Once you are far enough into writing a novel and really committed to the story, the next big leap into the writing world is to open yourself up to readers for feedback. I’ve had many of my short pieces critiqued in writing classes and benefited from the nurturing and enlightening environment. But, I have been unabashedly insecure to let anyone read the novel I’ve been working on for the last three years. My reluctance to put my writing of “Lupita’s story ” on a viewing cutting block, where I know it needs to go to make it better, is as illusional as ~ if I don’t think about it, it won’t happen.”
An author I admire for all she gives to the writing community is Jody Hedlund. In a recent blog post The Unnecessary Shame Writers Feel When Getting Feedback she wrote “No matter our skill level, no matter how many years we’ve been writing, no matter how many books we have under our belts, all writers need help with editing and usually lots of it”
Hedlund’s words couldn’t have come at a better time for me. Learning what my job as a story teller is and having validation that it doesn’t have to be perfect the first time out, has me (almost) ready to submit pages of my Work-In-Progress. *WIP*
While temporarily back in Canada we are renting a third floor condo, overlooking a lawn bowling field. I have a full view of the players from the window where I sit and write. It’s not one of those games that captures your attention with action and boisterous shouts of encouragement. Even on tournament days when the field is awash with regal white figures there are no spectators thronged on the sidelines cheering for their team or loved ones.
