IWSG July: A Compliment Goes A Long Way

Hey everyone, it's that time again! It's time for another group posting of the IWSG. A huge thanks to Alex Cavanaugh for creating this group, and to all the co-hosts for this month ( Yolanda Renee, Tyrean Martinson, Madeline Mora-Summonte , LK Hill, Rachna Chhabria, and JA Scott! ) If you'd like to join our little group, it's never too late, and you can find all the information about it here.

The IWSG recently decided to include themes for the monthly blog hop (a concept I LOVE, by the way). No more wondering what I should post about the night before, because NOW, I have a question that I'll answer which will make this so much easier! :)

The question for July is: "What is the best thing someone has said about your writing?"

Writing can be a grueling process. You spend months crafting the perfect story, falling in love with the characters, and enduring sleepless nights. In the end, you want to love your story, but more so, you want someone else to love your story too. And when they do, it makes it all worthwhile and gives you that momentum to keep doing what you're doing.

I know I"m probably only supposed to pick one, but there are actually two things I'd like to share with you. The first was an email I received from an agent, right when I was at a low point with my writing. This agent is one I went on to do an R&R for. She said this concerning Middle of Knowhere, the YA contemporary manuscript I'd sent her:

"There is a lot to love here—you are a GREAT writer and I loved Ryker and Hailey's relationship."

Okay, so yes, I did love the fact that "great" was in all caps. Lol. And even though she ultimately decided to pass after the R&R, her words still gave me a boost.

The second was from my editor as she was editing Catalyst. Now let me preface this by saying that my editor doesn't just throw compliments around. She digs in, makes changes and suggestions, highlights parts that need to be revised, and leaves me comments and questions. When I got the manuscript back after first edits, I scrolled through the entire thing. It wasn't until the very end of the story that I saw what she thought of it. I'll paraphrase, but she basically said that she loved the story and loved the ending. Then she said this:

"One of my absolute favorites of CTP, ever. Can’t wait for the next!"

Wow. Just wow. CTP is my publisher, and I know she's edited probably hundreds of books. I think I was floating the rest of the day.

I think we all tend to doubt our writing from time to time, but it's little nuggets like these that help us continue on, plowing forward to that next deadline. I'm thankful for anyone who has ever said anything nice about my writing, for all those who've encouraged me through the years, and for wonderful critique partners and beta readers who are always there to help make my writing better.

Happy Wednesday!