In my experience thus far, there are three main steps to post-writing a novel manuscript:
- Elation at having finished! Everyone should know and maybe a bunch of friends should read it?! Such proud.
- Wait, wait, wait. This needs to be edited. Reread and edited more. Maybe it’s not as amazing as once believed… But you can make it so!
- Query anxiety. <– this is where I am. The manuscript is finished, but now you have to advertise it to potential representation. Crying at this stage is perfectly natural.
I joined a writing forum that seems quite helpful. I signed up for a writing advice newsletter. I shared my novel with some earnest beta readers. It seems like I’m doing everything the correct way.
My buddy Patience and I are just gonna have to get better acquainted.
Sara Mazariegos 