There is one important ingredient that will be forever lacking in my writing: objectivity. I waver between thinking what I write is pretty okay, to thinking “ack! Drivel, absolute drivel. And I subjected other people to it.” I have yet to find that happy balance where I can objectively evaluate my own work and see what’s missing, what’s overdone, and what needs to be edited out completely.
With the distance of a little time, I generally see with a bit more clarity. A few months can make a world of difference. Still, I know they are my words and it’s impossible to get past that bit of information clinging to the prose as I read. The biggest barrier is that my brain will add information that isn’t necessarily included in the text. For example, I know a character’s motivation, so it’s unlikely that I will notice that I haven’t explained it properly. Or if I’ve explained it to death.
This is why I’m a huge fan of beta readers. They see what’s actually on the paper, not what’s in your head. My advice to every writer, whether you’re just starting out or you have 15 books already in print, find a beta reader who is willing to tell you the truth and then thank them for being brave enough to do so.
It’s a fine balance. Some beta readers will know something is off, but not be able to articulate what it is or how to correct it. Some will not want to hurt your feelings, so they will hold back the unpleasant feedback in favor of telling you how great and wonderful you are. This is nice to hear, no doubt, but a publisher will not be so kind. Better to hear what needs corrected before sending it to your editor.
Just like any other relationship, it’s okay to have expectations for what you should get out of it. In fact, I’d say it’s more than okay, it’s necessary. And it’s okay to talk to your beta reader about what you are looking for.
I beta read for a few people, and I’ve been lucky to have a few fabulous beta readers to help shape my writing. One thing that I do each time I send out a new file is express what type of feedback I’m looking for. For example:
Grammar and punctuation: Usually I’m not looking for this. If it glares at the reader, then by all means, point it out. But don’t scrutinize for it.
Sentence structure: This is one of those that most people can’t nail down. They can tell you that it’s wrong, but not why it’s wrong. That’s okay. If you beta read for someone and know that a sentence is wrong, but can’t explain why, still point it out to the writer. There are times when I’ll be unsure about a sentence, but I’ll try it out on betas just to see if they’ll comment on it. If they don’t, I assume it’s okay. If they do, I know to look at it again. This is especially critical in action scenes (especially sex scenes). The last thing a reader wants is to be thrown out of the scene by a sentence that acts as a speed bump rather than a conduit (yes, I just mixed my metaphors there. A good beta reader would point it out.).
Repetition: Some words/images are used over and over with no negative consequence. Other words can’t be used more than once in the course of a book. I used the word lean six time in Chaps. My editor called me on it and I changed all but one of them. Lean isn’t that uncommon of word. What if it’s a word like obsequious? How many times can you get away with that? Once. The second time the beta reader should call you on it and make you decide where it’s most effective and which one to drop.
Character development/continuity: This one is very difficult to catch as a writer, so it’s critical that the beta reader be tuned in for this type of thing. For example, if the writer is supposed to be a street level gang member with minimal formal education, yet a love for classical literature, language choice would be everything in expressing that. Check out these two options: “That chick in Tale of Two Cities? No way she was real. She was so fake and couldn’t think for herself.” or “The composition of Tale for Two Cities was such that the female characters lacked depth and purpose. They lacked thrust and were present only to prop up the male characters in the book. I’m unsure if it is a reflection of Dickens’s inability to write female characters or if it is an accurate portrayal of society at that point in history?” Both point out the dislike for Dickens’s characterization of females in his stories, but which one utilizes language that is fitting with a character with minimal formal education? A good beta reader will notice when the character stops talking and the writer starts.
Timeline: If on page 73 you mention that a character graduated from college six years ago, then on page 87, you note that the character is 24, you’ve just made a blunder in the character’s personal history timeline, or you’ve just established her as a genius. Either way, a good beta reader will point it out and ask for clarification or correction. Another example: If the two characters have impromptu sex at a bar in chapter 1, they can’t kiss for the first time in chapter 11 (unless they didn’t kiss during the sex scene). Y’all get the idea.
Plot line, continuity, and flow: This ties with timeline and character development. Plot is the flow of events from Once Upon a Time to The End. It’s the alphabet of the story. If LMNOP is missing from the middle, the writer needs to know that. For example, if the two main characters hate each other passionately at the beginning, but are snuggle bunnies who can’t get enough naked time together at the end, there has to be some pretty effective dot connecting in the middle. The reader has to believe the metamorphosis, not be yanked from one extreme to another with no explanation.
A trusted beta reader is a treasure. Be sure to thank her for her hard work on your behalf.
