Are You Writing Alone?

In one of my manuscripts, I am attempting to write it in first person past tense. however, I continually slip up and write it in first person present. In my head, I want it to be told in first person past. So after every writing session, I go back and change the verb tenses throughout the story. I sent a chapter out to my critique group, and mentioned this. One of them wrote back, and asked, "why don't you just write it in present tense?"

And wow! Why don't I? Why was I fighting so much to pigeon hole the story into the tense, when for some reason it clearly wants to be told in first person present (except for flashback scenes). Suddenly the entire writing process seems a whole lot easier.

I also recently got feedback on Lexy, which is out on submission to agents, and I realized that my first chapter isn't as strong as the rest of my novel. I rewrote it after I finished the novel, and it starts in a better place, but I haven't poured over it the way I did the rest of the novel. I am in the process of tightening it up. Little things, not huge, but I think they will help immensely.

While most of your writing is done alone, it is important to reach out to others during the process for critiques, for editing, for a new perspective. Although this is an occupation or a hobby that is mostly solitaire, it is important to be open to feedback, to be willing to change.

How do you reach out to others for help in your writing?