A Frank and Fearless Kiss from Katie

Did I mention I won a critique from Katie Fforde?  Through the Authors for Japan fundraiser, I had the winning bid for a critique on the first 1000 words of a manuscript.  Yes, Katie Fforde, the best selling British romance novelist, with a staggering 16 novels penned, and counting, she is a living legend!  Was I over the moon?  Ahem, hanging from the rafters, swinging from the chandeliers, dear friends.

When anyone else reads your work, what you want is an honest opinion, what works, what you need to improve on. It's not every day you get the opportunity for a great lady like Kate to read your work.  What I got was a frank and fearless critique, which quite frankly, had me both excited and nervous.  Of course, there was slapping of forehead in recognition of where I needed to improve, but it also left me grinning like a Cheshire cat, above all, it's spurred me on.  Thank you Katie!

Editing is about improving our WIPs, making them the best that they can be.  I'm reviewing the beginning of mine with this in mind.  The beginning of your story is crucial because you need to set a little of the scene, and create enough interest to keep your reader...well, reading?  In the first 1000 words of your story, do you have a hook?  If not, how soon do you bring it in, and also do you think the genre you write dictates the timing of the hook?