My Maniac Tendencies

So, on Sunday I heard back from my critique partner about the last few chapters of my WIP. Two words: HOORAY and OUCH. If you've ever had an in depth critique partner, you totally know what I mean. She seems to really like my writing and the story, but the biggest issue she found, what she got completely hung up on, was the last chapter. It had some major flaws.

Yes, that's code for: My kids were home when I wrote that last chapter.

Further meaning that I tried to write this emotional scene with a litany of interruptions.

Lesson learned.

So as you can guess, all day Sunday I was thrilled by her encouraging words while stewing over the "issues" she found. And then yesterday I drove myself crazy with "what if" and "how will I" questions. I literally had knots in my back!

Why do we as writers stress out like this? One day we think we have something great, something readers will love and then the next day we want torch it all?

 I know you guys do this too. I read your blogs. ;)

 
 Is being crazy-emotional about a word document just something that comes with the personality of a writer? I'm thinking so. Did the authors of the past throw their typewriters in the trash bin only to gently retrieve it hours later with love and affection? I wouldn't doubt it.

By the way, I think I fixed the problems she found, and am hoping it's great. And I think I want to do another blog post in a few days about how fantastic critique partners are because her reaction to the story as a reader, and then her advice as a critique partner have been absolutely invaluable.

But for now, tell me about your maniac tendencies as they pertain to writing. Ever throw your laptop in the trash? 

On Finding Critique Partners

I have one more chapter to write of Dark Waters and I'm finished writing it. I'm currently going through the first phase of editing and expect to be done with that next week sometime.

But, as it's all coming together beautifully, I'd really like to get input from other writers. I had a couple critique partners with my last novel, New Hope, and they were absolutely invaluable. However, because Dark Waters is in a completely different genre (not Christian market and it's YA) I find myself with only one critique partner. She is my best friend who also writes and she's loving the story so far, but I found last time that more than one opinion was a smart idea. 

So, to my writer friends in the blog world, where does a YA paranormal writer go to connect with other YA paranormal writers willing to be critique partners? Thanks in advance for your input!