You can never read your own book with the innocent anticipation that comes with that first delicious page of a new book, because you wrote the thing. You’ve been backstage. You’ve seen how the rabbits were smuggled into the hat. Therefore ask a reading friend or two to look at it before you give it to anyone in the publishing business. This friend should not be someone with whom you have a romantic relationship, unless you want to break up.

Margaret Atwood (b. 1939) Canadian writer, literary critic, environmental activist

In “Ten Rules for Writing Fiction,” The Guardian (20 Feb 2010)
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