I recently sent out a submission for consideration, and though I have done it many times before, it is always a harrowing experience for me. And the process is always the same.

The first problem I face is letting go. Even when I decide I’m done, I’m never really done. There are always things to tinker with, always commas that may be wrong, always things to add or subtract or modify. I am much better when I am working under a deadline because at least then there is a definitive cutoff date. A directive like, “This is due Tuesday, and you cannot touch it anymore!” (until edits!) works really well for me. Otherwise I’d be “improving” things far into the next century.

Once I’ve wrested myself away from my last-minute enhancements, then I face the blu...

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