You’ll be proud of me, I hope.
My 18-year-old baby, my WIP which was granted adult status this year, had it’s first read through by me. I sat there in the sunshine yesterday, completing it, post -t marking chapters, and scrawling on the pages where I could see corrections that needed to be made.
Then I opened the document up on my screen and proceeded to correct. Some were grammatical errors, some, were where the words made no sense. There were a couple of names mixed up and some capitalizations that needed to be added.
It was hard rereading my own words. I felt the first few chapters really showed my naivete as a writer, but, considering I was much younger at the time, it wasn’t too bad!
I cut a couple of waffley chunks and identified a few others, but was loathe to lose them yet.
Saved, on my hard drive, two pen drives, the Cloud and emailed to myself, I shut the screen down, and had a well-earned sleep.
But that isn’t all I need to do, is it?
Really, I need to be that parent who is ready to let their child spread their wings!
We had a few ‘play-dates’ earlier on, so to speak, when I posted the first few chapters on the blog, eager for your feedback, but I still hadn’t let go fully. (Mind you, I hadn’t written it all at that stage either!
But, I knew I needed another opinion. From people I trusted. Those who I know would be honest, and/or read work in this genre regularly.
Charli Mills, head rancher at the Carrot Ranch, suggested I go for some Alpha readers.
Now, I’d heard of Beta readers, but Alpha?
These were the ones who would look at my unadulterated manuscript, and give me feedback on the characters, and plot, spot gapping holes in the story, etc…
It was time to let my WIP out on its first residential…
And I waved goodbye to it, twice, this morning.
Now I’m like that nervous mother, pacing, wondering whether it’s behaving, leaving a good impression, did it get there in one piece?
And I shall be eagerly awaiting that email to say how it’s doing too…
Unlike a true residential, I don’t know when it’ll be back with me, to peruse the comments… so, until then, I’ll have to wait, impatiently…
Oh, God!
Will they like it? Will it be ripped to shreds? Have I wasted eighteen years of my creative life? Should I just give up hope now?
I needed to keep myself busy, so I did the obvious thing on this glorious Bank Holiday – I got my nails done!
And I wrote this post… And I’ll be off to visit the in-laws soon too.
Then school will keep me busy.
And the run up to the Bash…
But, will it stop me from constantly checking my emails and messages? I don’t think so!
Oh man, then I’ll rewrite, and have to send it to an Editor or Beta readers, and do it all over again!!!!!!!
This is going to be some wait…
Have a wonderful Monday Peeps!
But I Smile Anyway... 
May 14, 2018 @ 16:25:08
Well done you!!!
Happy Monday:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
May 14, 2018 @ 16:27:51
Thanks 😁
LikeLike
May 13, 2018 @ 16:24:39
Good for you for editing and releasing it! I’m sure it’s great!
LikeLiked by 1 person
May 13, 2018 @ 16:48:33
Thank you so much! It’s a scary thing… but feedback us slowly coming…
LikeLiked by 1 person
May 13, 2018 @ 10:04:40
I never thought of that! Going back in time to when you first started this WIP. I bet the changes in how you write now compared to thrn really popped out. Very impressive though and best of luck with the Readers. Always a nerve wracking time, but I’m sure they will love it x
LikeLiked by 1 person
May 13, 2018 @ 10:21:32
First full feedback received this morning Gary!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
May 13, 2018 @ 12:43:58
Ooh, I hope it was brilliant and would you ask them if I could use a quote from it in the #IWSG post?
LikeLiked by 1 person
May 13, 2018 @ 13:37:35
I’ll ask 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
May 13, 2018 @ 14:36:33
Excellent. I can do it anonymously too if that suits better!
LikeLiked by 1 person
May 13, 2018 @ 08:57:09
Good luck Ritu!
LikeLiked by 1 person
May 13, 2018 @ 09:07:42
Thanks Orla!!! I got my first feedback so I am stoked with the changes I need to try and implement!
LikeLiked by 1 person
May 13, 2018 @ 20:32:14
Keep the fire burning!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
May 13, 2018 @ 20:39:18
It’s burning!! It’s Burning!!!
LikeLike
May 13, 2018 @ 08:48:17
Wow. Good luck. Great post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
May 13, 2018 @ 08:55:58
Thank you Jill!
LikeLiked by 1 person
May 13, 2018 @ 07:31:43
Wow, this sounds like a huge step. Good.luck with it Ritu. I’m sure the first lot of feedback will be really useful 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
May 13, 2018 @ 08:19:15
I just got it this morning from one of the readers and Though there is work to do, that I expected, I am overwhelmed by the positivity too!!!!!!! Thank you!
LikeLike
May 07, 2018 @ 23:37:09
Eighteen years Waiting In Pregnancy! you must be one bloated whale of expectant mother😍
All the best Ritu for your “adult” child.
LikeLiked by 1 person
May 08, 2018 @ 05:52:07
No, 18 years of nurturing… It was born the moment I started to write it on paper/screen!
The gestation was the idea in my head, wanting to be written.
I’d really have been waddling around otherwise!!!! 😀
Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
May 08, 2018 @ 13:31:32
And the gestation was?
LikeLiked by 1 person
May 08, 2018 @ 16:47:46
Not long actually… an idea came to mind and I started writing soon after!!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
May 08, 2018 @ 17:38:57
Great.
All the best for quick editing and publishing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
May 08, 2018 @ 18:23:13
Thank you!!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
May 07, 2018 @ 18:46:23
I can’t tell you how much luck I am wishing you with this xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
May 07, 2018 @ 19:36:51
Thank you so much Sonia 😙
LikeLiked by 1 person
May 07, 2018 @ 18:34:22
Congrats on the completion and on learning how to let it go.
LikeLiked by 1 person
May 07, 2018 @ 19:36:36
Thanks Jennifer!!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
May 07, 2018 @ 18:11:38
It is a good thing to get this sort of advice for other people, Ritu. Charli has given me excellent advice too. It is a lot of work to do the re-write but it is well worth it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
May 07, 2018 @ 19:36:20
You can’t be totally objective yourself especially when it’s a project so close to your heart!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
May 07, 2018 @ 16:02:22
Congrats on taking that next step. Just like our daughter was in her freshman year of college away from home, I’m sure it will be fine!
LikeLiked by 1 person
May 07, 2018 @ 16:21:58
Thanks Janet! This step will send me on the next path… looking for agent or the self published route!
LikeLiked by 1 person
May 07, 2018 @ 15:55:19
So happy for you, lots of blessings.
LikeLiked by 1 person
May 07, 2018 @ 16:20:06
Thank you Masha!
LikeLiked by 1 person
May 07, 2018 @ 15:43:25
Good Luck I am sure they will like it 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
May 07, 2018 @ 15:48:27
I hope so Sophie!
LikeLiked by 1 person
May 09, 2018 @ 09:18:34
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
May 07, 2018 @ 15:16:55
OMG this is going to be hard for you! As you know all you can do now is wait. I am sure it will be behaving itself and being a credit to you. We’ll done Dear Sis💜💜😱😱
LikeLiked by 1 person
May 07, 2018 @ 15:36:16
I sure hope so sis ! 💜💜💜
LikeLike
May 07, 2018 @ 15:38:14
Calm down 💜💜💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
May 07, 2018 @ 15:48:12
😊😊😊
LikeLike
May 07, 2018 @ 15:02:56
All the best Ritu! It will turn out great!
LikeLiked by 1 person
May 07, 2018 @ 15:35:57
Thanks Shivangi! I hope so xx
LikeLiked by 1 person