Once upon a time, in a land far away, when a girl couldn’t catch a break or a snow day, a book was completed and editing had began everywhere. The characters grew nervous, afraid to be cut. The plot bit it’s fingers, desperately hoping it’s holes would not be seen. After all, how embarrassing is it to be filled with gaping holes and missing moments? But the worst off in the land was the author. She had sent off the entire manuscript to be critiqued for the first time. She knew the characters well and she felt dearly close to the plot. The moment the hit send and her characters were gone her stomach filled with butterflies and a wave of nausea hit her from behind. It was pure agony. She would now have to sit back like a mom who had just sent her baby to school for the first time and wait for her characters and plot to return. She hoped they would not get beaten up or mocked. She longed for them to be well received and loved. After all, she had crafted them so gently.
So she sat and she waited, and waited, and waited….
To be continued…
P.S. I’m the author! Waiting is the name of the game and I’m STILL nauseous. How did you feel the first time you first sent your manuscript off to be critiqued?
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Marybeth is an aspiring novelist currently working on her second novel. For more information visit her website www.marybethsmith.com. She also has a blog Desperately Searching for my Inner Mary Poppins where you can keep up on her moments as mother, wife and writer..
6 Comments so far
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I wish I were brave like you Poppins. Alas no critical eye has viewed my work other than the odd contest and literary agent. Do my odd eyes count?
T. Anne´s last blog ..Eat these words
[Reply]
By T. Anne on 12.11.09 4:33 pm | Permalink
Hi Marybeth,
I’ve found, like most writers, that waiting is a necessary evil when it comes to writing. Yuk, yuk, yuk.
Running a close second (more of a yelp than a yuk) is sending out your work to be read by other more objective than you people…kind of scary.
And yet we love the writing life, don’t we?
Elle Strauss´s last blog ..I Don’t Care if it’s Not Really Jesus’s Birthday
[Reply]
By Elle Strauss on 12.11.09 4:44 pm | Permalink
Good luck! You’re definitely doing the right thing by starting on your second novel now. I think a lot of people finish the first and then take a long break from writing – or even stop altogether – while they scrub it up and send it out. That may account for some authors’ the second-book woes. Keep writing, and you’ll be ahead of the game!
[Reply]
By Anica Lewis on 12.12.09 8:11 am | Permalink
You can do it T.Anne! It’s not so bad. I am kinda liking the objective feedback.
And yes Elle I definitely LOVE the writing life
Thanks Anica. I suppose I’m just not capable of sitting back and waiting for the magic to happen. I must make it happen on my own.
Marybeth Smith´s last blog ..Motivation
[Reply]
By Marybeth Smith on 12.13.09 10:54 am | Permalink
Thanks Anica. I suppose I’m just not capable of sitting back and waiting for the magic to happen. I must make it happen on my own.
[Reply]
By Ugg Boots on 12.18.09 5:15 am | Permalink
I felt the same. I still have an agent with my MS, and it’s changed since then (hopefully for the better) and I’m still waiting. It’s been 7 months. But in January, I’ll start querying again. And I’m getting another novel ready to query in March. Butterflies and upset stomachs are the name of the game.
Congrats on sending it out.
Sarah Jensen´s last blog ..Fav New Singer
[Reply]
By Sarah Jensen on 12.18.09 2:52 pm | Permalink
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