On Wednesday, I was assigned the privilege to write the cover story for the 2025 July-August issue of The Animal Companion Magazine. The deadline for the piece was Friday.
I did my best with it Thursday. It wasn't my usual best because I was not feeling well at all. I gave myself a pep talk, I persisted. I submitted it Friday. It was the best that I could do that day, for the state of health I was in. Multiple Sclerosis deals out days of neurological fatigue and brain fog that feel insurmountable. Writing from the depths of those days feels like thinking through mud. WebMD: MS & Brain Fog Symptoms
I trusted my editor to help pull the "actual" best out of me and onto the page. Often, she only has to do very light editing of the pieces I submit. Sometimes a little more. This piece came back with heavy editing. She kindly texted me to let me know to expect that. Here's the weird thing. I was not filled with dread. I was not embarrassed. I didn't want to crawl in a hole and hide (or my She-attic, for those who have heard that story😂).
No, I felt grateful. And excited to see the edits she recommended. I know that I can trust her - because WE HAVE THE SAME GOAL - to publish a piece that resonates with readers, and hopefully helps companion animals receive the best care possible. We are not at odds with each other. We are colleagues and collaborators.
This is so important to keep in mind when we ask others to read our work. Choose those who you feel are trustworthy. Build good relationships. Be a good friend and writing colleague in order to receive that back in return.
We finished up the piece with five or six edits. That might seem like a lot of edits for a short piece. But it is an important piece - we wanted it to be done well. We are both happy with it. She already plans to run it again next summer because the information is valuable and needed. Together we have collaborated to make it the best version of itself for today.
My point? Write. Share. Collaborate. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.
What will you write, edit, and SHARE next?
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Thank you! 🥰
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