I have just begun also, and it is as you say...Much peace, love and lightness on your publishing journey, we are going to need it!!!
Amber "V"

I wish I knew these feelings, I'm too scared to begin Becca!
It's a TRUST-THING! I know it...to start with someone I know only what they tell me! and take my money!
GOOD LUCK! I am sending you POSITIVE and Energetic Energy Your way!
Have FUN with this NEW Endeavor in this Bright and Beautiful NEW YEAR! ( I do hope and will continue to visualize)
Stay Positive! Love the style and depth of this poem!
WRITE ON!
Warmest of Blessings of Love, Light and Inner Peace, Warrior Purple Lady SHEExooo

Stay Positive! Through the peacefulness of serenity....

I can relate to this! Well done, Rebecca.

Debra

deep i like it

huddles are meant to slow one down
not to stop you from reaching one's goals
Love & peace be with you

Eilliam

never say die Becca -- tenacity is the most powerful of allies when the cause is just -- may peace, joy, and love be always with you -- JMW

Always one can resort to prostheses :-) sorry, I couldn't help.
Everybody has a few castrated thoughts singing falsetto.

Georg

Completely relatable, know the feeling well....

Be always safe,
Karen

true creative effort empowers itself and has no need to be known ...

powerfully developed tanka ...

Great writing, Rebecca; well done! BRAVA!

(((HUGS))) and much love, your friend in Tx., Karen Lynn. :D

Your tanka expresses it all very effectively, Rebecca. Many will relate. Thank you. Love and best wishes,

Regis

God gave me my simple gift of writing easy to read poems. I never could think about being a writer, that is a higher gift from God when you know how to create a story and all the people that you must put words in their mouths and captivate the reader is beyond my simple mind. Purification of a novel is I guess the price one pays when they embark on this journey prior to publication. It certainly can distress the author to see his/her work man handled by some one who did not know what you were thinking when you wrote what he has dismembered. Hang in there.

Never give up Rebecca
love,
Ron

yes I can empahzize with this write so easily, to have an editor slash and cut words, lines and sometimes even whole paragraphs feels like major surgery to a project you pour body and soul into for months sometimes years.

Hang in there though,
hugs
fee

Keep the faith Becca,! Can only imagine
the frustration of it!...Eileen

Rebecca, I was afraid to read this as that castration word gets to guys more than it would you...but I fully understand, as far as I've read & talked to others, hope its all worth it in the end...Ed

Oh noooooooo ... that means there will be no little muses to nurse and nurture into a museless future. How bleak :-)

Neat one, Rebecca!!!

Ted

Ouch. Pain in these lines - I know. Why is publishing so damn hard?!? It should be this way. Well done, Rebecca.

(((HUGS))) love and prayers, Karla.