"If you have the words, there’s always a chance that you’ll find the way."
Seamus Heaney, Nobel Laureate
So, what’s it like to finish writing a novel? I mean, really finish it. It feels fantastic!
A month ago, I sort-of finished. I had done everything I could before sending the manuscript to five Beta readers. Beta readers are the critical gateway to believing you have something worth sharing. They are the ones who ever-so-gently point out where all the flaws are. They also reassure you that you have indeed written something worthwhile, if not necessarily ready for publication. Usually, they get back to you within six weeks. Mine (wonderful people) returned their marked-up manuscripts in four weeks, and I immediately set to work.
Here’s how it goes: Open the master manuscript at the first chapter, read one set of beta reader comments, make corrections/changes, open a second set of comments, correct/change, and another, and another, and another. When finished with that chapter, read it aloud and listen. You’d be surprised what your eyes miss but your brain hears.
As for deciding what comments and suggestions to heed or ignore, that’s a personal issue, but honestly, I trust these people. They are all great writers and readers. Needless to say, changes in one chapter influence the previous chapter or the next, so inevitably you go back and forth, re-reading endlessly. At some point you get tired of your own story and begin to doubt the past twenty-two months of work. But finally, you arrive at those magical words in the manuscript, “The End”, and find you have nothing more to change. It’s done.
Tomorrow I will send this manuscript to a small Wisconsin publisher. They allow direct submits, i.e., no need for an agent. I expect to hear from them in six to eight weeks, so I’ll let you know what happens in my Summer Solstice newsletter.
It’s a journey.
Mary
Seamus Heaney, Nobel Laureate
So, what’s it like to finish writing a novel? I mean, really finish it. It feels fantastic!
A month ago, I sort-of finished. I had done everything I could before sending the manuscript to five Beta readers. Beta readers are the critical gateway to believing you have something worth sharing. They are the ones who ever-so-gently point out where all the flaws are. They also reassure you that you have indeed written something worthwhile, if not necessarily ready for publication. Usually, they get back to you within six weeks. Mine (wonderful people) returned their marked-up manuscripts in four weeks, and I immediately set to work.
Here’s how it goes: Open the master manuscript at the first chapter, read one set of beta reader comments, make corrections/changes, open a second set of comments, correct/change, and another, and another, and another. When finished with that chapter, read it aloud and listen. You’d be surprised what your eyes miss but your brain hears.
As for deciding what comments and suggestions to heed or ignore, that’s a personal issue, but honestly, I trust these people. They are all great writers and readers. Needless to say, changes in one chapter influence the previous chapter or the next, so inevitably you go back and forth, re-reading endlessly. At some point you get tired of your own story and begin to doubt the past twenty-two months of work. But finally, you arrive at those magical words in the manuscript, “The End”, and find you have nothing more to change. It’s done.
Tomorrow I will send this manuscript to a small Wisconsin publisher. They allow direct submits, i.e., no need for an agent. I expect to hear from them in six to eight weeks, so I’ll let you know what happens in my Summer Solstice newsletter.
It’s a journey.
Mary
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