Your Secret Weapon

Every writer should have three kinds of readers for their works in progress.

1. The encourager: they read your book and tell you that you're a genious. Which of course, you are.

2. The writer. They can pick apart your run-ons, tell you when you've used superfluous words, help you with word-smithing and that type of thing. They know the rules and aren't afraid to let you know them too.

3. The reader. This person will read the book, cover to cover, and tell you that the love interest who had blue eyes on page one has brown eyes on page 233. They will also tell you the symbolism was too heavy handed. That the freaky store owner was not funny, just plain creepy. Was that what you were aiming for? That type of thing.

If you find a good reader, who is able to articulate what is right and wrong with your story, hang on to them tooth and nail. They're priceless to you and your career.

I am blessed enough to have a few whose critiques have bettered my work. One such person is our lab tech, Mandy. She read the proposal for The Demon Chaser today. She told me she liked the tag line. She told me the possession of Nana was good but she said, never diverting her gaze from me, you have nana smelling wrong.

"Heh?" I say.

"You should have her smell almost the same as she used to, but not quite. Have an underlying decay smell since she's possessed."

"Hmmm," I say as I consider her suggestion. "That's not bad."

She smiles and goes back to her office.

She's full of tidbits like that and isn't the least bit shy about telling me.

Those are the kind of people you really need if you want your story to be the best it can be.

If you have an encourager, or a writer or a reader, cherish them, thank them, buy them lunch if you can afford it. But, never, NEVER, get defensive or believe me, they will cease to be completely honest. Who needs the hassle?