My Defining Moment As A Writer

Many of us can acknowledge defining moments when our lives change forever. Marriage, the birth of a child, or the death of a loved one are all common catalysts for change. As well as experiencing such changes I remember another very defining moment.

I was sitting at the dining room table in Loree Lough’s Baltimore home, my first manuscript – now complete with so many red slashes and scribbled comments it would debilitate the best of us – sitting in front of me. I had given Loree my permission to “edit it” when she offered to read my amateurish attempt at writing a story but it was still a shock to see just how many mistakes I’d made. I remember feeling so grateful as we went through the 80 thousand word manuscript together, me listening closely, and hoping I’d never forget, all the knowledge Loree shared. The defining moment on my journey to becoming a writer came when she finally flipped over the last page and pushed the manuscript across to me. “This is a good story,” she said. “This will sell.”

I count myself so fortunate Loree had willingly given up her own writing time to help another. She’d read and edited my story without thought of reward and invited me into her home to share her expertise with me. For those of you who regularly visit my blog, you’ll have heard me mention Loree more than once. She deserves so much credit for helping me become a writer. Without the initial encouragement she gave I could never have hung in there waiting painstaking years for the publication of that story. The advice and support she willingly shared over the intervening years as new and confusing industry policies confronted me was invaluable as well. It was also through her example I realised how rewarding it is to share with and encourage other writers in any way possible. I thank Loree with all my heart, I could never repay the huge gift she’s given me.

A Response From Loree Lough:

Wow, Anne. Careful now, or I’ll have to get Larry to fire up his chainsaw…to carve keyhole shapes in all the doorways (so I can fit my big head through)!

Seriously, though, it was well worth every moment of ‘blue-penciling’ your manuscript. Even though it’s been a while since I read it, I still remember that delightful story, “Worlds Apart”. Okay, so I made a few notes and asked a few questions in the margins, but you did all the hard work required to make it publishable!

And A Comeback From Me:

A few? Cough, splatter. You understate, my friend. I think I still have it somewhere, maybe next time we Skype I’ll show it to you lol. But before anyone begins feeling sorry for me I will explain Loree did check 3 or 4 times if I wanted her to actually edit it. She stressed if I said yes, she would edit it properly, no holds barred. Boy, am I thankful. I owe her, big time.