Selling My Debut Novel: Part II

We had critique group today. The Redeemed Writers decided to let a new member into our crazy bunch, so Angella audited this month’s meeting. If she’s brave enough to return, she’ll hopefully find a committed (or need to be committed) group of women who love Jesus, seek serious feedback, and want to be better writers.

Speaking of critique …

Tuesday, October 14

Mom and I show up for our regular critique, but there are balloons, flowers, and a cake. My dear Redeemed Writer sisters are throwing a surprise party to celebrate the offer for Undiscovered. The writing on the cake read Christina Berry Discovered!

The Disney Princess stuck in the cake has my face on it, with real thread hair flowing down it’s back. Oh, the wonders of what creative minds can come up with!

Miriam and Kristen kept it secret from Mom, just in case our shared brain would also inform me. Miriam’s four-year old took this picture.)

I know people struggle to find critique groups that:
~fit their writing
~don’t turn into feel-good, pat-each-other-on-the-back clubs
~don’t turn into trash and slash sessions
~meet regularly
~encourage as they instruct
~like each other
~fit their schedule

I’m sure there are many other complaints, but these are the first that jump to mind. Okay, okay, we sometimes let a week or two slip by in our scheduling, but that’s by mutual consent! On the whole, our critique group is a dream come true. Their feedback made Undiscovered a saleable project. I can remember one specific comment, written on the last page of the manuscript when we’d gone through the entire book, that said, “This one is going to sell!”

They believed in me, and I believe in them. I fully expect to see all of us publishing in the future.