Two friends want to read the next chapters of my novel and novella. I am working on (what I hope) is the last edit of my novel and will then have to spend many hours on the novella, improving it. Considering it takes so long to get feedback from people and two people seem really interested, should I just send them the work in progress anyway?
David: I have had 5-6 people read my novel manuscript at various stages and in the beginning was so anxious that I just wanted to see if they could sit through it without their eyes glazing over.
Reassured that they lived to tell the tale and gave me feedback (mainly about abrupt changes in pace and scene which I was extraordinarily proud of and humbly had to rethink) I know have a little paragraph asking for specific comments. however, one of my friends (who is over 70, has written a book and is extraordinarily good with picking up punctuation and such errors) has systematically corrected my manuscript. Mainly I ask for a visceral response, how does it read? Every other comment is a bonus.
I also paid for it to be edited and got very good feedback on pacing, character motivation and subplots. Adrian I hear you about your nieces ; ) I told one of my friends that one of the characters was based on her and could she guess which one, so that has kept her going a while : ). And I am editing with a mass of papers spread out next to me as I type
Right: the decision is that it takes so long to get feedback that if someone is willing (in this case one friend is an author and the other an English teacher who dabbles in writing herself) and competent then I will hit them with the manuscript. I will add a qualifier that I am working on sections and wish they had the completely finished product but if they can't wait to read my stuff, I can't wait for feedback either.
I am an impatient person and I am trying to overcome the shyness of sharing something so personal, so I will use the impatience to overcome the hurdle of reticence.
Jonathan: isn't it frustrating how editing goes on? I have to say my deadline is end-april before I get back to full-time work again, so edits have a finite timeline.
Sonya, are your friends qualified to do a constructive critique of your work?
It is important to have your work looked at before you get to far into your novel. Better to recognises weaknesses then. It would save you continuing in the wrong manner and going off on tangents. If you have the resources then get your work looked at by a professional literary editor.
I paid my 10, 13, and 18 year old nieces to read the penultimate thorough edit of my novel. I wanted to get their perspective on all the aspects of my novel. I wasn't seeking praise as most people that submit work do. I wanted them to point out anything they didn't understand.
That was about two months ago. I have heard nothing from them. But I am sure they have spent the money.