Writing is looked upon by a great many as a romantic endeavor. In fact, the act of creation—whether it be chiseling beautiful forms from naked granite rock, capturing the living essence of someone on canvas, or placing lyrics to song—historically has been looked upon as of the divine. Inspiration to do these marvelous forms comes from somewhere outside of the self, a gift from God or the gods or the marvelous ether.

Writing is in that same category. There is a mystery about it. And yet unlike the other creative endeavors listed people believe they can actually do it. Without education. Sculpt? No way. Paint? I don't know how colors go together. Write music? I'm tone deaf. The majority of people have these responses. But when it comes to writing, everyone can do it.

The reason for this is simple. We learn from a very early age to put words to paper, to conceive various themes and summaries as we pass through our education system on our way to adulthood. We read, and since we read words therefore we have the power—nigh, the authority—to do it as well. How hard can it be, really?

Until the person tries it, and tries to do it every day for a year.

I've already discussed the importance of sitting down every day and writing one's story until it is finished. The majority of those people who think they are good writers because they succeeded in putting words down on paper fail at even completing a story. To them I say, "It's hard, isn't it? Now keep writing and finish it!"

Another common misconception is what finishing a book means. So many people think that is the end. "The book is done. It is ready to be published. Where do I sign up to have a publisher give me money for the child of my mind? If you say no to it I am willing to sell that child really cheap..."

But there are many steps between finishing a book and getting it published. Rewriting is one of them, one that those people who think they are writers tend to forget.

Two agents have given me their feedback. But like the book but feel it needs to be rewritten in places. In my case, it is a simple tightening up and reworking the early chapters. But there is nothing glamorous about rewriting. It is real work. It takes up time I'd rather spend on my next book. It is also difficult reading what I've already written and seeing how bad my writing used to be. Why is that so bad? Because now I have to clean it up!

So I wake up in the morning and I print off that day's chapters. Tomorrow I will rework Chapters 3-5. I move away from the computer, my red pen in hand, and sit at my kitchen table which has a great view of the neighborhood and the lake. And I begin to read. And I shudder. And the red ink flows. Because now that the entire story has been written and I've moved on from it, I can now come back to it with an objective eye and see where improvement can be made.

It isn't easy. As I said, I am ripping apart my own work. It can be hard. But it is very rewarding as well, because I see how far I've come as a writer compared to a year ago. Where once I thought I'd written a pretty good book I can now see it is a good book trapped within extra stone, lacking the correct colors, the dialogue dead to the ear. To find the great book within, I have to put away my belief I am a writer and embrace the book as a reader would. It is in that way I will see the problems with it and eventually improve it.

Rewriting is not glamorous. It is rigorous and difficult. It can be fun but only once you get going. When I wake and print off the chapters to be rewritten, I grumble, wishing I could be creating something new. But now I've realize as I rewrite I am creating something new. And it is better than the original. The effort is unsung in the end—after all, people think the writer gets it right the first time—but it is definitely worth it.

I've been receiving emails and messages from people interested in where things stand with my writing. To be honest, there isn't much to tell — and so much to tell at the same time.

First, Book Two is at a proverbial stand still. Don't be alarmed; it's not what you think. The book is fully outlined and its path is clearly cut. But I've been terribly busy with The Signed Page and the signings and shipping that go with that. Random House also hired me to redesign a writer's website and that has been taking up my last two weeks.

The writer's name, for those of you who are interested, is named David Anthony Durham. He is a historical fiction writer with three books under his belt who is publishing his first epic fantasy in June. Acacia, the first book of a planned trilogy, is being currently lauded as a magnificent book, and I can tell you the man is the same. He is a great guy and I am having fun redesigning his website. Look for it soon at www.davidanthonydurham.com!

Now on to the great news: Song of the Fell Hammer has not been rejected — yet!

Initially I sent the book to a publisher. After three months and I had not received word I sent the book to one of the best agents in the field. He was incredibly busy and could not get to it quickly so I also sent it to another agent at one of my writing friend's suggestions. I awaited word from any of those people, seeing if the professionals would like my book as much as my early readers had.

And as with many things in life, everything started happening at once.

I originally submitted my book to the publisher six months ago. Last month I came to a very zen feeling after spending five months fretting: I realized things would happen as they are meant to happen. I have led my entire life this way but for some reason the inability to let patience lead me to publication irked me and I began to breathe again. I let worry melt from me and I decided to focus my energies in other places.

That is when the first agent contacted me. He wrote me a short note to tell me he had just started reading my book. He was several chapters into it, would spend the next two weeks reading it, but he liked the writing (what I was most worried about) and he liked the story (had some advice on how to strengthen it). After hearing this, I was of course elated; he said he would continue to read and that he thought I had something with some guidance.

A few days later, as I continued to work on the website, the second agent wrote me. The email was a long one. When I had sent her my unbound manuscript, I also sent her a bound galley of the book to share with anyone in her agency. She gave that galley to her assistant and they both read my book at the same time. They both loved it. The agent said "the writing is quite wonderful," and her assistant (who are usually people apprenticed to become editors in the future) said it was "written beautifully." I was elated to get that kind of feedback about my writing style — I've always thought the story was a good one but I was concerned about my writing ability. Just like the first agent, they both had suggestions for how to strengthen the book and remarkably both agents were in synch with one another concerning their advice.

Which means they are right. And I fully agree with both of them. I've known the book needs work — especially the beginning — and I am happy to get that feedback.

The first agent told me to rewrite and resubmit. The second agent said to rewrite, resubmit, and she'd more than likely represent me.

!!!!!!

Just like that.

So, now comes the fun part. I get to go back into Fell Hammer. Just from their advice and thinking about my first book again in depth, the whole first 1/3 of it will be rewritten — it will be tightened up, shortened, dialogue will be added to flesh out the characters a bit more, foreshadowing will be added, etc. I plan on reworking three or four chapters a day and do so through to the end of the book. I think the book will be shorter, it will be crisper, and I hope the characters will dance a little more lively between the black and white lines.

And at the end, it will be a better book.

And I will resubmit it.

And I will have to rewrite again.

And thus the process continues.

Now I have to get back to the website because as soon as that is done I can focus on my dream again!