I hate these baggy, grown-up Big Girl Pants. I’d rather be lounging in my jammies. Wrapped in well-worn flannel can make me feel like the status quo is where it’s at, where I want to be. But then why the heck have I been writing and rewriting a novel for years? Jammie pants will not grow my readership beyond one (yours truly). Taking scary steps off the cliff of comfort and into an abyss of unknown feedback will. Sharing the work with beta readers to push the manuscript closer to publication-ready is a necessary step. But seekers beware. You ask. You will receive. It will not be the warm fuzzies you hoped for. Comments like “I loved it,” “It was funny” or even “Your writing is so good” are NOT helpful. A close look at characterization, voice and plot lines, along with suggestions of improvement is what you asked for.
So I put on my Big Girl Pants. I’m grateful for the feedback. And it is still my book, to be made the best it can be by me alone. When I send the book out into the world for a readership of one+, these Big Girl Pants will be snug and yes, well-worn.
Quote of the Week…
“A loving person lives in a loving world. A hostile person lives in a hostile world. Everyone you meet is a mirror.” Ken Keyes, Jr. 1921-1995
Patty Mayeux Blog 
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