I agree Butterfield. As someone who has never done an MFA, been in a writer's group (until a year ago) or a worksop apart from one week in 1983 I never shared my work with anyone. That changed when an editor suggested that I get a friend to read the m/s of a novel, which I did. The friend gave helpful advice (he was used to working with …
I agree Butterfield. As someone who has never done an MFA, been in a writer's group (until a year ago) or a worksop apart from one week in 1983 I never shared my work with anyone. That changed when an editor suggested that I get a friend to read the m/s of a novel, which I did. The friend gave helpful advice (he was used to working with playwrights) and I basically re-wrote the whole novel.
That took a long time for various reasons. Since that incident I have sent work to two trusted writer friends who give excellent feedback. I'm really happy now also to be in a small writing group. My fellow writers' perspectives have really helped me see my work more clearly. I wish I had done all this a long time ago!!
I agree Butterfield. As someone who has never done an MFA, been in a writer's group (until a year ago) or a worksop apart from one week in 1983 I never shared my work with anyone. That changed when an editor suggested that I get a friend to read the m/s of a novel, which I did. The friend gave helpful advice (he was used to working with playwrights) and I basically re-wrote the whole novel.
That took a long time for various reasons. Since that incident I have sent work to two trusted writer friends who give excellent feedback. I'm really happy now also to be in a small writing group. My fellow writers' perspectives have really helped me see my work more clearly. I wish I had done all this a long time ago!!