher, reach the milestone that says we are an excellent author. When I turn in my “final” draft to a beta reader, there is a part of me that wants him to say, “This is perfect — absolutely nothing needs to change.”
Though of course it would never happen, what if he really did say that — and it were true? It would mean the journey was over. I have arrived. I’m a perfect author, with no more room to grow.
But what a loss that would be! Much of the satisfaction of writing is in seeing how you grow, year by year. The ever present chance to learn something new keeps writing interesting, and the way we learn from each other builds appreciation and community.
So when a beta reader points out some of the many problems in my work, I want to embrace it. I’ll never be perfect, and that’s okay. I would rather enjoy the journey.
- The Journey - June 25, 2026
- Nothing to Prove - March 1, 2026
- Overcoming Writer’s Block - June 27, 2025