Or: How a Promo Post Gets Sappy
So, here we are, release week. I had grand plans to do a big post on the actual release day, but between the Real Job(tm) and...well...life, it just didn't happen.
A lot of people have asked me how this release day differed from the first one. Well, more people congratulated me, for one thing. People I've never met, Twitter-folk I only know because they read Devil and loved it. So there was that.
I like to think I was a lot less obsessive about my Amazon rankings this time. Mostly because I've truly proven over the last year that they don't mean a whole lot. Do I like to see those low digits? Sure. I always do a little happy dance in my chair when I can tell that someone bought another one. But it's still just pixels, ghosts in the machine.
A lot of other people had great releases on the same day. Carolyn Crane summed it up pretty nicely over at The League, so I'll just say go check her post out, and just use it like a shopping list. I myself bought HOUNDED and HEXED by Kevin Hearne today (they were out of HAMMERED, the big goobers, so I had to reserve one from the next batch). I also bought MY LIFE AS A WHITE TRASH ZOMBIE, then sat down and devoured it in three hours. (devoured...zombie... get it? Never mind.) Even I, the confessed zombie-phobe, loved it.
For those who just can't get enough of me... (oh come, on that's all of you. There's what, four of you now?)
Over at The Other Side of the Story, I talk about writing description. And at Dark Faerie Tales, Axel gives his view of Kansas City, plus you can win my books! Definitely keep checking back at Dark Faerie Tales and at All Things Urban Fantasy for their Deadly Destinations event all through the month of July. Your favorite UF characters give you tours of their worlds and there are giveaways galore.
I'll be popping up in a few more places around the Interwebz, but I'll link those as they come.
There have also been some great reviews for A SHOT IN THE DARK, but I won't link them all here. (though a part of me wants to go buy each and every one of those reviewers a steak dinner) ((Seriously. I know good steak.))
I just want to thank everyone who went out and bought the books, who read them, who recommended them... I always say that I would have kept writing, even if I'd never been published, but when it comes right down to it, having people read what I write is the true reward. This would be a very lonely endeavor without all of YOU.
Yes, you. You there. No, not you. You. Yes.
Ahem. Anyway.
Still getting trailing feedback in from my betas on Book 3 (which is in DIRE need of a title, so if anyone thinks of one...) but I think I'm pretty settled on what changes I need/want to make. Mostly, my betas are confirming the weaknesses I already saw, bless them, and I think the end project will be a zillion times better. It always is, when my betas get involved.
So, a bit more work, and then I'll have officially completed this contract. People keep asking me, "Will there be more than three JJD novels?" Short answer: Gosh, I hope so. Long answer: Haven't talked to anyone about that yet. Hope so. Really really hope so. Y'all will be the...well, probably fourth or fifth to know, but you know what I mean.
Showing posts with label beta reader. Show all posts
Showing posts with label beta reader. Show all posts
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Sunday, June 19, 2011
What is a Beta?
((Cross-posted at The League))
Since I announced that I’d finished Book 3 a few weeks ago and turned it over to my betas, I’ve had several questions that I thought deserved bigger answers than Twitter or Facebook would allow. So here we go.
No, a beta reader is not an overly aggressive fish with a love of literature.
Nor is it a person who divines the future by reading the entrails of said overly aggressive fish. (though a part of me now wants to put such a person in a book of some kind)
And please realize that if you ask a dozen different writers what a beta reader is, you’re likely to get a dozen different answers. (And if you ask the Leaguers, not all of those answers will be safe for work.) So what follows is really just a small example of what my betas do for me.
First, I have what I call my Alpha-Betas. This is a grand total of two people who read every word almost as soon as I set it on the paper (computer). Their purpose is to help me during the writing process. They work me past sticky plot problems, murky character developments, and guide me when I take a completely wrong turn. One of them is a high school English teacher, and the other has a Masters of Information degree (I think here in the States, it would be a Master of Library Sciences, but his way sounds cooler) and has read more classical literature then I even knew existed. They bring a wealth of knowledge and writing skill to the table. They’re the ones who get to put up with me whining “It’s not working and I just don’t know whhhhhhhyyyyyy!”
Once I have the first draft completed, I then send the book off to my regular betas. They come from a zillion different backgrounds. They are a web designer, an IT consultant, a bouncer, a factory worker, a theology student, a doctor and half a dozen other authors in various genres. But they all have one thing in common. They are readers. Like me, they read anything they can get their hands on.
When I send them the book, I give them instructions. Usually saying things like “Chapter 16 sucks, but I don’t know why.” Or “I’m worried that the first three chapters are too slow.” And very often “Did you follow event XYZ okay? I’m not sure I was even making sense at that point.”
They read for flow, for pacing. They read for continuity. They read to find me the places where I just didn’t explain myself as well as I think I did. They read to locate the points where my characters just aren’t acting like themselves. They tell me what parts they want to know more about, and what parts just stuck out because they didn’t belong.
It’s not fun, beta reading. It’s actually hard work. The easy part would be to read the book like a book, getting lost in the story. It’s much more difficult to read and deliberately hold yourself out of it, searching for the chinks and flaws between the words. But they do it for me every time. In fact, this crop of beta readers has been with me through four books now. Some of them have even read pieces of more books than that. I ask them to read for me over and over again because I know that they take it seriously, and because I know what kind of feedback I will get from them. The things they tell me are important. Even if I don’t agree with it all, it always makes me think and that’s the key part. If one person finds something wrong, others will also find that same part, and I need to decide how to address that.
Often, I get people asking “Can I be your beta reader?” Most of these people ask because they’re super excited about my writing, and they just can’t wait to see what comes next! They want to help! And that’s awesome. It makes me feel good that there are people who are so in touch with my characters that they’d volunteer to work on a book instead of just enjoy it.
