"Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades."
That is a both an adorable and maniacal saying, but the point is, close rarely cuts it, my friend.
I recall two gut-wrenching experiences of being told my manuscript is soooo close to being sold. Once was by a many times published author whom I met at a retreat and the other time was by an award-winning author/illustrator at a conference. They both noted the selling points and marketability of my story. Yay!
Close...close...close...it taunted me. How do I get from close to sold? An editor doesn't care if someone told me I'm close. Bah!
So is there any value in being "close"? I do believe so. It is the little jewel that spurs me on when scary little monsters crawl from between the letters of my keyboard and jeer at me, "aren't you ready to give up yet?"
Not even close...
