I’ve received back my second (of three) critiques on Marks of Repentance and spent most of yesterday skimming through the comments.
This is the third novel I’ve had out for critique in the past several years, and one of those went out twice. I look at the two crits I have here and I actually can’t wait to start back into this novel, though I WILL wait until after I’ve finished revising Quest to be Queen. That’s a new feeling for me. Previous crits made me despair. It wasn’t the fault of the critiquer. It was the fault of the novel…and the fact that now that I could see the issues with it, I couldn’t figure out how to fix them. The job became totally overwhelming and paralyzed me.
So is this story that much stronger? Or am I mature enough as a writer to accept the analysis in the spirit in which it was meant? Sure, it needs work. But instead of my brain freezing over at the thought of it, it’s haring off in ten different directions seeking solutions.
First I finish revising Quest while learning to multi-task so that I can write Puppet Prince in the same time frame. Then I can bring my mind back to the lands of Khairdazh and Nuomor and the characters I love so much.
I guess that means I’d better get revising!
Katya says
Val, are you participating in NaNoWriMo?
Valerie Comer says
Yep. Shore am, Katya.
Katya says
Good luck! 🙂 I have a few friends that are doing it as well, and they have their index cards and plot lines all out. I don’t think I could handle that much dedicated work. 🙂
Valerie Comer says
LOL. Not everyone does it that way (though I do). Some folks just open a blank file on November first and write what comes to mind. Scary, that.
Tina says
I am so glad you are looking forward to the re-write on this one. Can’t wait to give it a read!
Random Walk Writer says
I strongly advise multitasking. It’s the only way to make those plot bunnies stay busy doing something besides procreating.
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