Magic words

 I used to hold to an irrational belief that everything I wrote in a completed novel was magic, and I couldn't change a word of it or jinx myself out of getting published. That's probably why I never got published. I spent a huge amount of time picking alternate sentences for a story, and archiving all its possible iterations, in hopes of striking that magical collection of words that make up a bestseller. 

Now, as I edit my first novel for the, (I don't know, fiftieth time? ) I have come to the realization that I should have focused on just making a book that doesn't sound stupid, and isn't loaded with filler words.