Putting it all out there

I finished the fourth rewrite on my novel, Falling Star, last week.  I gave copies to three friends, well, two technically, since one was my husband.  I gave it to my friend DJ on Friday night and immediately found  what felt like a thousand typos, missing works etc.  I awakened in the middle of the night, sweating and wondering why I ever thought it was ready for human eyes.

He's still reading it.  Read in between the lines, I'm still sweating.

On Wednesday, I gave it to Katherine at lunch.  I drove home thinking, why did I give it to her, someone who's opinion I trust so much, someone who is my exact target audience, someone who collects books for Pete's sake - a reader. 

Fortunately for me, Katherine didn't make me sweat in the middle of the night.  She finished the book by the time she went to bed that night and emailed me right away. For fear of sounding a braggart, (a huge no no in my family) I won't tell you every comment she made, but suffice it to say, she loved it.  My favorite comment,  "If I had picked this up at the bookstore, I would be looking on the web to see what else you had written so I could buy it." 

Thank God.  Because I really didn't know what I was going to do if she hated it.  I know she would have said something constructive and kind, but I would have been able to tell.  And, it would have crushed me.

Putting yourself out there like this - whether it's art, or a business idea or asking someone to dinner - it's all the stuff that exposes you to a huge letdown or a huge high, depending on the answer.  And, it's hard.  It's hard to try for things you want with every fiber of your being.  That's how it is for me, this dream of being a published novelist and boy, am I vulnerable.  It's harder than the workouts at Gravity Janes and that's saying something.  www.gravityjanes.com.

Now, I need to buck up and send it to someone who might be able to send it to someone who could make the decision to publish it.  Those people are called agents.  From what I hear, they take a long time to either accept or reject you.  It could be months without hearing a thing.  I started sweating just typing this.

I may not sleep for six months.  I should start drinking more water to make up for all the loss of fluids.

The good news - I feel more alive than ever.  That's got to be worth something.

Comments

[Katherine]

Go Tess! Go Tess! Go Tess! I am your biggest fan...you inspire me.

[Suzanne]

Congratulations on getting so far with your novel! It is a long road, and requires a spouse of special patience.

I edit novels, among other things, and worked in the book publishing biz back in NYC before moving to Seattle.

If you'd like a professional edit, before sending it to an agent, let me know.

The more polished your ms. is from the beginning, the easier it will be for the publisher to pick up and run with it.

Cheers and best of luck!

Suzanne Griscom
Editor, Writer, Wordsmith
www.wisewillow.blogspot.com