Most of the time, though, I turn them down. It’s not because I don’t like them, or because I don’t think they could do the job. But really, the crew I have is enough feedback for me at the moment. I get a variety of opinions and notes, ranging from plot progression to grammar and syntax, and they’ve never failed to point me in the right direction.
Occasionally, one of my betas drops out due to time constraints. (Contrary to my own belief, they have lives/jobs/writing deadlines of their own, and they can’t always drop everything to read through my drivel) In those cases, I will sometimes reach out and try to find a new reader. If that reader provides helpful feedback, then I’ll usually keep them on for the next one. But more often than not, I choose a new reader and then I never hear back from them. Sad, but true. Those are the ones who just want to read a book before it comes out, but they don’t want to do the work to help make it the best it could be.
So for those who would love to be a beta reader (not just for me, but for anyone), remember that it’s work, and that the writer is relying on you. Simply telling them “It’s great, I loved it!” – while wonderful for the ego – is actually not as helpful as one might think. We need to know the parts that aren’t great, and when a person is a super-fan, they have a hard time pointing those places out. (Which is why I don’t beta read for a certain author-friend of mine. Flat out told her, I’m too big a fan to be useful to you.)
Hope this clears up some of the questions people have about beta readers. (If it doesn’t, I obviously should have run it past my betas first.)
Since I announced that I’d finished Book 3 a few weeks ago and turned it over to my betas, I’ve had several questions that I thought deserved bigger answers than Twitter or Facebook would allow. So here we go.
No, a beta reader is not an overly aggressive fish with a love of literature.
Nor is it a person who divines the future by reading the entrails of said overly aggressive fish. (though a part of me now wants to put such a person in a book of some kind)
And please realize that if you ask a dozen different writers what a beta reader is, you’re likely to get a dozen different answers. (And if you ask the Leaguers, not all of those answers will be safe for work.) So what follows is really just a small example of what my betas do for me.
First, I have what I call my Alpha-Betas. This is a grand total of two people who read every word almost as soon as I set it on the paper (computer). Their purpose is to help me during the writing process. They work me past sticky plot problems, murky character developments, and guide me when I take a completely wrong turn. One of them is a high school English teacher, and the other has a Masters of Information degree (I think here in the States, it would be a Master of Library Sciences, but his way sounds cooler) and has read more classical literature then I even knew existed. They bring a wealth of knowledge and writing skill to the table. They’re the ones who get to put up with me whining “It’s not working and I just don’t know whhhhhhhyyyyyy!”
Once I have the first draft completed, I then send the book off to my regular betas. They come from a zillion different backgrounds. They are a web designer, an IT consultant, a bouncer, a factory worker, a theology student, a doctor and half a dozen other authors in various genres. But they all have one thing in common. They are readers. Like me, they read anything they can get their hands on.
When I send them the book, I give them instructions. Usually saying things like “Chapter 16 sucks, but I don’t know why.” Or “I’m worried that the first three chapters are too slow.” And very often “Did you follow event XYZ okay? I’m not sure I was even making sense at that point.”
They read for flow, for pacing. They read for continuity. They read to find me the places where I just didn’t explain myself as well as I think I did. They read to locate the points where my characters just aren’t acting like themselves. They tell me what parts they want to know more about, and what parts just stuck out because they didn’t belong.
It’s not fun, beta reading. It’s actually hard work. The easy part would be to read the book like a book, getting lost in the story. It’s much more difficult to read and deliberately hold yourself out of it, searching for the chinks and flaws between the words. But they do it for me every time. In fact, this crop of beta readers has been with me through four books now. Some of them have even read pieces of more books than that. I ask them to read for me over and over again because I know that they take it seriously, and because I know what kind of feedback I will get from them. The things they tell me are important. Even if I don’t agree with it all, it always makes me think and that’s the key part. If one person finds something wrong, others will also find that same part, and I need to decide how to address that.
Often, I get people asking “Can I be your beta reader?” Most of these people ask because they’re super excited about my writing, and they just can’t wait to see what comes next! They want to help! And that’s awesome. It makes me feel good that there are people who are so in touch with my characters that they’d volunteer to work on a book instead of just enjoy it.
Most of the time, though, I turn them down. It’s not because I don’t like them, or because I don’t think they could do the job. But really, the crew I have is enough feedback for me at the moment. I get a variety of opinions and notes, ranging from plot progression to grammar and syntax, and they’ve never failed to point me in the right direction.
Occasionally, one of my betas drops out due to time constraints. (Contrary to my own belief, they have lives/jobs/writing deadlines of their own, and they can’t always drop everything to read through my drivel) In those cases, I will sometimes reach out and try to find a new reader. If that reader provides helpful feedback, then I’ll usually keep them on for the next one. But more often than not, I choose a new reader and then I never hear back from them. Sad, but true. Those are the ones who just want to read a book before it comes out, but they don’t want to do the work to help make it the best it could be.
So for those who would love to be a beta reader (not just for me, but for anyone), remember that it’s work, and that the writer is relying on you. Simply telling them “It’s great, I loved it!” – while wonderful for the ego – is actually not as helpful as one might think. We need to know the parts that aren’t great, and when a person is a super-fan, they have a hard time pointing those places out. (Which is why I don’t beta read for a certain author-friend of mine. Flat out told her, I’m too big a fan to be useful to you.)
Hope this clears up some of the questions people have about beta readers. (If it doesn’t, I obviously should have run it past my betas first.)
Sunday, April 18, 2010
DONE!
As of Friday, I have finished Son of DD, Book 2, whatever you wanna call it. And you know what? It may not suck! The first draft came in just over 64K words, which is actually a bit over my usual 75% first draft goal. I count this as a win!
