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There was quite a discussion in the Chicago Writers Association forum just before Christmas about what role the audience ought to play in the creative process. I’d like to report on a variation of that this morning.

I’m deep into the revision process of my second novel. I’ve been working on a chapter here, a chapter there, going back to the top, then to the bottom, trying to even things out, making sure that all the clues are in place

Saturday, I was finally in a position to share some of what I had been doing. I printed off the first twenty chapters and gave it to my partner to read. When she stopped after supper Saturday night to watch our favorite PBS shows, she told me that she thought the new book was even better than the first. I can tell you that it was hard getting to sleep that night! “Better,” she had said — praise enough to turn any author’s head! [That rhymed. Sorry about that.]

Yesterday (Sunday) she finished reading the pages I had given her. Other than a few minor problems, she thought I’d done a good job. Yes, I know you’re thinking that that’s what partners do. They buck you up. Well, I agree. But what I wanted to point out was the tremendous sense of satisfaction that comes from being able to hand over the manuscript — to an audience, if you will.

That IS, after all, one of the reasons we writers write. Anyway, it felt good and I felt good. I could say, “Here. Look what I did.”

Writing is a pretty lonely business. It’s nice to connect.