A Toast to Early Readers

My current project is YA, and as I work on that first draft, my contemporary (adult) fiction is in the hands of my early readers.

I love this, sort of. I love the part when they all send me feedback and are eager to discuss the draft with me, but I hate the waiting. Three of my readers have seen this manuscript before, so they understand the story arches and characters well enough. Four of my readers are new to this manuscript, and I have no idea how they will receive it.

Or, I had no idea. Within the past 24 hours, one reader complimented a new scene, one reader said she'd finished the whole draft (in 10 days) and another reader called to curse my existence. She started the draft yesterday and has only 15 pages to go, which means in the last 24 hours she has finished nothing else.

I love that part. The positive feedback is great, and it will hold me until I receive all their real comments.

I can be patient. I can be patient. I can be patient.