Starting tomorrow, I'm going to do one more pass through, fixing the things I've thought of since my first go. All of those are neatly noted on my lovely color-coded outline. (yes, I'm that anal) So hopefully, that'll be a week's work, if that.
And then, I shall spring this on my beta-slaves! Bwa ha ha ha ha! ('cause they're threatening torches and pitch forks if they don't get to read it soon)
Starting tomorrow, I'm going to do one more pass through, fixing the things I've thought of since my first go. All of those are neatly noted on my lovely color-coded outline. (yes, I'm that anal) So hopefully, that'll be a week's work, if that.
And then, I shall spring this on my beta-slaves! Bwa ha ha ha ha! ('cause they're threatening torches and pitch forks if they don't get to read it soon)
Friday, August 14, 2009
She's Alive!
Rumors of my untimely demise have been greatly exaggerated (and were totally invented by me for comedic effect).
Yes, I know I haven’t been blogging. Bad Kari. No donut. But there was the little matter of a vacation somewhere in the middle of things! And since my #1 beta reader, Chie, was here for a visit, it could even be considered a working vacation.
See? We went to a baseball game. Totally research. To my right, I had Chie and Dr. Gita (my medical consultant who answers things like “what diseases do you get from being wet all the time?” and “how many ribs can a person have removed and still function?”).
And to my left, I had hubby and kiddo!
It was kiddo’s first baseball game, and she was thrilled. Too bad we were all baking in 100 degree heat and had to leave early.
Notice that, being the person holding the camera, there are no pictures of ME. (see what I did there?)
Today, I got through scribbling all the notes down for my revisions on DD. Most of them still say things like “expand here” and “clarify”, but once I sit down to type it all out, it’ll flow into the perfect prose. Or something.
I’m actually feeling really good about this. I can’t wait to get it turned back in, so I can get back to work on the Son of DD. Which still needs a title, I might add. As does the series as a whole. Suggestions are welcome.
And speaking of series… I DO still plan on writing a few blog posts on the subject of series in general. I’m just trying to plan out what I want to say ahead of time. Keeps me from babbling and rambling. Wonder if I could get those done this weekend too…hmm…
Yes, I know I haven’t been blogging. Bad Kari. No donut. But there was the little matter of a vacation somewhere in the middle of things! And since my #1 beta reader, Chie, was here for a visit, it could even be considered a working vacation.
See? We went to a baseball game. Totally research. To my right, I had Chie and Dr. Gita (my medical consultant who answers things like “what diseases do you get from being wet all the time?” and “how many ribs can a person have removed and still function?”).
And to my left, I had hubby and kiddo!
It was kiddo’s first baseball game, and she was thrilled. Too bad we were all baking in 100 degree heat and had to leave early.
Notice that, being the person holding the camera, there are no pictures of ME. (see what I did there?)
Today, I got through scribbling all the notes down for my revisions on DD. Most of them still say things like “expand here” and “clarify”, but once I sit down to type it all out, it’ll flow into the perfect prose. Or something.
I’m actually feeling really good about this. I can’t wait to get it turned back in, so I can get back to work on the Son of DD. Which still needs a title, I might add. As does the series as a whole. Suggestions are welcome.
And speaking of series… I DO still plan on writing a few blog posts on the subject of series in general. I’m just trying to plan out what I want to say ahead of time. Keeps me from babbling and rambling. Wonder if I could get those done this weekend too…hmm…
Thursday, May 7, 2009
*snerk*
This may be the greatest thing I've seen lately. Hats off to Lara Zielin and her vocal stylings!
Since I'm still stuck on Son of DD (waiting on Chie to call me any moment to hash out the stuck place. Did I mention how much I love her?), I've been fiddling with an idea for a YA UF novel. I've run the premise past several appropriately aged people (thanks to Chie's students, who will never realize how much they've helped me) and it seems to be a winner.
My issue is that I'm not sure I'm qualified to write YA. I mean, I didn't fit in with teens when I WAS one. They were always slightly alien (and scary) to me. I was the geek who would sit at the teachers' table, if they let me.
Whether or not I'm qualified, it's a low priority thing, and mostly just something to keep my brain occupied while I'm waiting for my editing notes and so on.
That's my life right now! All about the waiting.
Since I'm still stuck on Son of DD (waiting on Chie to call me any moment to hash out the stuck place. Did I mention how much I love her?), I've been fiddling with an idea for a YA UF novel. I've run the premise past several appropriately aged people (thanks to Chie's students, who will never realize how much they've helped me) and it seems to be a winner.
My issue is that I'm not sure I'm qualified to write YA. I mean, I didn't fit in with teens when I WAS one. They were always slightly alien (and scary) to me. I was the geek who would sit at the teachers' table, if they let me.
Whether or not I'm qualified, it's a low priority thing, and mostly just something to keep my brain occupied while I'm waiting for my editing notes and so on.
That's my life right now! All about the waiting.
Friday, March 13, 2009
To know, or not to know?
I had an e-mail from The Agent last night indicating that he may have a bigger update for me sometime next week. In publishing time, this means sometime before July. This is not to be construed as good news, however, because the update could just as easily be "they all laughed and mocked you."
I'm a little torn on the issue. I mean, I'm DYING to know what editors think about my work. But I'm also wary of being totally devastated if they hate me. Or, even worse, if I fall into that "soooo close but no cigar" category.
I told the Purgatorians today that I have an irrational fear that editors will want a rewrite involving a midget rodeo clown. A co-worker then suggested that if I did that, I should put it in space, because everything is better in space. And add ninjas. Space ninjas. Space ninja gas station attendants.
And the demented part of my mind is trying to figure out how to DO that.
