Kiss It Goodbye
by Linda Yezak
(Nacogdoches, Texas)
It's the most beautiful thing you've ever written. Or the most clever. Or the most delightful. You sit and admire it, maybe stretch an arm to pat yourself on the back. Life is good.
Save your piece, sign off of Mr. Puter, and go to bed. Enjoy the sleep of the satisfied, because tomorrow, you'll go back to work.
Then, tomorrow comes. A cup of coffee, a quick glance through the e-mails, and a reread of yesterday's work.
That's when you discover your piece got cold-creamed during the night, and the make-up is gone. Now the flaws are glaringly obvious. Read in context, it simply doesn't fit. Doesn't fit the character's personality. Doesn't fit the preceding scene. Won't fit the following scene.
Play with it for awhile if you'd like, but don't try to force it. Best to kiss it goodbye for now, file it away for the future.
Don't be so in love with your work that you can't find the delete button when it's time for an amicable goodbye.
