My entire life is one big edit.

At last, it looks like the Dallas Voice article I did on the ex-gay conference will run on Friday. I think I did four complete revisions and then my editor tweaked it a little more this week, but it's finally press worthy.

I've learned so much during this process. Newspaper articles are different than books and blogs, and since I'm new to writing them it has taken me awhile to refine and develop my perspective. And the audience is different. I usually write for people who have faith and sexuality issues, but the Voice readers are well-adjusted and comfortable for the most part. It took awhile to switch gears. The editor has been awesome. A tough critic who is unwilling to put up with any of my fluff, but extremely helpful and able to give solid direction. He's great at making me simplify. You'd think simplifying would be simple, but it's not.

Overall, freelancing for the Voice has helped me become more critical of the things I write and the way I write them, and that will make me a better writer in the long run. So rock on with the revisin'.

The article has taken several turns during the process, but I hope the finished product ends up at the destination we were aiming for. It might ruffle some feathers along the way, but that's a good thing. I'll post a link on Friday.