Iona Winter

Yep, you heard right. I’ve received feedback on (some) of ‘The Novel’. Yeeaaahhh! Full, honest, comprehensive feedback. The thing which has eluded me in my quest to get on with fully editing ‘The Novel’. That is to say, I’m still waiting on ‘The Thesis Results and Feedback’ (a touch of bitterness perhaps?) but let’s not speak of it here, it’ll spoil the ambience. Okay, roger that.

So, feedback on ‘The Novel’ you say? Yeah, like the most feedback I’ve ever received kind of feedback. And it’s taken me a week to digest it—as best I can. After some tears (curled up on the floor in a semi-foetal position) I clambered back into my adult self and read the feedback again, and again—you get the picture.

People warned me about rewrites. NOW I know what they were talking about. Nothing short of being a process of letting go, which thankfully I’ve had some practice at. Otherwise I imagine I may have remained curled up on the floor.

Yesterday I got stuck into REWRITING. Sheesh, it’s a mission to expand out (almost entirely) from what was originally written #arduoustask.

BUT I’m incredibly grateful that I’ve been gifted a fresh perspective on said writing. It’s really easy as ‘a writer’ (difficult to claim that title) to get bogged down in the world of whatever we’re writing. I see feedback as being a bit like a holiday…in a foreign country where I don’t know the language or customs. The experience could be either a very slow learning process, where I dig in my heels kicking and screaming, “Why don’t they just speak my language and be done with it!”, or one where I quickly pick up some key phrases and immerse myself in the culture. I choose the latter, cos I’m that kind of woman.

BUT now I don’t know WHAT to say to people who ask me, “How’s your novel coming along? Got it published yet?” These people clearly don’t know the first thing about writing a novel (okay yes I’m somewhat defensive, but I’m owning it). Then there are those people who don’t even ask anymore (sad, but true). ‘The Novel’ has become an invisible presence in the room, and it seems that only I am aware of it. There are (of course) a few wonderful people in my life who believe in me, and encourage me along…and sometimes they don’t know what to say either. Sigh…it’s a challenge being ‘a creative type’ in a world where instant results are often expected.

For now, I’m all for keeping it simple. Let’s just say I’m refining ‘The Novel’ and measuring her up for a new set of clothes…because the old ones are somewhat raggedy.