I worked on the Son of Project 2 today, a little. 800-ish words, which is more than I've managed all the rest of the week. I promised myself that I'd start next revisions on Project 3 next week, addressing my beta-reader comments, but now I wonder if I shouldn't ride out this brief creativity spurt first.
Going childless this weekend, so hubby and I can attend Naka-Kon. This'll be my first anime convention (first convention of any kind, really) and I'm mostly going to keep hubby from buying EVERYthing in the vendor room. Wish me luck. First fangirl that whaps me with a glow stick is getting pummelled. I wonder if they let you blog from jail?
I'm a little torn on the issue. I mean, I'm DYING to know what editors think about my work. But I'm also wary of being totally devastated if they hate me. Or, even worse, if I fall into that "soooo close but no cigar" category.
I told the Purgatorians today that I have an irrational fear that editors will want a rewrite involving a midget rodeo clown. A co-worker then suggested that if I did that, I should put it in space, because everything is better in space. And add ninjas. Space ninjas. Space ninja gas station attendants.
And the demented part of my mind is trying to figure out how to DO that.
I worked on the Son of Project 2 today, a little. 800-ish words, which is more than I've managed all the rest of the week. I promised myself that I'd start next revisions on Project 3 next week, addressing my beta-reader comments, but now I wonder if I shouldn't ride out this brief creativity spurt first.
Going childless this weekend, so hubby and I can attend Naka-Kon. This'll be my first anime convention (first convention of any kind, really) and I'm mostly going to keep hubby from buying EVERYthing in the vendor room. Wish me luck. First fangirl that whaps me with a glow stick is getting pummelled. I wonder if they let you blog from jail?
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Signs of the Apocalypse
Ok, these may not be on the OFFICIAL apocalyptic signs list, but I'm pretty sure they're at least in the footnotes.
In the last two days I:
Joined Twitter
Drank a latte (yes, it was a Hot Irishman latte, but the fact remains that it was a coffee drink of some variety, and that counts!)
Anyone who knows me knows that I hate coffee. Hate it hate it hate it. The very smell almost always gives me an instant migraine. (the Folgers plant downtown makes the whole area toxic to me sometimes) But I keep thinking that a million Seattle residents can't be wrong, and there has to be something to this coffee thing.
Now, having had my first latte (heavily laced with Irish cream and hazelnut), I can safely say that...well, they're not ENTIRELY wrong, but... Maybe I need to try a mocha sometime. Something to drown out the coffee flavor more. (or maybe just drink a hot chocolate, which is cheaper and probably tastier anyway)
I admit, nothing much is going on with my writing. Still fiddling with Son of Project 2 off and on. I'm about 1/3 of the way into the second chapter, and I think I've already spotted a few mistakes, thematically, that I need to correct sooner rather than later. I'm trying very hard to keep in mind the lessons of writing Project 2 in the first place, so I don't repeat the same mistakes. (no doubt, I will find a whole FLOCK of new mistakes to make with this one)
Project 3 is still out with a few betas. So far I'm getting a universal squee, so it seems to be well-received. When I can get my one hard copy back (ie: when my hubby quits loaning it out to people to read) I'll start writing out my revisions there. Then I'll at least feel like I'm doing something productive.
Other than that, I seem to be in a permanent state of holding. Luckily, spring is coming and I can hopefully get my butt in gear and get OUT of the house some in the nicer weather.
In the last two days I:
Joined Twitter
Drank a latte (yes, it was a Hot Irishman latte, but the fact remains that it was a coffee drink of some variety, and that counts!)
Anyone who knows me knows that I hate coffee. Hate it hate it hate it. The very smell almost always gives me an instant migraine. (the Folgers plant downtown makes the whole area toxic to me sometimes) But I keep thinking that a million Seattle residents can't be wrong, and there has to be something to this coffee thing.
Now, having had my first latte (heavily laced with Irish cream and hazelnut), I can safely say that...well, they're not ENTIRELY wrong, but... Maybe I need to try a mocha sometime. Something to drown out the coffee flavor more. (or maybe just drink a hot chocolate, which is cheaper and probably tastier anyway)
I admit, nothing much is going on with my writing. Still fiddling with Son of Project 2 off and on. I'm about 1/3 of the way into the second chapter, and I think I've already spotted a few mistakes, thematically, that I need to correct sooner rather than later. I'm trying very hard to keep in mind the lessons of writing Project 2 in the first place, so I don't repeat the same mistakes. (no doubt, I will find a whole FLOCK of new mistakes to make with this one)
Project 3 is still out with a few betas. So far I'm getting a universal squee, so it seems to be well-received. When I can get my one hard copy back (ie: when my hubby quits loaning it out to people to read) I'll start writing out my revisions there. Then I'll at least feel like I'm doing something productive.
Other than that, I seem to be in a permanent state of holding. Luckily, spring is coming and I can hopefully get my butt in gear and get OUT of the house some in the nicer weather.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Wow, I'm slacking
The hazard of being in the "waiting" phase of the publishing saga is that I run out of things to talk about. I mean really, how often do you guys want to hear "Yup, nothing new today." ? Oh wait...that's what I do over at AW. Oops.
I did poke The Agent a couple days ago, just generally checking in. Right now, he says he's got Project 2 out at a couple places, and he's waiting for the layoff dust to settle at others. Makes sense. Like every other industry, publishing is going through some shaky times, and no one is quite sure who's doing what at the moment.
My own industry (the Real Job(tm) ) is one of the shaky ones too, but my boss-boss mentioned today that she's pretty sure we're not going anywhere in the near future. That's actually comforting to hear. I have this thing for stability. I really dig on it, especially when that's where my money comes from.
