I know how you feel...Somebody always does the same with my witty comments!

Good luck with your writing!

this sounds like what happened to me at rehearsal tonight. the pianist wasn't there and the cd player was giving the director fits. usually, i sight read pretty well. but tonight the notes coming out of the piano did NOT sound like what i was trying to play. it was weird.

Damn. Sounds like your novel is going to have thirty-eleven authors, all listed alphabetically I hope. Royalties paid the same way. Remember, a camel is a horse created by committee. Other than that, I have no opinion. Well, maybe one question: if your "group" is so into participating in the writing of your book, how many have actually been published? If none, consider the source of their commentary.

Thanks for your kind words, but I'm a perfectionist, so writing a first draft is bound to be painful for me. And I did do something experimental this week, and was acutely aware that it wasn't completely successful.

Or, like Edison figuring out the light bulb, I've "identified what doesn't work." Better way to look at it, I guess ;)

I sometimes cringe at phrases I've written but keep writing on so as not to get bogged down, I know what I meant and I can come back and tinker when it's time to re-write. I think the greatest danger to the novel we're all eager to read is the distraction perfectionism can create. I've recruited a couple of beta readers myself but I find I'm more productive the less I think in terms of what they'd like. Remember this is all rehearsal, opening night is when you put it in the box and send it off. Best of Luck!

Better than Edison, be like Michaelangelo. He carved the statue of David by cutting away anything that didn't look like him.