A few weeks ago I took the plunge and asked a friend of mine to critique the first part of my bigger writing project I have been working on. I did mention it in a prior post. Now as I have said I am my own harshest critic. I can always find fault. That really annoying desire to always be better. Up to the point she had agreed to read it I was happy with it. I thought it was…… I was going to say good but lets go with average. I’m not one to blow my own trumpet.
As soon as I got in from the day job I grabbed my laptop and set about saving the relevant section to my flash drive. Lets be honest if I hadn’t done it then I probably would have forgotten. Its an age thing ok. Don’t judge. It’ll happen to you. Trust me. Once it was all saved, I re-read it. Why? Because I am an idiot! I knew exactly what would happen. That little voice of doubt kicked in. It wasn’t good enough. She’ll think I am nuts. It’s going to be so embarrassing.
Anyhow, she was keen. First thing the next morning I get a message. Where is the reading material? Now there is a part of me that is evil, well not running riot with weapons evil but the need to torment a little. I had saved the file in two sections. I could claim I was being nice so if she hated it there wasn’t as much to read; yeah lets go with that. I send part one over and wait, staring at the screen waiting for those dots to appear. I made a cuppa and did some work. My gaze kept going back to the screen; come on put me out of my misery.
The dots appeared, I pinged and I quote ‘oh hell where is the rest???’ A few more messages where I admit I have the second part and I then get ‘send it over NOW!!’ Bossy much but it made me feel so happy. Part two was forwarded and well she loved it. It had done what I had hoped, got the reader invested in the story and took them on the journey with me, laughs, tears and the scary bits too. Was I actually good enough to make a go of it? Do you know what: maybe I am.
Do you remember my note book that never got the Doug Ross picture treatment? Well that has been given a new role. Its now my idea book. If anyone reads it on my day job desk they are going to raise their eyebrows for sure, it has a page of prompts for inclusion in this project. One or two of them are risqué. That’s part of the fun of it. I am so motivated right now. So massive thanks Granny Grotbags!
Looking back I suppose I have dabbled with my writing for quite some time and there are several unfinished projects. One or two I may revisit and edit if I can remember the passwords to get back in them. Maybe they will actually see the light of day. I wouldn’t rule out a book of poems either. I have a few of those dotted about too. I am under no illusion I am going to be famous and I am never going to be a best selling author. According to some online webinars I have done only 2% make it to publication. Depressing much? They also say that your first sales and the important reviews are dependent on family and friends. Well that is me well and truly stuffed. My family know nothing about this and even if they did most of them don’t read. I am the nerd of the family.
I am not going to get ahead of myself. I need to get it finished first. I am sure that a few more chapters will be dripped fed for feedback. Maybe some of them will not have endings ….could I be that cruel? No probably not. I’ll keep you updated if you are interested. Don’t worry I have no intention to stop blogging. Wait did I hear a groan? Sorry I am going to be here for a while. Fingers crossed I can keep the motivation to follow my dream E x