Hello and welcome to WIPpet Wednesday, a blog hop wherein writers share an excerpt from their current WIP that somehow relates to the date. To join in, simply click the blue linky up there to the right.
It’s been a good four years since I last send my writing out for feedback. When I think about it that way, it really hits home how long I’ve been working on a things without ever finishing them.
But I’ve received some really helpful and supportive feedback on the first draft of Operation: Sugarplum, which is my submission to the #6amAusWriters Christmas anthology. I remember one lot of feedback for A More Complicated Fairytale was delivered in such a way it made me cry (yeah, not using that beta reader again), but all the feedback I’ve been getting this time has given me warm fuzzies and made me exclaim, “I can’t believe I didn’t think of that!”
There’s still a few people who haven’t sent their thoughts yet, but I’m going through and putting comments in where changes need to be made. There are going to be a lot! But it’s fun! I feel a little bit under pressure to have it ready by the end of the month, but I’m hoping to take a couple of days off in a few weeks anyway, so I can do some really solid work then.
Also it’s possibly become the first in a series. I wrote in my September outlook post on Sunday that I am going to spend the rest of the year working on shorter form fiction. Operation: Sugarplum is around 10k (might be 12-15k by the time I put through all the changes) and I imagine the follow-ups I have planned would be about the same. I’m actually… outlining?! *shocked gasps from the crowd* At this stage, there will be at least two more stories with these characters. So watch this space.
For this week’s WIPpet, I have 4 sentences from Operation: Sugarplum. If you remember from previous excerpts in June/July, Max Drosselmeier (boy-genius video game developer) invited Clara to join him to test out the new virtual reality platform his company is developing.
When they reached their floor, Max led Clara down a corridor of stark white walls and doors. Some of the doors had individuals’ nameplates, while others had department names.
“How are you with VR?” he asked as he swiped his staff pass on a door. “Have you played much?”
Clara shook her head. “I don’t know anyone with the equipment. I’ve played a couple of times when they’ve been demoing in shopping centres, that kind of thing. But that’s it.”
Max nodded. “This one has not been demoed in a shopping centre. In fact, you’re the first person outside of Drosselmeier Industries to get a look at it.”
To be honest, I just wrote myself a note asking why Max would be showing a complete stranger this top-secret project. I’m sure I can think of a reason, or at least address it and hand-wave it.
And with that, I will leave you and talk to you soon!
Emily Wrayburn 
It’s wonderful to have good beta readers! Hope you continue to get good feedback.
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