1 down, 40 more to go?

Or something like that. I'm in the midst of a temporary high. I finally have my first chapter sounding like I think it ought. I've sent it to my first-round readers and will tweak it from there. Then, the next step, send it into Paula B's slush pile workshop. If you don't know about it, it is an awesome resource for writers. In it, your chapter (anonymous at the reading) is critiqued on the podcast. Here's what we liked, here's where we got stuck, maybe need to flesh this out some more- that kind of thing. It's so valuable, even just listening sharpens my skills. And, at least the last time I talked to Paula, she said she'd keep doing the workshop as long as she had material.

After that, I'll keep revising until I think it's submission-ready and then it'll be on hold until the rest of the book is where that first chapter is, and then off to the big wide world of editors it'll go.

In the meantime, there are chapters 2 through 40+/- to go :) But, for this small moment, I'm doing a mini woo-woo hop and am proud of myself for this small accomplishment.

I'll keep you posted.