First everyone get up and do a booty dance with me. School is back in session and I now have HOURS of quiet time to write. Or at least I will as soon as my husband and I get over this god-awful cold bug he caught last week. Just hoping the kids don't catch it. Oy, not ready for cold and flu season yet!
Yeah, so illness aside, we are gearing up for my favorite time of year, autumn. The mornings are a little nippy and the lethargy that I slogged through all summer finally seems to be wearing off. Things are looking good, what with the upcoming release of B Cubed: Book One Born and No Limits, plus the Sanibel word orgy 2011. Great way to kick start those creative juices!
Thing is, my attention was not riveted on my current project. Possibly because I've embarked on the self-publishing journey and I'm not sure where In the Bedroom with the Rope will end up. Though I love the characters, especially the hero, I was unsure of my starting point.
I know where Trevor and Samantha need to go, the middle is all figured out. It's more that I wasn't sure how to get them there. I'd written two VERY different versions of chapter one and both my fab crit partner, Saranna DeWylde, and I liked them each for different reasons. But they were the openings for two very different stories. What to do?
Enter some of my favorite beta readers, Robin, Gail and Liane. These women have impeccable taste and I trust them absolutely. So, Saturday morning I shot out an email to my gal pals and asked them to let me know which one they preferred. Then I tried not to be a neurotic weenie while waiting for them to get back to me.
By a vote of 3-0, there was an overwhelming hell yeah for the newer version of the story. I can see why now, it's more in-your-face eroticism compared to the slow build of the first. In retrospect, I think the first draft was really me trying to figure the story out while the second version IS the true beginning.
So a big thank you to all my go-to girls, Divas and Wild Writers who have given me feedback on everything from cover design to subject matter. I am incredibly fortunate to have all of you in my life. Now, I need to do you all justice and churn out a bestseller! After I finish my tea and cough drop.
Do you have a go-to group of people you trust to taste test for you? Anything from clothing choices to potential dates, whose opinions matter most to you?
3 comments:
I don't guess I can comment because you know my answer. LOL.
The Divas are bodacious~
Sounds to me like you've been super productive this summer, Jenn. And how great to have support from such a wonderful group of writers!
Hope you get better soon to take advantage of your new found freedom.
Jenn, I think you've hit the nail right on the head (shut up, Saranna, LOL!) about why the three of us preferred the newer version - which is covered in awesome sauce.
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