Day late, here. Sorry. I’ve had to work a lot at the gym this week, and yesterday was no exception. But here I am! WOOO!
Yeah, it’s that time of year again. The Superbowl. In case you’ve been hiding under a rock or you’re from a country in the southern hemisphere, this year’s contenders are the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints. I’ve been a Saints fan since around 1977, because I tend to cheer for underdog teams and the Saints have not had a good run of it until fairly recently. This is the first time they’ve gone to the Superbowl in franchise history, so I’m pretty stoked for them.
Okay, blah blah blah. Gotcha. Some of you just don’t watch sports, don’t care, no how, no way. But let me make a couple of suggestions so perhaps you can move beyond the fanfare and do some READING about sports and sports-related topics. Because seriously, there is some great stuff out there.
So, as authors, we’re asked to keep a strong ‘web presence’ going at all times. This means websites, blogs, discussion forums, book trailers on youtube, excerpts, online interviews, twitter, facebook, myspace, you-name-it.
That’s a lot to keep an author busy, well beyond her regular task of writing, and that list is only the online world. There’s also soliciting book reviews, signings, conferences, etc. My fav author/blogger, Lynn Viehl has a keep-it-simple approach – an active blog, and free short stories posted online. And of course, writing books at a feverish pace.
So how do you prefer to keep up with authors? Obviously you’re reading this blog, but what’s your favorite approach, or do you do all of them, in an online-slightly-scary-stalker sort of way and follow an author wherever she shows up?
(Y’all are expecting a poll now, aren’t you? So am I, but alas, the poll software isn’t workin’ this morning)
So, in lieu of a poll, here’s a link to a free ebook from one of my favorite authors – Elisabeth Moon.
And let me know in the comments how you keep up with folks!
Totally spaced that I said I’d offer a giveaway of Spanking New. How’s this? Write a brief comment telling me if you think it’s possible that a person can be born with a boy’s soul and a girl’s body. I’ll put everyone’s name in a hat and announce the winner of a brand new copy of “Spanking New” in two weeks. Deadline: Feb. 16.
Hey all,
Recently got my copies of my latest novel, “Spanking New” in the mail. Such a treat to hold my beautiful book in my hand. I think the best part in knowing that revisions are over. I have a friend who was reading over a book he’d written and had published years earlier. He told me that while reading he unconsciously picked up a pencil and started editing. Boy, can I relate. But “Spanking New” is done, done, done! And will be in bookstores soon. I’m very curious to see how people like it as it’s quite different from my last book. (Let the insecurity roll in!) So that’s all for now. I’m working under a deadline for my next one, “Maye’s Request”, so I barely even have time gloat. Oh, and if you want to order a copy of “Spanking New”, my novel about life before birth and a girl being born with a boy’s soul, go to http://boldstrokesbookshop.com/categories.php?category=Paperback-Books/Lesbian-Fiction/New-Releases
It’s Monday. That means it’s my turn to blog again. Of course, on this particular Monday, I’m also trying to tie a bow on this round of edits and that makes thinking of a suitable blog topic most difficult.
I’ll let y’all in on a little secret. My next book is well underway. The contract has been signed, cover art selected, publication date scheduled. It’s exciting. It’s also a lot of work. With every new book, I learn just a little more about the process. This time I completed the first draft, sent it to my editor, and received back a list of four of five corrections that needed to be made. Not the typical comment bubbles in word, but rather an email response with bullet points. I consider it a step up in the process. She trusts me to make the tweaks without pointing out exactly where to make them.
Don’t get me wrong, the next round will include comment bubbles and red lines galore. Frankly, I’m looking forward to them. It’s like a report card for writers. Tell me what I got right, but more importantly, tell me what I missed so I can make it right before it goes to print. Nothing worse that being told what’s wrong after your publisher has invested in a print run. Yes, it happens, but I’d like it to happen less often.
With this in mind, I’m returning to my edits. In the mean time, here’s a link to a work that’s all ready completed: Skulls & Crossbones. It’s edited by our very own Andi Marquette and R.G. Emanuelle. I am lucky enough to have a story included called The Gallows. Check it out.
I’m thinking about websites today, because I’m helping my colleague R. G. get one set up. Now, for readers, that’s probably the last thing on your mind, but if you’re a reader who uses the Internet–and you’re like me–sometimes you like to know more about a writer whose books you’re enjoying. So you do a search on that author and voila! There’s a link to her website. So you go check it out and hopefully, you get some info that you find useful.