In writing news, I'm not setting any speed records this week. I'm piddling with Son of Project 2 here and there, but that mostly consists of revising and tweaking the one chapter I do have finished. You know, writing a sequel is actually harder than I thought. I mean, I have to work in a rehash of the first book & character relationships without being all info-dumpy, and yet include enough information to account for people who either didn't read the first one, or forgot the particulars. SO many things to think about!
My beta reports on Project 3 are still coming in, and so far, it seems to be fairly popular. (Two of my betas called each other long distance to squee over it. I boggle.) I'm waiting for the last few to come in before I start making revisions, but I'm looking forward to it a lot. I still think this may be the best thing I've ever written.
I did poke The Agent a couple days ago, just generally checking in. Right now, he says he's got Project 2 out at a couple places, and he's waiting for the layoff dust to settle at others. Makes sense. Like every other industry, publishing is going through some shaky times, and no one is quite sure who's doing what at the moment.
My own industry (the Real Job(tm) ) is one of the shaky ones too, but my boss-boss mentioned today that she's pretty sure we're not going anywhere in the near future. That's actually comforting to hear. I have this thing for stability. I really dig on it, especially when that's where my money comes from.
In writing news, I'm not setting any speed records this week. I'm piddling with Son of Project 2 here and there, but that mostly consists of revising and tweaking the one chapter I do have finished. You know, writing a sequel is actually harder than I thought. I mean, I have to work in a rehash of the first book & character relationships without being all info-dumpy, and yet include enough information to account for people who either didn't read the first one, or forgot the particulars. SO many things to think about!
My beta reports on Project 3 are still coming in, and so far, it seems to be fairly popular. (Two of my betas called each other long distance to squee over it. I boggle.) I'm waiting for the last few to come in before I start making revisions, but I'm looking forward to it a lot. I still think this may be the best thing I've ever written.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
The inside of the cookie
...is way better than the outside of the cookie. This is the profound thought I had today while eating a snickerdoodle. Just thought I'd share.
So, the biggest news in my life is that, after one year, one week, and one day, they FINALLY fixed the water main leak in front of my house! (I forgot what color my driveway was when dry) Now we'll be able to get the foundation fixed and the driveway repaved (once warmer weather gets here, I assume. I wouldn't wanna be pouring asphalt in the freakin' cold)
Hubby and I got new pillows this weekend, and new chairs for our computer desks. These actually roll! Which of course means that one of them is going to move and drop me on my butt someday as I try to plant myself in it. Don't worry, I'm sure Hubby will be there to get it on film.
We also got new phones! Now, these aren't the uber pimp pilot-the-space-shuttle phones, but they're leaps and bounds ahead of our old ones. You can even listen to the radio on them! For some reason, I find this novelty extremly exciting.
I've been working on plotting the Son of Project 2 these past couple of weeks. Happily, I think I've managed to get a pretty solid plot worked up. I'm rather pleased with it. (my outlines are getting steadily better, with every new project. I deem this a good thing) I also have the first chapter written, but it's anyone's guess if this first chapter will actually wind up as the first chapter, or end up on the cutting room floor. Who knows, maybe someday I can do a "deleted scenes" thing on my web page (when I get a web page) ((And a book deal))
My only concern so far with SoP2 is that my current outline is 16 chapters. Project 2 comes in at 23 chapters. Now, I'm a firm believer that chapters are as long as they need to be, so putting 80K words into 16 chapters instead of 23 doesn't bother me. What concerns me is that for two books in a series to have such drastically different lengths to their chapters might be off-putting. I'm combing through the outline to see where additional chapter splits might be made, but I have a feeling that I won't know for sure until I start writing it.
And as a part of this discussion with the Purgatorians on AW, I found out that not everyone even writes in chapters! Who knew? Some folks just write, and when it's all done, they figure out where nice breaks would be. Just goes to show how different the process can be for people.
I'm still waiting to hear back from a few beta readers on Project 3 (which is fine, 'cause I told them to take a month, and we're way under that). I think I've identified a few consistent problem areas, and I'm anxious to see if they agree. If I'm right, then I think I already know how to fix said areas, and I'm kind of excited about it.
Ok, does me babbling like a loon make up for not posting more than once a week?
So, the biggest news in my life is that, after one year, one week, and one day, they FINALLY fixed the water main leak in front of my house! (I forgot what color my driveway was when dry) Now we'll be able to get the foundation fixed and the driveway repaved (once warmer weather gets here, I assume. I wouldn't wanna be pouring asphalt in the freakin' cold)
Hubby and I got new pillows this weekend, and new chairs for our computer desks. These actually roll! Which of course means that one of them is going to move and drop me on my butt someday as I try to plant myself in it. Don't worry, I'm sure Hubby will be there to get it on film.
We also got new phones! Now, these aren't the uber pimp pilot-the-space-shuttle phones, but they're leaps and bounds ahead of our old ones. You can even listen to the radio on them! For some reason, I find this novelty extremly exciting.
I've been working on plotting the Son of Project 2 these past couple of weeks. Happily, I think I've managed to get a pretty solid plot worked up. I'm rather pleased with it. (my outlines are getting steadily better, with every new project. I deem this a good thing) I also have the first chapter written, but it's anyone's guess if this first chapter will actually wind up as the first chapter, or end up on the cutting room floor. Who knows, maybe someday I can do a "deleted scenes" thing on my web page (when I get a web page) ((And a book deal))
My only concern so far with SoP2 is that my current outline is 16 chapters. Project 2 comes in at 23 chapters. Now, I'm a firm believer that chapters are as long as they need to be, so putting 80K words into 16 chapters instead of 23 doesn't bother me. What concerns me is that for two books in a series to have such drastically different lengths to their chapters might be off-putting. I'm combing through the outline to see where additional chapter splits might be made, but I have a feeling that I won't know for sure until I start writing it.
