It's Finished!

I've finished the middle grade contemporary science fiction novel that I started in July. I wrote the last line in the story and now I'm feeling... wow.

The last line of the story is the set up for the next one and I just wanted to keep on typing but a story has to stop at some point, I suppose.

I was reading to my own kids in July, and I thought, I wanted to create a story that I'd want them to read when they're older.

If no one publishes it, they'll be the only ones who do read it! Hahah!

But seriously, I am a huge Sci Fi fan and I would love to share my enjoyment with my own children. The aim of the book was to appeal to both my son and my daughter. I have a strong female character (who's personality is very much like my daughter) and a brilliant male character (who again has a very similar personality to my son) and their dynamic is something I'm really happy with.

So, what's next?

My next step is to print out the manuscript and heavily edit with a good, old fashioned biro.

I did try putting a novel on my Kindle (using it as a USB with a screen) and editing it from there but I just got too frustrated that the writing wasn't perfect.

I will give my novel a heavy edit and then pass that edited manuscript on to Beta readers. Any volunteers?

I do have two very kind readers queued up to read the finished story and hopefully others who will be brutally honest with constructive feedback.

Then, once everything has been changed and is ready to go, submission. I'm not entirely sure where to submit my story this time. That's if it's any good, let's see what the beta readers say.

I have heard that some people say to walk away from your manuscript for a month and to just let it all sink in. I think I'll read through, do the edit, submit it to betas and then step back until my betas are ready to give feedback.

I just really want to write a story that is entertaining and that children enjoy reading.