Revision^3

I think that revising a story is just about as hard as starting one.  There is a part of you that thinks, "Hey!  This is awesome!  I'm awesome!  Nothing could make this better!".  The reality is always far different.  This doesn't say that the original idea is bad; it is just that you have some work to do.  I think it is a little intimidating to some, much like the blank page.  There is the whole, "Where the hell do I start?" feeling that is so familiar when you begin a new idea.

As an aspiring author (and I say "aspiring because I haven't been published yet), I have been blessed with several very talented readers.  They have given me a lot of very good feedback.  Sometimes it isn't easy to hear, but it is still useful none the less.  Of course, picking readers for your work isn't some random process.  In my opinion, you must be selective and find people that you can trust.  They are, after all, holding your dreams (some might say "soul") in their hands.  However, on the flip side, you don't want someone who is going to just tell you what you want to hear.  Another thing to keep in mind is that you want someone who is interested in doing the work necessary to be a reader.  Because it is work.  Especially if they are good.

A varied group of readers is also a good thing.  In my group, I have a professional writer (definitely a plus!), a former English teacher (also a big plus!), another aspiring writer (bingo!), and several other people of various backgrounds (also a big plus!).  In addition to that, I have between 2 and 4 children (very helpful as the stories in question are for children).  Of course, the composition of my reading group can change depending on the story (I wouldn't have children read a story that is adult oriented).  All these people have very different backgrounds that can provide me with a variety of viewpoints on my story.  I may not always agree with them, and vice versa, but I know that their advice is important.  They don't need to provide me with solutions, just encouragement and the occasional nudge in the right direction.  I am human after all and prone to the occasional "error".

Till next time.