beta reader feedback

It feels impossible that in the spring of this year I had printed a draft I was happy with and preparing for my first rounds of feedback on The Protectress (as it was then titled and now wondering if I should return to that?!).

From those first rounds of feedback and subsequent re-writes and edits, this became such a different book. So it feels fitting that as the year is ending, I'd be getting my last feedback of the year from a beta reader who wasn't a friend or family. Eeeek, truthfully I feared something soul crushing.

The feedback I got wasn't that at all though. It was super insightful and high-level feedback, particularly tailored to the aspects of the book I wanted paid close attention to: the world building and pacing. After earlier feedback, I'd done a lot of work on the first 1/3 of the book by basically re-writing it, and apparently that paid off!

Now, I'll be spending time trying to smooth out the Game by condensing it, as well as finding ways to lay out the plot points surrounding the Game more clearly to give readers something to look forward to as they're reading by continually raising the stakes.

After spending a lot of time with The Eternal Night Soiree lately, I'm so excited to be ending the year going back to Luna and continuing to build on her story.

Then, who knows...perhaps it's finally time to query agents in the New Year! Regardless, looking forward to more writing and next steps for Luna and the Protectresses soon.