And as a part of this discussion with the Purgatorians on AW, I found out that not everyone even writes in chapters! Who knew? Some folks just write, and when it's all done, they figure out where nice breaks would be. Just goes to show how different the process can be for people.
I'm still waiting to hear back from a few beta readers on Project 3 (which is fine, 'cause I told them to take a month, and we're way under that). I think I've identified a few consistent problem areas, and I'm anxious to see if they agree. If I'm right, then I think I already know how to fix said areas, and I'm kind of excited about it.
Ok, does me babbling like a loon make up for not posting more than once a week?
Friday, February 13, 2009
Gratuitous Praise
Ok, I know that beta readers are supposed to read works for editing purposes, and be critical of...whatever they're critical of... And my betas will do that! But there is also a little part of me that just gets giddy when the initial response from one of them is just gushing squeee!
(that sounds kinda gross, actually. I need a better phrase there. I'll see what my betas have to say about it)
I mean sure, I want to make my work better, and I know it has places I could improve. But I still get a big charge out of enjoying others enjoying my work. It reminds me why I do this in the first place. I want other people to live the stories in my head and learn to love these characters too.
Three day weekend coming up, with a variety of events planned. Hubby is dragging me to see the new Friday the 13th movie. (I've never even seen the original) The theory being that, at age 32, it is way past time for me to see my first horror movie in the movie theater. An interesting way to spend the Valentines' weekend, no?
(that sounds kinda gross, actually. I need a better phrase there. I'll see what my betas have to say about it)
I mean sure, I want to make my work better, and I know it has places I could improve. But I still get a big charge out of enjoying others enjoying my work. It reminds me why I do this in the first place. I want other people to live the stories in my head and learn to love these characters too.
Three day weekend coming up, with a variety of events planned. Hubby is dragging me to see the new Friday the 13th movie. (I've never even seen the original) The theory being that, at age 32, it is way past time for me to see my first horror movie in the movie theater. An interesting way to spend the Valentines' weekend, no?
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Calling All Betas!
That's right, I did it, I finished the second draft of Project 3. (pay no attention to the word counter on the left. That's what revisions are for)
For those poor people who have to spend more than ten minutes with me at any given time, they are either sick of hearing about it, or salivating in anticipation of reading it.
If you are one of the latter, and you have time in the next month to give it a detailed and thorough look-see, let me know.
I'm actually pretty proud of Project 3. It's totally and completely different from Project 2 and Project NaNo. At alternate times, I think it's the weirdest thing I've ever written, and maybe the best. (In my delusions of grandeur, this is the book that I envision people studying 50 years from now, trying to figure out just what I meant) ((Yes, I am that crazy)) This is also the first book (of mine) that has ever had a soundtrack, and that I can see being made into a movie.
Then again, the betas may all come back to me and say "WTF???"
Of course, I just realized that I'm not sure what I should work on next, while I wait for beta feedback. Son of Project 2? Second draft of Project NaNo? Hmm...
For those poor people who have to spend more than ten minutes with me at any given time, they are either sick of hearing about it, or salivating in anticipation of reading it.
If you are one of the latter, and you have time in the next month to give it a detailed and thorough look-see, let me know.
I'm actually pretty proud of Project 3. It's totally and completely different from Project 2 and Project NaNo. At alternate times, I think it's the weirdest thing I've ever written, and maybe the best. (In my delusions of grandeur, this is the book that I envision people studying 50 years from now, trying to figure out just what I meant) ((Yes, I am that crazy)) This is also the first book (of mine) that has ever had a soundtrack, and that I can see being made into a movie.
Then again, the betas may all come back to me and say "WTF???"
Of course, I just realized that I'm not sure what I should work on next, while I wait for beta feedback. Son of Project 2? Second draft of Project NaNo? Hmm...
Friday, January 2, 2009
The Year in Review
Wow, where to start. 2008 was a strange ride.
It started with the Great Flood, repercussions of which are still trickling down my driveway and freezing solid. (I busted both knees on Christmas Eve, and they're still a lovely shade of purple)
I sent out my first query letter, got my first partial request, and my first partial rejection, all within four days. An auspicious beginning, to be sure. I wrote two books (if you count the NaNo project which is one chapter from completion). I revised Project 2 umpteen billion times. I got an agent.
Kiddo started school, and karate classes. She lost her first tooth at Thanksgiving, and proved that she'd rather wear red velvet dresses than ripped up blue jeans. (Are we sure this is my child?)
Hubby spent about two months this summer without gainful employment, which seriously tapped our resources. He also proved that he DOES know the meaning of budget, and cutting spending.
We got Gita to move within spitting distance, resulting in the most social activity for me possibly EVER. Chie visited, with spectacular results.
The year ended with a bang, literally, and our chimney in our front yard. But insurance is paying for it, and we've discovered that our neighbors might be decent people after all, even if we have no idea who they are after six years.
My writing hopes for 2009:
*Revise Project NaNo. Revise Project 3. Get both out to beta readers, and into some semblance of presentable shape.
*If I have time after that, I want to outline Son of Project 2, and get the sequel underway.
*I hope The Agent sells Project 2, with or without any siblings attached. I hope he likes the other projects, when I send them to him.
Thanks to all of you who stick with me from day to neurotic day. Let's see where the next year takes us.
It started with the Great Flood, repercussions of which are still trickling down my driveway and freezing solid. (I busted both knees on Christmas Eve, and they're still a lovely shade of purple)
I sent out my first query letter, got my first partial request, and my first partial rejection, all within four days. An auspicious beginning, to be sure. I wrote two books (if you count the NaNo project which is one chapter from completion). I revised Project 2 umpteen billion times. I got an agent.
Kiddo started school, and karate classes. She lost her first tooth at Thanksgiving, and proved that she'd rather wear red velvet dresses than ripped up blue jeans. (Are we sure this is my child?)
