The first 20 pages
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But once I got her email and then I DMD her on Instagram, I said, Look, I'm really busy right now, but I'm working on it. I'm going to send it. And then I found out that if you're going to send it, might as well make it your best 20 pages ever. And that's where the story goes. So I read it, and I'm like, okay, I got this. So I sent it to some authors
Bowie Rowan
@bowie · 0:40
Oh, my goodness, I have definitely been there. I know exactly the feeling you're talking about when you send it out. Please keep keep us updated about how it goes, how the conversation goes. Find getting feedback on work. One of the most helpful things when I'm finally ready to get some outside perspective and have enough distance myself in order to be able to hear people thoughts that might not be in line with my own
Shahnaz Ahmed
@bookishpodcast · 3:39
And I'm actually feeling a little better because I feel like one of the key elements of feedback, which I'm liking is that people are like, I really like this and it starts off with, I really like this or this is powerful. Your writing is beautiful things like that. So it just softens me to be like, oh, okay. All right. So it's not full crap. Okay
Roomi Tarik
@roomi · 4:01
But just don't do overly critical of yourself. And I don't think you were overly critical. You were just like, I don't know. You're going to like my novel or book. Why not? I know there will be some element of some part of you in that book on those pages. I want to read that. And I can't wait. Now, I can't wait for you to become one of the biggest authors in the world
Hey, Shahnaz, I kind of stumbled on to this post a couple of days late, I guess. But I am very happy to know that you're right now in your second draft and that you've started sending out or samples of your book to your beta readers. That's a great step forward. And as you say, it can be a pretty trying time sending this out into the world in bits and pieces and waiting for what might come back to you in the form of feedback
Shahnaz Ahmed
@bookishpodcast · 3:53
It's like, okay, now you're being really humble or whatever. But right now, without anything to show for myself, I have to kind of see where I'm going. And yes, it does surprise me when someone likes my work. It really does. Because sometimes I think, really, you like this. And because I think deep down, I've convinced myself that the story is not good. But then I love it
Shahnaz Ahmed
@bookishpodcast · 3:57
And the moment she told me that my immediate response is, oh, my gosh, I don't want to just send it. Obviously, before I sent it out, I wanted to make sure it's the best it can be, at least for me. I had a few authors read through it and they told me that what their issues were and what they really loved. And it's been good. It's been good so far. I've had help. It's just been wonderful
Roomi Tarik
@roomi · 4:25
So I guess that's the word that's appropriate right here where you just kind of lost for words speechless when it comes to something which has to do with your linguistics, which has to do with the way you speak or talk. You should really start a podcast or something. It is such a wave of energy. I don't know what is in it. And I'm so sorry
Shahnaz Ahmed
@bookishpodcast · 3:38
Regarding my book, the update is that I got the last edit from my friend and I just have to put those in and just make sure I want those edits and fix it. And then I guess I pray. Yeah. Then I send it out and then I pray. But on the good side of things, she loved it
Roomi Tarik
@roomi · 3:52
And I kind of loved it the way you explain things, the way you talk about certain things. It's full of emotion. Again. It's not about just you speaking in the way you talk. It's more about you entertaining people, I guess, with the speech. And every single time you've had this conversation with anyone regarding any topic, it has been a pleasure. I've always enjoyed your conversations and your viewpoints and whatnot I mean, it's always been so refreshing
Shahnaz Ahmed
@bookishpodcast · 0:35
Okay, Rumi, I do have a podcast, not the Swell Cast, not what I'm posting here, but I do have a separate podcast, which is available on most podcast apps like. So if you were to go to Spotify and go on the podcast and look for living a life through books, you should be able to find it. So yeah, there you have it. I you know what? Maybe I'm going to find you the link. Ha ha
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