Am I alone here? C’mon folks – who else in this hemisphere is ready for Spring besides me… let’s have a show of hands, m’kay?
It doesn’t help that we’ve got crazy-warm weather up here in NE US of A.
Part of my winter ritual is getting ready for the spring planting season. I’m addicted to edible plants (veggies, berries, nuts, etc). Heck, I even ate dandelion heads for the first time last spring. Makes you look at the lawn in a whole new light when those little yellow heads pop up! Suddenly it’s FRITTERS TIME! Also discovered sorrel is edible, and I’m pretty sure that’s another weed growing around my house. So ya know it’s weed-salad on the menu come April!
Anyway, besides foraging, I like to add new perrenials to the property. Last year it was rubarb and asparagus. This year, I’m going to put in a plum tree, a peach tree, and a whooool crap-load of strawberries. Like diggin’ in 75 strawberry plants.
And the best part of all this? I make waaay more plans than I’m really capable of carrying out w/o killing myself. So yeah, I plan on being dead sometime in early April when all these plantlings show up on my doorstep and I hafta get them in the dirt within a couple of days.
Also going to try potatoes and shallots again (they failed last year).
Anyone else gung ho for Spring and makin’ ready for gardening?
How many times have we writers heard that? How many times have we said it? In my case, it happens to be very true. I am the classic introvert; I want to sit at my desk, all alone, and type away, inventing characters and putting them in angsty situations until I feel fulfilled. I don’t want anybody to bother me. I don’t want to answer the phone or the door. When somebody asks me about my current work, I almost always hesitate, reluctant to share my idea for fear of jinxing it or something equally as superstitious.
The problem with this lone wolf approach is that we don’t get the benefit of brainstorming with another person and I freely admit that I’d forgotten how beneficial that can be. Granted, most of us will have somebody off whom we can bounce our ideas (Bonnie makes an excellent sounding board), but for the most part, we’re left to work it out ourselves and I dare say the majority of us prefer it that way.
I discovered — or I should say rediscovered — the joys of talking things out with another writer last weekend. I had an author friend who happened to be in town, so we made plans to meet and talk about writing. I honestly was uncertain how productive this would end up being. We’d probably sit and chat about non-writerly things like our families, our jobs, our children/pets, all those things that friends who don’t see one another often tend to chat about. But instead, we dove right in. We talked about my current project first. She asked poignant questions about my characters and about the storyline. I returned the favor when it was her time on the hot seat. Because we’re both writers, we were able to point out specific things that a non-writer might not think about — character development, backstories, secondary characters. We also admitted to fears, me especially, surprising myself by telling her I was afraid I couldn’t pull the story off. She dismissed that handily with a wave of her hand and a sarcastic eye roll and asked me if I knew my opening line. I did.
“So write it.”
I wrote it. It was that simple. I tossed it back at her and she wrote hers as well. We left the meeting with our all-important first lines written and both of us feeling confident that we are ready to really begin. The creative juices were flowing and we were both excited to get started. All in all, way more productive than I expected and I’m so happy about that.
We’ve vowed to meet on a more regular basis. I’m ready to set up another meeting right now. Who knew talking it out could be so exhilarating?
We all have our pet peeves, the little things that make us cringe (and possibly throw the book at the wall) when we see them in print. A big one for me is speech tags. Well, not speech tags in general. They are needed, after all. Moreso, the miss use of speech tags. Here’s an example:
“Morgyn, I can’t live without you even a moment longer,” Brianna said as she opened the snap on Morgyn’s jeans.
What’s wrong with this (beyond the over-the-top, soap-opera land declaration)? Nothing, really. But it’s also not right. There’s no smoothness, no flow. First of all, we know whatever is in quotes has been said, that’s the reason for the quotation marks. So why say ‘Brianna said’? What knowledge is gained? The only thing of value there is that Brianna is the one speaking; however, there are other, better ways to convey the information. Try this:
“Morgyn, I can’t live without you even a moment longer,” Brianna opened the snap on Morgyn’s jeans.
We still learn that Brianna is speaking and Brianna is still going to get into Morgan’s pants. All the important information is conveyed.
So when would it be necessary to use a speech indicator in that sentence? Any time the speech is outside the norm. For example:
“Morgyn, I can’t live without you even a moment longer,” Brianna breathed as she opened the snap on Morgyn’s jeans.
Okay, there’s a lot of other stuff that could be changed/improved with bit o’ fluff, but that’s a whole ‘nuther blog for a whole ‘nuther day.
Women and Words
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Andi Marquette
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