I can see it? Can you?
So this blog post is an update about the manuscript; but it's hard to describe because there is not anything tangible to show the progress. I am reminded of when I was finishing graduate school, and working on my thesis. During this time, I lived with my tía and tío (aunt and uncle in Spanish) in Humble, TX. If you're not from the Houston area, let me inform you that the "H" in Humble, TX is silent. Be forewarned that you will be humbled if you mispronounce it! I had completed my data collection, and the research was complete. All I had left was compiling and defending it. To others, it just looked like I was doing a lot of typing on the computer.
At some point during that Fall semester, I realized I was halfway finished with my thesis. I didn't have anything to show for it; but I just knew I was halfway finished by what was completed. So my tía, and she's one of my favorite tías, baked me a halfway cake to celebrate. (I can't say that I have a favorite tía, because they all are my favorite; but she's my favorite tía in Humble, TX). Anyhow, that cake was the funniest surprise gift, and one of my most cherished memories.
I couldn't find a picture of the halfway cake, but found these pictures of my cousin, my tía, and me during graduate school. Plus I dusted off my thesis from the bookshelf.
So how does this relate to having a baby? I know for me during our infertility journey, as we got closer to getting answers on why we weren't getting pregnant, there was progress but no one else could see it. As our chances in having a baby and being able to conceive got better, we were making progress but no one else could see it. After each procedure, medication, and surgery, we had progress but no one else could see it. There wasn't anything on the outside taking place but on the inside things were moving forward.
That's how I feel again with publishing "Was Called Barren." All the track changes were reviewed, the edits are finished, and the editorial process is complete. I have now moved to step 2, the production process. It's just a matter of working behind the scenes again towards the finished project; but nothing tangible to show yet. There is progress, but no one else can see it.
Production and Design has started!
There might be things going on in your life right now that no one else can see the progress except for you. It's hard to celebrate and explain, and it may be difficult to share with others. There is progress, but no one else can see it. Yet.