Hubby spent about two months this summer without gainful employment, which seriously tapped our resources. He also proved that he DOES know the meaning of budget, and cutting spending.
We got Gita to move within spitting distance, resulting in the most social activity for me possibly EVER. Chie visited, with spectacular results.
The year ended with a bang, literally, and our chimney in our front yard. But insurance is paying for it, and we've discovered that our neighbors might be decent people after all, even if we have no idea who they are after six years.
My writing hopes for 2009:
*Revise Project NaNo. Revise Project 3. Get both out to beta readers, and into some semblance of presentable shape.
*If I have time after that, I want to outline Son of Project 2, and get the sequel underway.
*I hope The Agent sells Project 2, with or without any siblings attached. I hope he likes the other projects, when I send them to him.
Thanks to all of you who stick with me from day to neurotic day. Let's see where the next year takes us.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Quickness
Raiding in WoW tonight (told you, I am one of THOSE geeks) so short post.
Working very hard on Project 3. I'm almost done with chapter 22 (and worked in a KILLER action sequence, if I do say so myself) and then I only have two chapters left. I think I'll hit 70K easy with this first draft, which will make me just giddy!
The plan at the moment is to finish said first draft, then work on planning out a new project to do solely through NaNoWriMo in November. (barring any agent-driven revisions on Project 2)
Betas are getting back to me with notes on the current revisions, and everyone seems quite pleased with them. I'm really glad, because I have lost all ability to be objective with this one.
Working very hard on Project 3. I'm almost done with chapter 22 (and worked in a KILLER action sequence, if I do say so myself) and then I only have two chapters left. I think I'll hit 70K easy with this first draft, which will make me just giddy!
The plan at the moment is to finish said first draft, then work on planning out a new project to do solely through NaNoWriMo in November. (barring any agent-driven revisions on Project 2)
Betas are getting back to me with notes on the current revisions, and everyone seems quite pleased with them. I'm really glad, because I have lost all ability to be objective with this one.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
The query works
I think I can say, without a doubt, that my query is successful. In adding this morning's partial request to the tally, I have over a 1/3 positive response rate. That's pretty darned good!
I sent project 2 out to a brand new beta who was gracious enough to volunteer. Not only that, but she read it in record time and sent me back notes!! Just have to find time to go through them all carefully.
I expected to have problems with chapter 17 of Project 3 today, but a passing comment by Theo broke the whole thing wide open. I'm no where near done with it, of course, but I have an excellent start and momentum to carry into tomorrow. I keep realizing that I'm nearing the end of the first draft on this one, quite rapidly. Stealth Book for the win?
All in all, I'm willing to concede that (writing-wise) the past week or so hasn't been bad at all.
I sent project 2 out to a brand new beta who was gracious enough to volunteer. Not only that, but she read it in record time and sent me back notes!! Just have to find time to go through them all carefully.
I expected to have problems with chapter 17 of Project 3 today, but a passing comment by Theo broke the whole thing wide open. I'm no where near done with it, of course, but I have an excellent start and momentum to carry into tomorrow. I keep realizing that I'm nearing the end of the first draft on this one, quite rapidly. Stealth Book for the win?
All in all, I'm willing to concede that (writing-wise) the past week or so hasn't been bad at all.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Life and other events
My best friend & beta reader Gita lost her mother today, so please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.
For my own events today, I wrote 2,100 words on project 3, finishing chapter 8. I also came home to find a request for a full manuscript on Project 2 from a brand spanking new agent.
Somehow, it's hard to be appropriately jubilant in light of the event mentioned previously.
For my own events today, I wrote 2,100 words on project 3, finishing chapter 8. I also came home to find a request for a full manuscript on Project 2 from a brand spanking new agent.
Somehow, it's hard to be appropriately jubilant in light of the event mentioned previously.
Friday, February 8, 2008
It's Friday, I'm in love...
It was the last song I heard on the radio before I got out of the car tonight. So sue me.
I printed out the most recent version of Project 2 for my own uses, and sent it to Chie, Theo, Kat and Haka again. I swear, saints walk among us, and they are my beta-readers. I can't believe these wonderful people have been willing to read this muck not once, not twice, but multiple times. I will never be able to repay them, even if I one day become as rich as J.K. Rowling.
And other than that, I didn't touch it at all. It felt GOOD to just...be done. Even temporarily. I worked instead on chapter outlines for Project 3, at least until lunch put me in a food coma.
I have no idea what my plans for this weekend are, but it feels almost like a mini-vacation!
I printed out the most recent version of Project 2 for my own uses, and sent it to Chie, Theo, Kat and Haka again. I swear, saints walk among us, and they are my beta-readers. I can't believe these wonderful people have been willing to read this muck not once, not twice, but multiple times. I will never be able to repay them, even if I one day become as rich as J.K. Rowling.
And other than that, I didn't touch it at all. It felt GOOD to just...be done. Even temporarily. I worked instead on chapter outlines for Project 3, at least until lunch put me in a food coma.
I have no idea what my plans for this weekend are, but it feels almost like a mini-vacation!
Monday, January 28, 2008
Good Day!
Ok, so Mondays are notorious for not being super spiffy keen, but today hasn't been bad!
First off, I woke up this morning to find that I was one of the winners in C.E. Murphy's book give away! Nothing is better than finding out you get a free book from an author you truly enjoy.
Then, Saint Nathan Bransford started his First Page contest today. Yes, I submitted the first page of Project 2. I have to practice getting over butterflies somehow, yes? Start small, grasshoppah! I believe I'm comment 109 out of a rapidly growing list. I hope I can find time to read all the entries myself.
This weekend, I worked on my query letter. It isn't done. It's not even good, really. But it's WAY better than my original pathetic attempt. I posted it up at Absolute Write, and got some really great feedback and pointers on what direction I need to take next.
