The Year That Went to the Dogs, Part Deux

Time and again, writers, editors and other folks in the industry say you should "write what you know." So, in between Elena's first and second brain surgeries last year, I managed to sit butt in chair long enough to write a short story for an upcoming Chicken Soup for the Soul book. The beginning drafts were painful. Not only was I forced to acknowledge my fears, I'd been away from the process for so long that slogging through my prose felt like an exercise in futility. I kept at it in large part because of Elena. She'd been through hell and back again, and now she was facing two more brain surgeries when one was more than enough in anyone's lifetime, thank you very much. The least I could do was suck it up, finish my shitty first draft, and revise my way to something editor worthy by the submission deadline. The hard work paid off. The Chicken Soup folks bought my story! Getting the news in the midst of our family drama was a highlight of my Year That Went to the Dogs, and a reminder to Trust the Process wherever it takes you. Chicken Soup for the Soul: Family Caregivers hits bookshelves nationwide on March 13th. Check out this link for an inside look.