Writing is Like Shining Shoes

 As weird as it may seem, the other day it occurred to me that writing is a lot like shining shoes. You have your shoes, the polish, and brushes and rags. 

Think of your idea as a pair of shoes that you have to shine up. Whether it’s a brand new idea or one you’ve hidden in a drawer or old file somewhere, it’s sitting waiting for you to take it out. 

So you take it out and look it over. Like a good comfortable pair of shoes, you’re not ready to get rid of it, but it could use some polishing up. So you break out the polish and get to work on every inch. Once you think you’ve put enough on it, you break out the brush or rag and begin working hard to make it shine. 

Once it shines, you look it over and touch it up. When you’re satisfied with the touch-up, you look it over then decide if you’re finished. 

If you’re not satisfied, then you do the whole thing over or touch it up until you’re ready to show the world.