It's the first Wednesday of the month and that means IWSG.
Can you believe it’s December already?! I know! Me either. It just unreal.
What am I feeling insecure about this month? – Finishing my book. Period.
Finishing my book means I’m at MY next phase in MY process which is finding a CP and handing it off. Why am I nervous about this? Well… I’ve already been through my fair share of CP’s. With no avail, they have all had very poor critiquing habits; i.e. harsh as in rude & crude, slow as in taking months to respond, or they completely drop the ball as in never replying back.
Oh, but I can’t be wholly blameless. I have dropped the ball on my end of the writing part. I SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE BY NOW! I keep changing things. However, I haven’t made the “changing circle of life” yet. This means, I haven’t changed things so much that I’m back to where I originally started. I’m making awesome changes!!! <-- See the exclamations?
Once I’m done though, I will be in desperate need of a critique. I have certain action scenes that will require some edits or maybe some major help. In my opinion, they do anyways. They are great scenes but I don’t know if my points come across or not. Like, it is so much easier to tell then show. Lol Ugh! Not that argument again… forget I mentioned it. I know the rules --> Show not tell.
On a more not-so-insecure-note, I have been working on a new header for my blog. Starting the first of the year, and my birthday month, my blog is getting a make-over. Whoop whoop!
Hope everyone has a great “insecure” Wednesday!
I'm not a great finisher either. I fear the editing process. Lol
ReplyDeleteKeep it up. You'll find a great CP one day.
Wow, those are bad CPs. I've been lucky to find an amazing CP and beta readers. Hopefully you have the same success soon.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea that you had CP's do that to you! I mean, I knew about the one that disappeared, but not the others. That's messed up! Maybe try Query Tracker. That's where I met two of mine.
ReplyDeleteAnd you'll finish your book. That's one thing about you. When you set your mind on something, you make it happen. :D
My latest MS doesn't want to be finished either. Notice - I'm giving the MS the fault not me :)
ReplyDeleteI can't believe your CP's did that to you! Wow. As Jackie said, try QT. I have a couple of mine from there too, and they're simply awesome.
I'm so sorry Dani! That's like my worst nightmare for what could happen when sending out your work. I would have been crushed. :(
ReplyDeletePlease, keep on going and don't let that stop you though. I think finding the right CP is almost like dating- you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you meet your prince. LOL
I haven't had the greatest of luck with CPs either. It's certainly a process. I like how jaybird put it.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck with everything!!
I hope you find "the one" (CP), and good luck with the next stage of finishing your book. I'm just beginning the editing part of my WIP so the thought of having someone read my book (never mind forgetting to respond to me) is horrifying!
ReplyDeleteI'm a writer who knows she needs an editor as well. When I get one I hope he or she doesn't fall in the nightmare category. Best of luck Dani and can't wait to see the new header.
ReplyDeleteI TOTALLY feel your pain. I've been in a similar boat. I think without firm deadlines - with a boss or publisher yelling at you - it's hard to stay on track.
ReplyDeleteHey,
ReplyDeletePut me down as a CP (if you like :)~ and I promise to be a better commenter :)
Yuck to crappy CPs! Didn't Falling for Fiction blog have something going on with critique partners recently? I think they did. Btw, I'm a Jan. baby too! Happy IWSG post day. :)
ReplyDeleteI've had bad CP/beta experiences too. Some I never heard back from, and one ONLY told me what she didn't like, not what she liked and thought worked. She even took me to task for not typing in the hideous Times New Roman. It seems to be harder to find CPs for historical, at least in the online writing circles I've been moving in.
ReplyDeleteHi D,
ReplyDeleteI wish you the best in your book finishing. I never finish a book. Probably afraid is all. You've gone out on a limb and sure it hurts to get slammed but those slammers were probably slammed too they just somehow seem to forget the important things! Good luck again!
Okay, that sucks. You're not alone though. I've had my fair share of good, fair and bad critiques. Shoot me an email if you're still in a bind and I'll see if I can help. I'm read a disturbing amount so I will always give a readers perspective first and then writer commentary.
ReplyDeleteKeep moving forward no matter what, Dani!
It's hard to find good help. But it sounds like you have a light at the end of the tunnel for that WIP. Have a great December writing.
ReplyDeleteUgh, sorry about your CP/beta experiences. I've had trouble with that, too, but was lucky to have one great beta reader. Don't let the CP issues hold you back, though. Easier said than done, I know, but if it's holding you back try to forget about that part of it until you're done and then worry about it when you're at that point. Good luck to you!
ReplyDeleteShannon at The Warrior Muse
Wow, I'm sorry about all you CP troubles. I hope you're able to find some that are a good fit in the near future. I've found mine at writing conferences and it's made the cost worthwhile, besides the classes and other conference perks, but I'm getting off subject. It took my 18 months to finish the first draft of my first book and it was going to a conference and realizing that for me I have to write forward, finish the dang thing, and then go back and fix everything. I let myself my notes (I've even killed off the same guy multiple times but I make myself get to THE END. Then when I go back I know what I've fixing and I know my story.
ReplyDeleteSo courage, push forward, and know that you can do it. I'm cheering you on as I work to finish my NaNo novel this month too. We will, we will, fin-ish, fin-ish :D
Finding compatible CP's is not an easy task, and I don't envy you. Once you find them though...hang on to them!! :)
ReplyDeletehope it all works out. p.s. i like your header the way it is! :)
ReplyDelete