So, fuckers, I finished a draft last night. I mean I still have to go through it all again ON PAPER, but I feel…close. I’ve now officially spent twice as much time revising as I did writing. I’ve been helped immeasurably by some incredibly astute readers and a fairy godmother who appeared in the form of an old friend and brilliant writer who supplied a close read when I needed it most. I am so humbled by this process and humility is not a strong suit.
Who are your readers?
CONTEST RESULTS: Bonnie has to win this one for best Cinderella story. Bobbie honorable mention for such a wonderful story that involved moi. And shout out to Mike for best stoner story. Full stop. (Bonnie send me your address to Thebridgeladies@gmail.com to receive your prize.. & thanks for all the stories.
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Betsy Lerner 
I’m part of the ABCtales community. No close reading. Sometimes few readers. But without that one reader, writing is futile as wanking.
“Who are your readers?”
None other than readers and editors at litmags. Sometimes they say yes, sometimes they say no. Sometimes they add editorial comments. Sometimes those are helpful. I always pay attention to them and consider them.
I recognize that those who read my pre-publication work are mostly young enough to be of my childrens’ or grandchildrens’ generations. Oft-times I feel like an alien emissary from a lost and forgotten land.
I know this flies in the face of conventional wisdom, but my wife is my harshest critic. She doesn’t hold anything back and damn if she isn’t usually right. I won’t show her something I’m working on until it has a chance to meet with her approval.
I have a hard time with writing groups because it’s difficult for me to be critical of someone else’s work and if someone asks me what I think, I try to be kind. I tend to sugarcoat is what I’m saying and a good critic is not sweet.
And congratulations to Bonnie for her well deserved prize!
A playwright friend I met a long time ago in a fiction group reads my novels for me. Don’t have a novel group right now. Wish I could find one.
Congratulations!!! You FTF! (sort of, I know there’s more to do)
And, I love revising.
My readers are two good writer friends of mine. They’re honest and just this morning, one encouraged me to change the tense, and I knew he was right, b/c the other writer had suggested it, too. And so, I just revised the first three chapters and it flows. Yay for the small (BIG) things that matter.
Thank you! I love prizes.
For my column, I’m it until my editor’s inbox accepts my attempts at connecting to others who happen to get the paper. For longer projects, two dear friends, one formerly in publishing and the other a retired librarian who knows more about books, and why they are read, than the big six.
Congrats B, you FTF and to Bonnie a well deserved win.