Writing....Not So Solitary

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We writers accept and understand that what we do is mostly a solitary endevour, but the time comes when we have to share our words with others. I’m grateful for my critique partners, who do so much to round out my stories and give me the energy to get to ‘The End’. 

 

I’m working on a novel that I started in 2009 as my NaNo project. I’ve been increasing the word count over the last month or so, posting a chapter every few days. I’m also editing Distraction (see cover in the sidebar) and working on the syllabus for the workshop I’ll be doing shortly. However, I’m stealing moments to get my chapters finished because I know those reading it are invested in the characters and want to see this sequel end on a happy note. Their input helps me figure out if I’ve gone in the right direction or what I have to do to make a bigger impact.

Dunno how many of you go it alone, writing and editing, but I sure am grateful to have a wonderful group of writers who make useful suggestions and help me catch any awkward phrasing, etc. Of course, this method won’t work for everybody, but I’m at the stage where I am able to decide what to ditch and what to keep when it comes down to the final edit.

At what stage do you reveal your precious gem of a story to other people’s eyes? How much weight do you place on the advice you receive while you’re in the crafting stage of your novel?