Due to outside circumstances and falling off the bandwagon, I’m stepping down from NaNo (I’m also giving up the idea of entering RWA’s Golden Heart). I still plan to write what I can (working on a few novellas), but making 50k or 100k isn’t in my plans anymore. Maybe next year, we shall see. I’m somewhat disappointed, but hey.

I’ve been debating my wips, what projects I’d like to continue and write for the upcoming year. I know for the upcoming year, I’m definitely working on -

PW – The snippet I wrote for Excerpt Monday: Halloween edition has been developing a bit more in my mind – enough that I’d like to make a novella trilogy if not a full novel. *sigh* Phenomenal Woman was only to be a random short for EM…it wasn’t supposed to turn into a lengthy project! Dang plot turtles -always crawling up to me when I’m not on the lookout :p. Still, PW is a cute plot turtle. Once I figure out exactly where I’m going with this project, I’ll put up a blurb.

TF – I know is going to be a novel length work. I’m pretty excited about it – in short, the trials and tribulations of a couple unsure if they should pull the plug in their marriage if they aren’t able to reignite the passion they once held for each other. I am uber excited.

 For those reading , do you have any upcoming writing projects you’re excited about?

When I first started out writing, I’d ask for critiques immediately after I finished a chapter. I figured it counted as my revision process (I said when I started out writing) and it would help me figure out where I want to go next.

Today, I read a post on the Ruby Slipper Sisterhood blog where the poster said

But my biggest piece of advice to anyone entering contests, or joining a critique group, or even sharing her manuscript with her best friend, is to not get so hung up on the reaction, either positive or negative, that it stalls your writing.

Now, I will admit, while I like honest, constructive criticism, sometimes a comment a critique says in passing could end up making me freeze up. It may take awhile before I go back to the manuscript and keep forging ahead. Or, I may keep working on the manuscript, but on the chapter I’ve already written and put up for review – I’m not moving forward. Instead, I’m stuck in one spot, focusing on that one sliver of a much longer work.

My current plan is to wait, unless I’m asking for very generalized feedback, on putting work up for critique until I’ve finished at least the first draft of the entire manuscript. I found it’s easier just to have the ms complete so I already know where the plot’s going, who my characters are really like, etc. When I get feedback, I know how to properly use/apply it because I truly know my story.

How about you – do you wait until you’ve finished your manuscript before asking for a critique or do you go with a chapter by chapter approach? What’s your process on receiving feedback on a wip/finished manuscript?