Thursday, November 27, 2025 7:22:42 AM

Habakkuk 2:2-3 (KJV)
2 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

It occurred to me this morning the reason why I am not editing the manuscript I just completed. I knew I needed to add more information, the work was incomplete. It’s like when you are cooking a dish and you taste it, you know something is missing but you don’t know what, so you ask someone else to taste. As I was listening to an audio-book and I noticed the detail given regarding the environment the story took place in which took the reader to where the main character was, I need the reader to be where my characters are.
Where is “there”? In my head I have a general idea of the time frame but not an exact date. If I don’t establish the time period in the beginning of the book a younger reader may not understand the gravity of some situations. I also did not describe the characters enough.

Based on the description of the characters, general appearance and demeanor that I had presented the burst of anger would not have the dramatic effect I wanted it to have. Why would the reader cry when my character cried? Why would the reader be mad at that same person because of what she did? Because of how I developed the character.
In addition, I realize my target audience is broader than I thought. I was forcing a particular target audience based on skin color as oppose to content. Just because I am Black does not mean just Black women will want to read my book; this is residual ideology from my childhood. The book is about women who overcame hardship and pain, this is not color limited.
I cannot sacrifice word count for a quick read becausse it robs the reader from an experience and myself from getting the lesson out. Scripture teaches write so that people can run with what is read. The book will be released in God’s time not my time.

Written by Marsha L Floyd
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED