What it Feels Like to Put My Story Out into the Wild

The Tale of my First Beta Reading Experience

So, a stranger on Reddit read the first few chapters of my rom-com WIP. It was the first time another person set their eyes on my story, and I have to tell you about it.

Disclaimer: This is not my beta reader and unfortunately my rom-com story is not set in a jungle

For those of you who don't know, I'm writing a rom-com that I’m entering into a writing competition and hoping to get published one day. I talk about it here.

So, I already wrote the whole thing as a jukebox musical screenplay 10 years ago. Once I wrote it, I didn’t know what to do with it. Now I am turning it into a novel. It has been a long-term labour of love that I finally decided to focus on again thanks to this writing competition. That competition has given me a target to meet and propelled me forward in my endeavour.

That brings me to this week. My first three chapters are polished and I decided to throw a bone out there to see if any betas wanted to take a bite.

But no one wants to only read three chapters of some random, no-name person - I told myself in my typical pessimistic fashion. But I pushed through anyway.

To my delight, three people put up their hands up to take a look. Not out of obligation. They seemed genuinely interested and keen to read my story.

Knowing that just made me more nervous. Maybe my synopsis oversold it? I told myself - I probably won't get any responses back because my writing and or story was that bad. Why did I think I could do this?

Oh, the nerves of having strangers look at the secret story I'd been deliberating over for years. Until this moment, the story was for my eyes only. Now, a portion of my story had been released to the wild, ready to be torn to shreds. I was nervous, yet, I was ready for the feedback. I needed some external validation to know if all this time and effort was worth something and worthy of pursuit.

And then, I got my first response. I tried to make my expectations realistic. This is my first time doing this, so don't get your hopes up.

But to my surprise, my first response was glowing. She said she loved my story and characters, she said it was very well written she said I was TALENTED! Really?! Talented! 🤩 That's the type of thing people say to actual authors, but not me! What type of alternate reality is this?

Now, I wasn't completely faultless in my storytelling. She also had excellent feedback on areas I could improve, which I was incredibly grateful for. But what dropped my open mouth to the floor was knowing that she was excited to read the rest of the story when it was finished, and would be happy to beta for me in the future.

I don't know if she realised how much of an impact her words have had on me and my fiction writing path. That validation, from a complete stranger who did not need to offer it, is giving me the extra fire and drive I need to push this story to the finish line.

I had been hesitant to put 'aspiring fiction author' in my social media profile bios because I worried I was throwing something out there I perhaps wouldn't see through till the end, especially with so many half-written stories collected over the years. But now I'm motivated to add it in and make it a big fat goalpost for me to aim towards and actually achieve.

Too often I give up on things when they get too hard or I feel disheartened, but having people who believe in me working in my corner to push me forward makes a big difference. I really think that Substack and the community I have found here have helped me build my confidence too.

In time and as I grow older, I realise that doing what fills my cup and gives me joy will put me on the right path. This feels right, for right now so I'll peruse it without any specific deadlines and time constraints to reach. Whatever path I take and however long it will take to get there, I will finish and publish this story.

Man, it was still really hard to write that last bit. Typing out in words that I will finish and publish my story. Why was that so hard? Well, I’ve said it now, and you have all read it, so I have to see it through right? No pressure! :D

So if you’re still reading, thanks, and if you are interested in knowing what my story is about, here is the synopsis I used to lure in my beta readers:

Synopsis

If you loved ‘Better Than the Movies’ by Lynn Painter and you believe every good story needs a soundtrack, you'll devour this coming-of-age Aussie rom-com set in the year 2000, with a musical twist.

Two best friends, Sarah and Lauren, are about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime as they begin their first year of university in a new millennium. For Sarah, it's a chance to shed her goody-two-shoes reputation and reinvent herself by diving headfirst into a relationship with the first guy she kissed. Meanwhile, the ever-sarcastic and pessimistic Lauren is cautiously hopeful she can finally break free from the confines of her rebellious past.

With a perfect blend of humour, heart, and betrayal paired with an unforgettable soundtrack of iconic Aussie songs woven amongst the plot, this captivating coming-of-age romantic comedy explores the challenges of growing up and discovering who you're meant to be. Readers will be swept away by Sarah and Lauren's journey, rooting for them to find love, and acceptance, and rediscover their authentic selves.

Brimming with relatable characters, sizzling romantic tension, authentically Aussie nostalgic vibes and a vibrant university setting, this irresistible story is sure to resonate with fans of contemporary YA fiction and anyone who remembers the exhilaration and uncertainty of that pivotal time between high school and adulthood. Don't miss this chance to get swept up in the power of friendship, love, self-discovery, and the unstoppable spirit of youth in the Year 2000.