Time to celbrate

I did it!  I finished the third draft of my Young Adult novel.  It’s been given to my first reader for feedback.  

To be honest, I’m kind of freaking out about it.  I’ve been working on this story since the beginning of May.  I love the characters and the story is my baby, in a way.  I want my writing to be worthy of the place these characters have in my heart.  It’s my first novel, so I know I still have a lot to learn, though.

It’s terrifying giving it to someone to read, even someone who loves me and who will be gentle as they tell me what they really thought of it.  I may love the story, but will they?  I know as they story makes its way in the world, not everyone will love it.  I wrote it for myself, so I don’t care so much about that.  Still, what if it’s rubbish?  He’ll tell me honestly what he feels needs improvement, and I can try again.  There’s no way the whole story is irredeemable.  There’s something there I can fix if I need to.

Nothing is ever perfect.  Many people don’t finish the process because their writing is never good enough.  I’m feeling the doubts now, but I know I’m a good writer.  I know I can make this story something worth reading.  I’m celebrating finishing a third draft, because that’s more than I’ve ever done before.  I WROTE A BOOK!