I’ve learned a lot over the past year. I’ve learned that yes, I can finish a novel. Yes, I can have it prepared and polished enough to present to others outside my closest circle of friends for reading. Not that it’s not scary to do so.
I always figured with my writing and editing skills, honed over more than 20 years, I wouldn’t need the help of beta readers. I could skip the step and send it straight to an editor. How much I was wrong. I took a little detour and rescheduled my release date in order to include this significant step. I have a severe case of Impostor Syndrome, and it’s very difficult to release my work out into the wild, so to speak.
But I held my breath and bit the bullet. I first went to my author Facebook page to see if any of my followers were ready to experience my work in full for the first time. I then went to my personal page. I got more hits on my personal page, with friends and family promising to read like readers and not like people who know me. I then turned to a Facebook writing group I’m part of. I got a couple more hits, and once I felt like I had a strong number and variety of opinions, I sent it off. Along with a list of questions I have for myself.
Well, responses have begun to roll in. One family member actually had it read and responded to within a week! I hoped they didn’t speed through it and offer little opinion, but I was wrong. She had intelligent feedback and questions. Others finished it just before the Thanksgiving holiday, and I received their responses at the beginning of December. I’m still waiting on a couple, as their very in-depth dissection of my story is taking a while to put into words, apparently. I’m not sure whether to be exited they have taken the job so seriously, or afraid they’ve ripped it to shreds. Either way, I have a feeling their feedback will be a big help.
Once everyone has emailed me their thoughts and opinions, it’ll be time to get down to business. I realize now there are plot holes to be filled, unresolved story lines, and more that I just can’t see as the writer who has lived with and in this story for more than a year.
Whatever the outcome, I’m keeping my fingers crossed!
Have you ever asked someone for their detailed, unfiltered feedback? How’d that go? Were you devastated or encouraged to finish strong?
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