Nursing the Manuscript

Pediatricians say that human babies are born three months before they are ready. That really, a human baby is not mature enough to be outside the womb when it is born. This means that as parents, we spent a crazy and hectic three months helping baby mature to a point where it can be more--human-like.

Supposing this is true, I wonder how we might compare our biological babies to our type-written babies.

Caring for your Newborn Manuscript

Holding

There are several safe, comfortable ways to hold your manuscript. One of the best ways to get a good look at it and decide what needs the most help is to print it off. Whatever position you choose, always support your main character and make certain you have given your character the freedom to make consistent, character-driven choices. Your manuscript at this point cannot stand alone. Make sure you support the grammatical rules for English, as well.

Feeding

Even after your manuscript is out, newborns usually need several more hours of feeding to not only increase the pace, but to trim the excess. While not always pleasant, it's helpful to find the time every three to four hours to care for your manuscript; some feed as often as every two hours. This is a newborn manuscript, and it needs more care than one that has been out for several months. Take the time to think about your plot. Reread your descriptions. Analyze your characters. Dissect your grammar. There is so much that must be done that you shouldn't neglect your manuscript for more than four hours at a time.

Crying

You're not imagining it when you hear your newborn manuscript crying out to you. Crying is a form of communication between the manuscript and the author. Newborns usually cry when there's no hook, the characters are flat, the grammar is poor, or something just doesn't feel right. An author will quickly learn what the manuscript is trying to say. Now is not the time to become bored or put off by your manuscript; now is the time when it most needs you to pay attention to it.

Sleeping

Sleep is an essential routine for a newborn manuscript. Sometimes the best way for a manuscript to grow is to let it rest. It is normal for a manuscript to sleep 16 to 20 hours a day, sometimes even more. Authors should rest and take it easy while their newborn sleeps, though always keeping the manuscript in the forefront of their mind.

Cutting the Cord

You created this manuscript, but it is not you. You must be willing to give it the freedom it needs to breathe and to grow. Don't expect it to mirror everything you do or act as you would. The cord should be completely severed within one to three weeks after birth.

Caring for a newborn manuscript is one of life's biggest challenges. You will probably feel overwhelmed at the beginning--after all, there's so much to learn and so many changes! But don't worry; you'll soon know your manuscript's needs and how to meet them.