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Sometimes, You Need a Last Minute Do-Over
People in positions of power, such as authors and publishers, must be willing to make inconvenient choices
For me, writing happens alone. It’s an isolated and independent process. My ideas are transmitted through my fingers to my keyboard — a cold, lifeless companion that I adore. My teenaged gamer-children taught me about mechanical Kaihua Speed Bronze switches, loud and clicky with a tactile bump. Switches are what register the keystroke. Mine sit underneath specially curved ABS plastic keycaps, perfectly designed for dorky authors. The keyboard is a nostalgic, 21st century remake of the iconic seafoam green Hermes typewriter that so many famous authors used (Sylvia Plath, Adrienne Rich, Patti Smith, and more). When I look at it, I feel like a writer; it’s a symbolic signifier of my professional identity.
I type the final word of each chapter and immediately email the manuscript to my editor, who responds in about a week with questions…