AND... (I know you don't have to stop for breath when typing, but it sure feels like it) I had a really good idea for an additional scene at the end of Project 2, which will not only bump word count, but offer some more insight into one particular character that my betas just can't seem to get enough of.
So, yes, I'm going to miss the January 31st deadline on having this whole book thing ready to go. But you know what? It isn't because I've been slacking.
First off, I woke up this morning to find that I was one of the winners in C.E. Murphy's book give away! Nothing is better than finding out you get a free book from an author you truly enjoy.
Then, Saint Nathan Bransford started his First Page contest today. Yes, I submitted the first page of Project 2. I have to practice getting over butterflies somehow, yes? Start small, grasshoppah! I believe I'm comment 109 out of a rapidly growing list. I hope I can find time to read all the entries myself.
This weekend, I worked on my query letter. It isn't done. It's not even good, really. But it's WAY better than my original pathetic attempt. I posted it up at Absolute Write, and got some really great feedback and pointers on what direction I need to take next.
AND... (I know you don't have to stop for breath when typing, but it sure feels like it) I had a really good idea for an additional scene at the end of Project 2, which will not only bump word count, but offer some more insight into one particular character that my betas just can't seem to get enough of.
So, yes, I'm going to miss the January 31st deadline on having this whole book thing ready to go. But you know what? It isn't because I've been slacking.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Baby it's COLD outside!
Ok yeah, I should be used to Midwest winters, but every now and then it jumps up and slaps me in the face. Luckily, me and my Explorer can go anywhere, so while everyone else was spinning their tires on hills this morning, kiddo and I got to the daycare and bus stop just fine.
I've finished another major addition to Project 2 that I am REALLY happy with. (Thanks to Auggy for the idea, and Theo for helping me flesh it out in my head) Now, I'm idly perusing through the manuscript to see where things are a bit sparse. There's one particular chapter ending that I've sicced my betas on, because I hated it when I first wrote it, I hated it when I revised it, and I STILL hate it. So hopefully, one of them will help me get a fresh look at a solution.
Slowly but surely, my word count creeps up. I figure, if I can hit 70K words, I'll be content. (not happy, but at least content)
I've finished another major addition to Project 2 that I am REALLY happy with. (Thanks to Auggy for the idea, and Theo for helping me flesh it out in my head) Now, I'm idly perusing through the manuscript to see where things are a bit sparse. There's one particular chapter ending that I've sicced my betas on, because I hated it when I first wrote it, I hated it when I revised it, and I STILL hate it. So hopefully, one of them will help me get a fresh look at a solution.
Slowly but surely, my word count creeps up. I figure, if I can hit 70K words, I'll be content. (not happy, but at least content)
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Slacking, pt 2!
Ha ha! I have figured out how to retrieve the stupid saved drafts! So, original post below, for your reading pleasure.
I've been slacking on the blog, not on the writing. When I don't have a word count to update every day, it just seems... I 'unno.
Beta reports are still trickling in. I've been taking the info I'm given and using it as inspiration to scribble ALL over my hard copy. The poor thing is so tattered, and now covered in purple ink. I have quite a few people I haven't heard from yet (nudges to Gita, Lendys, Chie), and a couple others who are going through it piece by piece. I'm resisting the urge to go ahead with the next draft until I hear back from them, but it's getting harder by the day.
As far as new projects go, I scribbled some stuff down yesterday. It brought me to the realization that while I am GREAT with premise (and I can world build like nobody's business), I struggle with actual plot. So I have these wonderful people in this really neat world, and I'm not sure what they're doing! Oh well, all things in time, right?
And on a real life note, when did Thanksgiving sneak up on us! I demand my year back.
I've been slacking on the blog, not on the writing. When I don't have a word count to update every day, it just seems... I 'unno.
Beta reports are still trickling in. I've been taking the info I'm given and using it as inspiration to scribble ALL over my hard copy. The poor thing is so tattered, and now covered in purple ink. I have quite a few people I haven't heard from yet (nudges to Gita, Lendys, Chie), and a couple others who are going through it piece by piece. I'm resisting the urge to go ahead with the next draft until I hear back from them, but it's getting harder by the day.
As far as new projects go, I scribbled some stuff down yesterday. It brought me to the realization that while I am GREAT with premise (and I can world build like nobody's business), I struggle with actual plot. So I have these wonderful people in this really neat world, and I'm not sure what they're doing! Oh well, all things in time, right?
And on a real life note, when did Thanksgiving sneak up on us! I demand my year back.
Friday, November 9, 2007
Thoughts and Mullings
As I let my betas' comments seep into my brain, I find that I am thinking of more ways to flesh out my world and make it a fuller, more interesting place. For example, I have quite a bit more room to explain many things about my antagonists that I never even touched on. I think I was so paranoid about info-dumping that I've neglected some basic explanation and examination that the reader will want/need.
This is encouraging to me! I think I would be more disheartened to realize that I had written something and had no where left to go with it. But a story that has room to evolve means that it has room to be better.
We can rebuild it! We have the technology!
I'm still not touching it at this point. I'm waiting to hear back from my betas that are using this weekend to get up a head of steam and blast right through it. But the feedback I have so far is taking my mind in wonderful new directions. I can't wait to see what everyone else comes up with!
This is encouraging to me! I think I would be more disheartened to realize that I had written something and had no where left to go with it. But a story that has room to evolve means that it has room to be better.
We can rebuild it! We have the technology!
I'm still not touching it at this point. I'm waiting to hear back from my betas that are using this weekend to get up a head of steam and blast right through it. But the feedback I have so far is taking my mind in wonderful new directions. I can't wait to see what everyone else comes up with!
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