Last Week’s WW: Distractions

Have you ever written something, and thought, This is going so well.  This is the best thing ever written!  I could publish my first draft!  and then, somehow, at some point, the shiny wears off and you start to see all the little, and big flaws.

That’s why it’s vital to make sure you get a set of fresh eyes on your project.  It doesn’t matter if it’s a significant other, an avid reading friend, someone from a writing group, anyone really, as long as they will give you positive feedback.

It’s really hard to get people to read your work, as it turns out.  This is a common problem for new authors.  You think, hey, I’ve got these friends, or, surely my family will support me and read it, but that’s not always the case.

If you can’t find anyone else, or, perhaps, this is a good ting to do anyway, give it some time.  Let your story rest, wait to read over it until it doesn’t feel like something you wrote.  You have to make sure you’re reading what’s actually there, not what you imagine is there.

And most importantly:

You have to be open to the criticism.  Hopefully it’s all constructive.  But remember, even though your story is your baby, you can’t let yourself overlook when things are wrong.