to sleep– Perhaps to dream

masterpiece

The day you first picked up your pen

you didn't know what would be written.

It's been a tragedy so far.

This isn't how a story's supposed to start.

Already dark night of the soul

on the nineteenth page.

You won't end up where you started.

There's chapters to be charted.

The storyline's developing still.

And as you write the pages,

the plot will rearrange

although now it seems like it never will.

Edit ruthlessly.

This is your masterpiece.

You're moving past the first draft now.

You've cut the subplots you can live without.

Some characters and settings still drag you down.

So kill your darlings, burn the towns.

And step away from where you started.

There's chapters to be charted.

Your character's developing still.

And as you write the pages,

their flaws will turn to strengths

although now it seems like they never will.

Edit ruthlessly.

This is your masterpiece.

Study the best of

the stories that came before.

Turn to your book.

Take it slow, write it word by word.

Take it each night

to the desk of the Great Editor.

And remember,

the only opinions that matter are His and yours.

And when you finally reach "the end",

and, for the last time, you set down your pen...

Read back lovingly.

This is your masterpiece.

Look back at where you started.

The chapters that you charted.

You read them and remember the feeling

of how you wrote the pages

and slowly rearranged them

and crossed out words for hours until

the story was bright with polish.

The readers are astonished

at all the hero overcame.

They study it with the best books,

and you, before you rest,

look back...

at where it started.