Full Book Critique

I am super duper pumped!!!  Let me tell you why...

I have done it.  I finally edited my book enough on my own that I feel satisfied to send the whole thing out into the world for some other opinions.  I am scared to death, let me tell you!  I spend enough time telling myself that it could be better and to possibly get a confirmation from others that it's true is terrifying, but you know what?  It has to be done.  I can only learn and grow from this process right?  These are the baby steps that I need to take in order to really become a great writer.  If I live in my own cocoon then I will never grow. 

For anyone out there looking for some awesome critique groups I am part of two.

A Writer's Block is a group that I joined last year and we do a chapter critique a month.  I love this group for grammar and immediate insight per chapter.  Plus as I have gotten to know these ladies I have grown to love them.  They're awesome!!!

Mormon Mommy Writer's is the other group I am a member of.  I am fairly new to this group but still just as excited about it.  Personally, for m this group will help me because I am writing an LDS Romance and this group can relate to that kind of perspective.  You don't have to be a Mormon to be a member of this group however.  With MMW, they have a critique group for chapters as well as a full book critique.  I opted for the full critique and hopefully can get some tips on my book as a whole.

Ready...Set...Go

Welp, here I am.  Over a year ago I got an idea.  I pounded that idea out into the form of a 300+ page book in about three months.  Then, I got discouraged.  I thought, self: who is ever going want to read this? 

Making excuses, I let it sit on my computer, filed away amidst the other half touched ideas that I toyed with over the years.

This one, however, kept haunting me.  So I slowly started editing it.  During that process I would get discouraged, put it away, get haunted again, slowly start editing once more and round and round I went.

Then, about a year ago, I joined a writers group on a whim, through the lovely Twilight Mom's forum.  Putting my book out there to be critiqued was like walking outside completely naked for all to see.  SCARY...for those doing the seeing as well as myself.

When the band aid was finally ripped away, I realized it wasn't so bad.  I actually enjoyed the feedback. 
With that initial shock over, I had the courage to finish two edits and am on my final one.

For additional help I have sent it off to the lovely and talented Linda over at  TreasureLine Books and Publishing.  She is a pro at this kind of thing and I think I have looked at it so much, for so long, I just need some professional help - in more ways than one I'm sure.

After getting it back from Linda I will then put my final touches on the book and send it out into the world and see if it can stand on its own.

Am I nervous?  Heck yea!  Am I excited?  You bet.  This has always been a dream of mine and to finally bring it to some form of fruition is extremely satisfying.

Why the blog?

I started this blog for a few reasons:
1) To document my journey so if I ever get published I can look back and see the road I travelled.

2) To get the premise of my book out there and see what others think about it.

3) To get my name out so if I do ever get published I may already have a few fans, friends and fellow writing buddies:)

So, here is to taking your dream and running with it!