Chapter 2: The Feedback

This past week has been nothing short of exciting!

First up, Wednesday was my birthday, and it brought a gift I’d been eagerly awaiting: the results from my course at Oxford University. I’m thrilled to share that I passed with flying colours! Along with my grade came some amazing feedback, particularly about my strengths in description and capturing character senses. For the course, I had to submit my pivotal climactic scene as prose and a full novel synopsis broken into acts with key turning points. Throughout the course, I’d shared various parts of my story, whether character-focused or scene-based, and every time I received high praise. Knowing that my hard work paid off was the perfect birthday gift as the longer time went on, the more I had worried about failing.

Then on Friday came the next big moment: my manuscript evaluation. This was the big one—the first time someone had read my entire first-draft manuscript and provided comprehensive feedback. I was nervous but also eager to hear how it was received. The highlights? My strengths shone through once again in my descriptions, particularly in worldbuilding.

I’ve always loved crafting creatures and monsters, so it was a thrill to hear that they felt real and vivid. The feedback also praised my ability to play with fantasy tropes while making the story feel fresh and engaging.
Of course, there were areas for improvement. Some plot points needed refining, but there wasn’t anything I disagreed with. In fact, I’d already had lingering doubts about certain elements, so it was validating to have those pointed out. My evaluator offered options and suggestions to address these issues, and luckily, they were all relatively minor. Even better, they gave me the opportunity to dive deeper into the story—something I’m more than happy to do!

If you’re a writer and you’re not sure about whether or not to have your manuscript evaluated, I’d definitely recommend doing so. It’s so easy to become slow-blinded by your own work that some fresh and experienced eyes is a must have. It was worth it’s weight in gold and it’s been a great opportunity to get a clear head when it comes to my world.

Looking back, it’s been an incredible week. The combination of personal celebration and professional progress has left me feeling inspired. The feedback from both my course and my manuscript evaluation has given me a lot to think about, and I can’t wait to roll up my sleeves and dive into the next steps.

Here’s to another year of growth, creativity, and storytelling. If you’re in the thick of your writing journey, remember to celebrate the wins—big and small—because they’re what keep us going.