Critique Group - Gulp!!

Where to start with today's post. Lots going on in my life right now. The most immediate nerve wracking thing is this coming weekend. I've mentioned that I belong to a writer's group. This group also has a critique group.  I'm fortunate to be a part of a group with many published authors, people who have been writing for years & who have first-hand knowledge of this nutty writing world.

That, of course, is what scares the bejesus out of me. I plan to have my book critiqued this Saturday it would be my first time ever doing it. I'm skeered & thrilled. Yesterday I sent an email giving them a heads up that I'm taking part in the critique. Here's a honest moment for ya:  Sending that email was one of the hardest things I've done with my writing. (1) it commits me to the critiquing on Saturday. (2) it confirms that I am ready to take my book to the next level.  I wrote & re-wrote that email, each time second guessing myself. I finally left the email sitting in my box & went on to do other things, purposely.  Then someone I care for dearly was telling me about school, telling me how this week her class had a writing assignment & each student had to proof read each other's work. She told me how scared she was because these were peers & friends. She showed me her draft & it had so many corrections it looked like she doodled on it. I told her I was afraid of the same thing & we both laughed. She helped me more than she'll ever know.  It was in the middle of that conversation with her that I hit send on my email.  She inspired me. That little moment I had with J pushed me to take that next step. I am grateful for that & I will one day tell her how much it meant to me.

So now here I am, trying to get my stuff together for Saturday w/ my writers/critique group & Sunday with my little Beta group.

I've gone back to the beginning of the book to do a full read-through (w/ my sister's help) & what do you think we found? Lot's of stuff that I didn't need. Shocking right?? Of course not, i'm sure when I read it again, I'll find stuff that hid from me the previous 50 times.

That's it for now. Gracias for reading & again I mention that I like hearing from you.  It's always nice to know if someone out there in this universe is listening reading. :)

Gigi ∞