So we finished classes yesterday and now have just over 3 weeks of editing before we hand in our books. Everyone is a bit nervous.
I guess because the MA is nine months long there are inevitable analogies of pregnancy and childbirth connected to the process. A couple of months ago I started feeling like I was in labour with this book. I was pushing and huffing and hurting. I don’t know what’s going to come out, or if it will have any birth defects.
There’s a point in labour called transition, you can tell you’re in it when you start whinging “I can’t do it, I caaaaan’t!!! I never want to do this ever, ever again!” It’s the most intense part of labour; some women vomit or shake all over. Midwives like this point because they know it means any minute a head will be making its way out.
I wonder if Chris (our teacher) sees herself as a midwife of books? Either way I felt like I was in transition with my manuscript, I’m tired, I caaaaaan’t!
Right now I think the head must be crowning because it hurts, I’m tired and I don’t know what I’m doing but the end is very close.
To get me through I tried to remember how the post-birth adrenalin felt, a massive surge invulnerability and awesome, death defying prowess. ‘I made this!’ And you are looking down at your ugly purple squished up crying bundle covered in cheesy looking vernix, thinking it’s the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen. You forget the pain and decide they need a sibling.
Yay! You’re back!
🙂
x H
🙂
xox
just keep breathing!
looking forward to the launch x
Haha. Chris is a midwyfe!
you can! at least once the book is finished you won’t have to get breastfeeding established. (I gave birth to a son on September 24th – no transition though as he can out the sun roof).
x
I think that analogy works and I know that breathing can’t hurt.
Best wishes for your final push. I’m sure the baby will be beautiful given her mother. And cheers for Sunday: I’ll see you at the launch.