Aspiring YA Novelists discussion

I recently finished my first draft (yesss!!!) and am deep in the labyrinth of my first edit. I have let a couple of close friends read the book, and they're very excited about it. People are starting to become interested in the story, which is good for marketing later on when it's published, but right now it just feels like a lot of pressure.Anyone else have this experience?

Erin wrote: "I recently finished my first draft (yesss!!!) and am deep in the labyrinth of my first edit. I have let a couple of close friends read the book, and they're very excited about it. People are starti..."

sorry for the late reply! I don't have the same issue (seeing as I've never finished anything--that's going to change soon!) but my family, especially my one uncle, pressures me a lot about finishing something, every time I see him the question is "so, have you finished anything?" "When are you going to send it to me?" "Did you bring my anything to read yet?" "You started something new? What happened to the old one?" "Are you ever going to finish anything?" (sorry, I think you get the point). The fact that I can't let him read what I do write makes it worse, because he wouldn't like the content (lgbt main characters) and I can't even tell him that in order to avoid family conflict. My entire family does this all the time though, and its a lot of pressure to finish something and have it be perfect on the first go.
So that probably didn't help to cheer you up or anything, but that's my experience.
My advice: try not to let it get to you and work at your own pace, that's the only way you'll be happy with it.

@Erin I've had this before, mainly with writing my first book. It was a series and I felt a TON of pressure to get it out there because people were excited about it. But the hard lesson to learn is that you won't necessarily do great work when you feel like it needs to be done NOW. Just remember that this is your work and no one else's. You are the one who has to be happy with the end product. Everyone else can just wait for you to release your creative genius ;) Hope this helped and good luck!

I finished a first draft and had been telling friends and family for a while about my writing. I then hit a block because I had no idea how to go about editing it. So I didn't really have people waiting, but that got temporarily shelved. However I do have lots of, "are you looking for a job?" "nope, just writing." Haha, so just personal relationships waiting rather than the masses or anything. Plus I'd really like to know what the end product will be!

@Inda Thanks! I'm glad it's not just me! :)

@Jo I recently let my youth leader look over my manuscript. She has a writing degree and has published several poems in the past. It was not fun at all waiting for her to finish it, but I'm glad I did now, because number one, she's going to edit it for me, and number two, I don't feel like people will judge me as much for my writing anymore, and am more willing to let people read it. I would say pick someone who you trust who has a laid back attitude and isn't likely to judge and let them look it over. Might help with editing. I think it's more frightening to have my mom read it than someone I'm less close to.

@Sparrow My Mum is an editor and author, giving it to her is terrifying haha

My sister is my editor and having her read my work was terrifying at first. But I think no matter who you give it to it's going to be scary. This is a piece of you, it's beyond personal. But not everybody is going to have the same creative taste. And that's fine. Just remember that YOU have to be happy with it. That's all that matters. Having confidence in yourself is the key :)