I've done it.
I've finished editing.
But the editing isn't finished. Oh, no, far from. But I've done all I can do for the moment, so it's time to step back. How will the editing continue if I'm not there, you ask? Because it's...
(Drumroll, please)
Beta reader tiiiiiime!
So what does this mean? It means several wonderful people have consented to take on the rather monumental task of tackling my manuscript and telling me if it's any good (hopefully they'll be more specific than that ;) ). It's a really huge step, and very strange, and a bit nerve-wracking. I've been working on this thing since, oh... (*Goes back through my files to the first ideas file created for this project...*) 2005?! Seriously? And I'm pretty sure I was playing with the ideas even before then. Wow. Anyway, it's been a loooong time coming. I've gotten really useful feedback along the way, but this is the first time other people get to see the whole of this insane thing I've been working on. The process is by no means over--in fact there will be much more to come--but this is a major landmark. I'm both excited and nervous to see if any of the ideas I was trying to convey managed to translate.
Anyway, a huge shout-out and thank you goes to my amazing beta readers (and a big 'good luck' and an apology in advance--like I've said before, 'long' is a bit of an understatement...). Let's have a round of applause for them!
*Clap*Clap*Clap*Clap*Clap*
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Now what do I do with myself?
In order to get some distance, I'm forbidding myself to look at the story for a year, which will be tricky, to say the least. What will I do in the meantime? Well, there are a few other projects I've been playing around with... for instance, there's this girl named Patience who won't leave me alone... and another teenager called BlueJay who's insisting I get back to her story... and then, who knows? I actually may have time now for (*gasp*) New Projects!
But first, I think I need a cuppa tea. And about a week's rest.