Uploaded August 2020 | Updated September 2026, 6 hours ago
Even though Powerless doesn't feel anywhere NEAR ready for anyone else to look at it, I've scheduled a manuscript critique of my first 50 pages on August 24th. And then, because I love to torture myself, I also reached out to three beta readers who'll be looking at it in September. 😅
Add this to the fact that we've gone to Kappel, Germany for four days for a friend's wedding, and time is less plentiful than usual.
So, there are a few things that need fixing - scenes I didn't have the time (or mental capacity) to fix in Camp Nanowrimo, new flashbacks that need to be added to the second half of the book, clearer scenery (note to self: just because YOU know what things look like in your head, doesn't mean your readers will magically figure it out), and then naming everything I haven't named yet.
What's more worrying than the revision to-do list I need to get through in just two weeks, is that I'm still not sure if my writing is any good. This isn't low self-esteem talking, but it's more from a lack of context. The only thing I have to compare my writing to is published books - books that have gone through several revisions and rounds of edits. I know it isn't a fair comparison - there is always going to be a big gap between a first draft after one round of revisions and a published book. My problem is that I don't know what the first draft of those finished books looked like, which means I have no idea if this is on track to turn into something good, or whether I should just give up now. Fun!
Liked this video? Subscribe at youtube.com/channel/UCcuMeK6Go50kkc1DtGW1qwQ?sub_confirmation=1
QUESTIONS FOR THE COMMENTS:
- When do you usually ask for feedback on your writing? The first draft? After a set number of revisions? Or when it's as close to publishable as you can get it on your own?
- What sort of feedback do you ask for - do you have specific points or questions for your readers to answer? Or do you just let them share their raw impressions of the book?
TIME STAMPS:
00:59 - Why book a 50-page manuscript critique
02:30 - What's this book about?
03:05 - Where am I right now, and what do I need to revise?
09:33 - 28 pages in!
13:25 - I contacted beta readers 😅
13:55 - Wandering around Kastellaun
14:54 - The wedding
15:28 - Why are difficult scenes still difficult???
19:30 - Time to head home
19:57 - This video is going to be a two-parter
FIND ME ONLINE:
Instagram: instagram.com/jp.writes
Website: jpwrites.co
Nanowrimo: nanowrimo.org/participants/jpwrites
#writing #writingvlog #authortube
Even though Powerless doesn't feel anywhere NEAR ready for anyone else to look at it, I've scheduled a manuscript critique of my first 50 pages on August 24th. And then, because I love to torture myself, I also reached out to three beta readers who'll be looking at it in September. 😅
Add this to the fact that we've gone to Kappel, Germany for four days for a friend's wedding, and time is less plentiful than usual.
So, there are a few things that need fixing - scenes I didn't have the time (or mental capacity) to fix in Camp Nanowrimo, new flashbacks that need to be added to the second half of the book, clearer scenery (note to self: just because YOU know what things look like in your head, doesn't mean your readers will magically figure it out), and then naming everything I haven't named yet.
What's more worrying than the revision to-do list I need to get through in just two weeks, is that I'm still not sure if my writing is any good. This isn't low self-esteem talking, but it's more from a lack of context. The only thing I have to compare my writing to is published books - books that have gone through several revisions and rounds of edits. I know it isn't a fair comparison - there is always going to be a big gap between a first draft after one round of revisions and a published book. My problem is that I don't know what the first draft of those finished books looked like, which means I have no idea if this is on track to turn into something good, or whether I should just give up now. Fun!
Liked this video? Subscribe at youtube.com/channel/UCcuMeK6Go50kkc1DtGW1qwQ?sub_confirmation=1
QUESTIONS FOR THE COMMENTS:
- When do you usually ask for feedback on your writing? The first draft? After a set number of revisions? Or when it's as close to publishable as you can get it on your own?
- What sort of feedback do you ask for - do you have specific points or questions for your readers to answer? Or do you just let them share their raw impressions of the book?
TIME STAMPS:
00:59 - Why book a 50-page manuscript critique
02:30 - What's this book about?
03:05 - Where am I right now, and what do I need to revise?
09:33 - 28 pages in!
13:25 - I contacted beta readers 😅
13:55 - Wandering around Kastellaun
14:54 - The wedding
15:28 - Why are difficult scenes still difficult???
19:30 - Time to head home
19:57 - This video is going to be a two-parter
FIND ME ONLINE:
Instagram: instagram.com/jp.writes
Website: jpwrites.co
Nanowrimo: nanowrimo.org/participants/jpwrites
#writing #writingvlog #authortube
