Take a moment to celebrate the win. It feels good to get it all on paper. Treat yourself and perhaps your family or partner for putting up with you through the process.
It’s NOT time to PUBLISH!
The work has only just begun. You probably just finished your first draft. Maybe you’re reading it over and think you’ve written an award-winning book. Or maybe you’re cringing at certain parts that sounded much better in your head.
Now it’s time to share your work. Notice I said share, not publish.
I know, I know. I felt some of you recoil at that thought. But remember, you’re writing a book for people to read. You have to share it sometime. Here’s where your critique group comes in. They are your trusted partners in the writing process who can point out your mistakes before you go live.
A critique group is made up of writers, preferably who write in your genre, who make a pact to help each other improve their writing. Your group can set their own rules. See this handout for an example. Please edit it to fit your situation.
A very normal schedule is to meet monthly, with each writer submitting a chapter per month, but you set the rules. Keep it reasonable.
Your book doesn’t have to be finished before you share with your critique group. As a matter of fact, it’s better if you get guidance along the way rather than waiting until the end to discover you need to rewrite large portions of your story.
I usually feed my critique groups chapters at a time for the first third of my book. I make adjustments based on their feedback before I finish. Then, when I’m done, I use my group as beta readers to read through the whole story to look for holes.
To find a critique group, look at local writers’ group. Check with your library. There are also online groups through Facebook, Scribophile, or national writers’ organizations like Sisters in Crime or Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association.
Remember, finishing the first draft is only the first step. Set your expectations and count on at least ten drafts.