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The writer as a semi-solitary practioner
Nov. 8th, 2010 11:22 am So the deed is done. Last night, in a slightly fevered haze (literally), I completed the last of my edits for Silver Moon and this morning I sent it off to my beta readers. This is another part of the exotic new adventure - not only had I not finished a novel before but, since I don't work with a writing group, I've never sent anything out to be beta'ed before, apart from 2 or 3 short stories. Generally, Jana obligingly serves as my second reader and then it's out the door as a submission.
I've never been in a writing group that lasted past a couple of meetings which I why I don't have one now. As to the whys and wherefores, they range from the fact that I've traditionally done a lot of deadline-driven work so it's difficult to find other writers in the same subgenres and/or with similar experience and free time. I've also had a few bad experiences with start-up writer's groups, including the usual jealousies, lack of professionalism and the conflation of same with the notion that it's not so much a writer's group as it is a dating circle. Why I haven't had regular beta readers is a tad more complicated. I've been chalking it up to lack of time and energy from writers I consider my peers, and that's definitely part of it. I think that there's also probably some fear of having other people's baggage projected onto a story I'm not feeling that secure about. It's hard to derail me from a story I feel strongly about, but if I'm having doubts, it's harder for me to shrug off.
Which brings us to Moon, currently the only work I've had a few folks beta while in progress and have now sent out for full beta-ing in its final form. I'll admit to feeling slightly apprehensive, not about the lovely folks who've agreed to beta it, all of whom are professional writers and/or editors whose judgment and feedback I trust, but about putting the book out there. What if it only works in my head? What if it really isn't that strong of a story? Realistically, I know that I'll just rework it if that's what comes back, but right now, it's like dropping the kid off for the first day of school and I'm just terribly worried about it. I'm guessing this part gets easier and the next book, I'll only be mildly apprehensive about. Right now, I'm just hoping the contents of my imagination work for other people. Fingers crossed.
I've never been in a writing group that lasted past a couple of meetings which I why I don't have one now. As to the whys and wherefores, they range from the fact that I've traditionally done a lot of deadline-driven work so it's difficult to find other writers in the same subgenres and/or with similar experience and free time. I've also had a few bad experiences with start-up writer's groups, including the usual jealousies, lack of professionalism and the conflation of same with the notion that it's not so much a writer's group as it is a dating circle. Why I haven't had regular beta readers is a tad more complicated. I've been chalking it up to lack of time and energy from writers I consider my peers, and that's definitely part of it. I think that there's also probably some fear of having other people's baggage projected onto a story I'm not feeling that secure about. It's hard to derail me from a story I feel strongly about, but if I'm having doubts, it's harder for me to shrug off.
Which brings us to Moon, currently the only work I've had a few folks beta while in progress and have now sent out for full beta-ing in its final form. I'll admit to feeling slightly apprehensive, not about the lovely folks who've agreed to beta it, all of whom are professional writers and/or editors whose judgment and feedback I trust, but about putting the book out there. What if it only works in my head? What if it really isn't that strong of a story? Realistically, I know that I'll just rework it if that's what comes back, but right now, it's like dropping the kid off for the first day of school and I'm just terribly worried about it. I'm guessing this part gets easier and the next book, I'll only be mildly apprehensive about. Right now, I'm just hoping the contents of my imagination work for other people. Fingers crossed.