I finished writing my second book on November 24, 2022. Writing that date down is a bit shocking. I can’t believe I finished the book so long ago. After I finished writing it, I put it away for a while and focused on other things. In the summer of 2023, I moved and changed jobs. The next year was full of adjustments as I started my dream job but had lots more lesson planning and grading than I was used to.
During that year, I put my writing aside, and I didn’t really pick it back up until last semester. I had given my book to a few people to read, and I received some positive feedback, but I also heard from some people that the book lacked backbone. I wasn’t really sure what to do with that, but after thinking it over and reading the book a few more times, I realized that there was something missing. When I finally found a plot point to center around, I felt much better. I rewrote some key scenes and added some additional thoughts and interactions.
At this point in my editing process, I knew that I needed more feedback from Chinese guys since the main characters in the book are a group of Chinese guys in university. I tried to find a few Chinese guy friends to read it, but none of the ones I asked managed to finish it, and I was a bit frustrated. But I had a couple of other guys who said they were interested, so I sent out a summary of the book to four different guys. Three of them were Chinese, and another wasn’t Chinese but has lived in China for several years, and I figured at least he’s a guy, so he can look at the book from a guy’s perspective.
A friend asked me about the hardest part of writing, and I would definitely say that finding people to read it is one of the hardest parts—especially when I have to limit my search to Chinese guys. I don’t know many Chinese guys who enjoy reading, especially reading in English. I waited for more than a full day before I heard back from any of the guys, and I felt like I was sitting on pins and needles. The book can’t move forward if I don’t make sure it’s accurate, but how to make sure that it’s accurate?
Finally, one of my friends messaged back and agreed to read it. Over the next several days, all of the guys did message back, and I was so thankful that they all agreed to read it. I told them I needed it back by the end of March. Some of them said that wouldn’t be possible, but they would read it when they could. Mainly, I just didn’t want people to put it off indefinitely and forget about it.
When there was still a week or two left in March, I checked in with my readers. Most of them needed more time, but I also got some good feedback from a few people.
Editing is really hard. It’s hard to take something that you’ve written and something that you love and send it out to be criticized and torn apart. This weekend, my good friend and editor told me that she had finished the book and she had some feedback for me. She loved part of it and hated other parts of it. I wasn’t prepared for that, and I was surprised at how hard it was to hear.
Writing is not for the faint of heart, and I haven’t quite mastered the art of being criticized. But I’m working on it, and hopefully this criticism will make my work and my character stronger. Hopefully, sometime in the next couple of years, you will be able to hold the book in your hands and tell me what you think as well.
My goal was to finish the editing by the end of the year and then start the publishing process, but we’ll see if that happens. Until then, let’s keep learning and writing!