Late last month, I was joined Romance Diva’s Mentorship program and was assigned to the fabulous Madelynn Ellis.

The mentorship has a specified time period, but from the type of writing workout Madelynn’s been giving me, I think I’ll forever follow Madelynn around like a lost puppy (she’s just too awesome to let go once the three months are up). I just hope I’m not wasting her time (I think I ask far too may odd questions and give far too many roundabout answers – I’m milking my newbie status for all it’s worth, folks).

 I did give pause, though, when she mentioned learning how to write a synopsis and stuff about print publication. *cough* I still haven’t completely let go of the idea of writing PW and then happily shoving the manuscript into a box and then under my bed.

I’ll get over the fear of submitting. One day. *g*

I spent the last few weeks narrowing my genres, my intended audiences, and my own definitions and terminology of what constitutes different types of romance, and more. Needless to say, fiction writing wise, I wrote zilch. Still, I’m happy. More than pleased, actually. I feel like I have proper direction in my Quest to be Published (capitalization and italics, completely necessary) and can write to my own dictations instead of worrying about what others think or how my work should be branded – I was stressing myself out for no reason, especially since none of my work is ready to even be submitted.

My plan is just to focus on the story, telling it the way I envision it in my head. Sounds simple enough, yet I found myself completely second guessing myself because my current project, PW, isn’t particularly standard romance, it’s darker, more gritty. I mean, the female lead has no qualms about breaking the male lead’s hand because she has a job to do and he’s in her way. Things aren’t always pretty and there’s definitely an overcast of darkness over the story and I’m alright with that – and hopefully, others will be fine with that too.

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?