A reference to Nina’s own work – which I thoroughly enjoyed reading.
Recently my writing colleague, fellow SCBWI and friend Nina Wadcock asked if anyone would be her Beta reader. I volunteered straight off. We got on well and I had every expectation it would be a good read. She accepted my offer – and then the second thoughts came fluttering in a black cloud…
Had I jumped in too soon? Who was I to offer critique – unpublished and unagented? Shouldn’t she waited for someone more experienced?
The WoMentoring Project Bespoke illustration by mentor Sally Jane Thompson
A moment of common-sense: no-one else had offered at that point. I did have some experience as well. After getting my Creative Writing MA I helped the next students as a Graduate Editorial Assistant – which I loved. I also take part in the WoMentoring Project (I am not responsible for the name) – and one of my mentees now has an agent. She was kind enough to say that my comments had been useful.
Corvidae feature in Nina’s work – and her writing name is Nina Kyte.
My friend Nina’s comments on ‘Wildfell’ came back quickly. I have to commend her on her speed, accuracy and effort. Truly helpful – so good at seeing the thicket not the brambles.
Blow me down – but so much echoed what my wonderful Golden Egg mentor, Nikki Marshall, had said about my other w-i-p ‘Stonespeaker’. I had thought I could learn to do it all by myself for this next one.
All her hard work made me reconsider. I had thought to enter a revised version of ‘Wildfell’ for the Times/Chicken House competition this year. Looking at the amount of radical changes I still need to make – or at least think through carefully – I have declined. If nothing else, she had saved me £15 + p&p.
My ego surely needs sitting on. It makes a very lumpy chaise longue, I can tell you.
All the above confirms my hankering after the Golden Egg Academy Editor’s Course. I need this for two reasons:
- to better the editing of my own work
- to improve the quality of my help to others – it’s one thing to be supportive, but even better to be informed
I cannot really lose – and I may gain another strand to my literary life.
To finish – a quotation via the lovely Nina that I couldn’t resist:
One of my friends who is also a writer said there is nothing more scary than letting someone read your work and, given the choice, would feel less exposed streaking round Headingly!
You are brilliant and this will only make you more so! I have learned so much just working with my editor this year, am sure the course will be brill too, with GE at the helm x
Thank you Kathy. I have learned so much too!