7 tips to clean up your dirty first draft before you publish

There’s a coffee mug I bought last year inscribed with the words, “Write drunk; Edit sober.”

And that pretty much sums up the best advice out there when it comes to getting your pieces ready for publication. The quote “Write dunk; Edit sober,” is often attributed to Hemingway, but regardless of who actually said it first, the point is valid.

When you write a post for publication, your job is to forget every piece of advice you’ve ever learned about writing. That includes the grammar rules you memorized in middle school; the myriad posts you’ve read on how to blog; and every piece of unsolicited writing feedback you’ve endured. …

My quest to find the best locally made burger in my hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, started in March 2020, when the pandemic closed restaurants to in-person dining.

Overnight, dining out became a health hazard during the first few weeks of the lockdown, but fortunately for the hungry masses, take-out was deemed OK. So, my husband and I made a plan that was an easy win-win. We made a plan to feed ourselves and feed much needed cash into the local economy.

We decided the best way we could support our local restaurant scene during the shelter-in-place shut down was to consistently get carryout for dinner. So at least once a week (sometimes more), we’d call one of Louisville’s one-of-a-kind eateries and order dinner. …

The publication “Better Humans” recently posed this question: “Have you ever suffered from toxic positivity?”

Here’s my open response: Toxic positivity feels like gaslighting. It requires you to deny your reality and experience, despite evidence that your feelings are valid and rational.

When I experienced toxic positivity firsthand, it felt as if my inner discomfort was unacceptable because it didn’t fit inside someone else’s approved worldview. They wanted to ignore my distress, and even implied that my negative reaction was the cause of my pain. Bullshit!

Toxic positivity tries to minimize or ignore real feelings and thoughts that stand against a hyper-positive worldview. When someone hoists their unsolicited positivity on you, it can feel as if they are trying to deny your reality. In essence they say: “What you feel is not valid because it doesn’t fit into my narrative of how the world works.” …

If you’re a writer who wants to be taken more seriously this year, try committing to doing a final, thorough reading of every new piece before you publish.

Mistakes in your draft are like weeds in your flower garden.

Editing is like weeding a flower garden: It’s tedious work that few writers enjoy and readers don’t notice. The truth is, editing done right is invisible to readers. But when it’s not done at all, it’s the only thing readers notice.

Think of it this way: If you fail to remove weeds from your flower garden, the weeds eventually take over. The will muscle out the flowers, block out sunlight, and absorb the nutrients in the soil that the flowers need to flourish. …

The pandemic has halted travel plans for all but the most intrepid travelers. Yes, social distancing mandates, face masks, and capacity limitations are necessary precautions for safety, but will they suck the fun out of a weekend getaway?

Not necessarily. Of course, you have to pick an exciting city to visit and plan your trip appropriately. And that’s where Louisville comes in. I am probably biased, but I think Louisville is a perfect destination for a safe, fun-filled day trip getaway.

Not only is Louisville is home to the Muhammad Ali Center, the Kentucky Derby, and the Kentucky Derby Festival, it boasts of 7 bourbon distilleries, amazing restaurants, and plenty of museums on museum row. …

Adventure Found

Days before the Covid pandemic exploded and crushed everyone’s travel dreams, my husband and I enjoyed a Hawaiian adventure on Oahu for my birthday. This was our first and only trip of 2020. Days after we departed, Hawaii instituted a travel locked down. We just made the cut off to make it home.

Seven days in Oahu is definitely not enough time to find the roads less-traveled. In spite of our quick turnaround, we somehow managed to hit the hot spots — in spite of a smidge of jet lag. (The time difference for those of us from the Eastern side of the United States wreaks havoc on your circadian rhythm!)

My husband and I typically travel every chance we get. At least three trips a year is commonplace. We’ve visited 40 different destinations together. Most were domestic. We’ve only had a chance to do one international trip. (That’s about to drastically change, but that’s a story for another day. …

I write a lot about being an introvert, and how the world often feels overwhelming for us. One of my best performing introversion-centered stories focused on activism for introverts. It’s my best performing piece of 2020. I’m setting an intention (not a resolution, mind you!) to write and publish more in 2021, and to figure out the topics that attract readers. If you are an introvert, you may also like to read a couple other pieces I wrote about being highly sensitive.

I’m not bold enough to claim 2021 as my year, or to rushing into the new year with zeal and high expectations. I learned in 2020 how that can make a year turn south quick. Instead, I’m approaching 2021 like the introvert I am: slow, steady steps and quiet energy that doesn’t overwhelm. …