Adventures in CPing II

In my last post, I mentioned that I’d finally found myself a CP for my MS and we’ve been exchanging chapters (she’s also a writer) for the last couple of months.

Getting feedback is the scariest and most exciting part of my week. Every time I’m due to send off another chapter, I prevaricate, cringe and tie myself in knots worrying, until, eventually, I force myself into hitting the send button. A fortnight later, I get her notes, and seeing her respond to those moments that I’ve tried to weave into the text, but didn’t think anyone would notice, is the most amazing feeling. And getting called out on the times where I’ve assumed the reader knows what I’m talking about, when, in fact, it’s not clear at all, is beyond invaluable. Like not actually mentioning the main character’s name until two chapters after they’ve been introduced! Cough. Yeah, I did that.

For me, this is a story that’s been hidden away on my laptop for over a decade, and so opening up that email each week to read the judgement of a near stranger is both terrifying and one of the most rewarding things I’ve done.