Wits and Pieces
Wednesday, July 1, 2009 9:00 PM
1. I finished page proofs for MAGIC IN THE SHADOWS, and sent it in to my editor. That's the last I'll see of this book until I receive ARC's. It's a wonderful and slightly terrifying feeling. This is it. The book is as done as I can make it.
2. The first chapter of MAGIC ON THE STORM will be included in the back of MAGIC IN THE SHADOWS. I'm very excited about that!
3. I will be doing a signing on the 18th of July from noon until we can't sign no more at Escape Fiction in Salem, Oregon. And I won't be alone. No, this is going to be a big ol' party! Team Seattle--Mark Henry, Richelle Mead, Cherie Priest, Caitlin Kittridge and Kat Richardson will be there too! So much awesomeness in one place, it boggles the mind.
Plus, there will be raffles for first edition books, time to chat with the authors, and the owner, Maria, is making her secret homemade cheesecake recipe with hand-picked fresh local berries.
If there's any signing you should hither to in the next couple weeks, I dare say this one will be the most fun!!
4. Rachel Vincent's new book, PREY is on shelves today! Hurrah! I'm heading out tonight to get it. You should too! Or, you could win a copy by going here or here.
5. We received our weekly delivery of fresh veggies. This time we got snap peas, broccoli, kale, Swiss chard, kohlrabi and choi.
Slime Knight, "Egads! I'm lost! Lost in a choi jungle and surrounded by kohlrabi and Swiss chard! I shall eat my way to freedom!"
2. The first chapter of MAGIC ON THE STORM will be included in the back of MAGIC IN THE SHADOWS. I'm very excited about that!
3. I will be doing a signing on the 18th of July from noon until we can't sign no more at Escape Fiction in Salem, Oregon. And I won't be alone. No, this is going to be a big ol' party! Team Seattle--Mark Henry, Richelle Mead, Cherie Priest, Caitlin Kittridge and Kat Richardson will be there too! So much awesomeness in one place, it boggles the mind.
Plus, there will be raffles for first edition books, time to chat with the authors, and the owner, Maria, is making her secret homemade cheesecake recipe with hand-picked fresh local berries.
If there's any signing you should hither to in the next couple weeks, I dare say this one will be the most fun!!
4. Rachel Vincent's new book, PREY is on shelves today! Hurrah! I'm heading out tonight to get it. You should too! Or, you could win a copy by going here or here.
5. We received our weekly delivery of fresh veggies. This time we got snap peas, broccoli, kale, Swiss chard, kohlrabi and choi.
Slime Knight, "Egads! I'm lost! Lost in a choi jungle and surrounded by kohlrabi and Swiss chard! I shall eat my way to freedom!"
Monday, June 29, 2009 6:10 PM
So the other day I held an open call for beta readers and writers. Several people who were looking for critique partners or first readers exchanged manuscripts and are in the process of finding out if they have found a good match.
Not every match went as well as hoped. That's to be expected. Finding a beta, first reader, or critique partner is all about finding someone who is critical of the manuscript, supportive of the author, and can give feedback the author needs in a manner in which the author can accept it.
Being a first reader is not easy. It takes a lot of skill, clarity, and willingness to figure out what the manuscript needs to reach its final goal (which is usually, but not always, publication.)
I've been thinking a lot about it, and came up with five things first readers, writers, and critique partners can do to make the process easier.
1. Tell your critique partner what kind of feedback you're looking for before they start reading. Be specific. If you want to know if the dialogue is snappy, tell them so. If you only want to hear what works in the manuscript, say, "I'm just looking for what you like about this, not what doesn't work." If you want to know if the characters are believable, if the ending is clear, if the descriptions are overwhelming, if the pacing is too slow--say that before your reader ever gets their hands on your work. That way you both have the same expectations going into the event.
2. If a writer tells you all they want is for you to tell them what worked in a manuscript, just tell them what worked. If you can't help but blurt out all the annoying things that need fixing, you might not be a good match for the "positive only" writer.
3. Do not make it personal. Ever. Remember, there's a living breathing dreaming person behind those words on the page--and also behind the reader of those words. If you are a critique partner, your basic intent should be to give feedback that will improve the story--not feedback to tear down the writer. "This didn't work for me because the setting was unclear..." is a perfectly good way to give feedback. "Your description sucks" is less helpful. And writers? arguing with your beta readers won't get you as far as asking clear questions: "what was it about the forest scene that was unclear?"
Not every match went as well as hoped. That's to be expected. Finding a beta, first reader, or critique partner is all about finding someone who is critical of the manuscript, supportive of the author, and can give feedback the author needs in a manner in which the author can accept it.
Being a first reader is not easy. It takes a lot of skill, clarity, and willingness to figure out what the manuscript needs to reach its final goal (which is usually, but not always, publication.)
I've been thinking a lot about it, and came up with five things first readers, writers, and critique partners can do to make the process easier.
1. Tell your critique partner what kind of feedback you're looking for before they start reading. Be specific. If you want to know if the dialogue is snappy, tell them so. If you only want to hear what works in the manuscript, say, "I'm just looking for what you like about this, not what doesn't work." If you want to know if the characters are believable, if the ending is clear, if the descriptions are overwhelming, if the pacing is too slow--say that before your reader ever gets their hands on your work. That way you both have the same expectations going into the event.
2. If a writer tells you all they want is for you to tell them what worked in a manuscript, just tell them what worked. If you can't help but blurt out all the annoying things that need fixing, you might not be a good match for the "positive only" writer.
3. Do not make it personal. Ever. Remember, there's a living breathing dreaming person behind those words on the page--and also behind the reader of those words. If you are a critique partner, your basic intent should be to give feedback that will improve the story--not feedback to tear down the writer. "This didn't work for me because the setting was unclear..." is a perfectly good way to give feedback. "Your description sucks" is less helpful. And writers? arguing with your beta readers won't get you as far as asking clear questions: "what was it about the forest scene that was unclear?"
4. Listen. When you get feedback, put your writerly ego aside and listen as if the work being critiqued were not yours. Be willing to entertain the critiquer's suggestions long enough to see why, specifically, they are giving that feedback.
5. If you find a problem in the manuscript and come up with a solution that would fix it for you (the reader) do not get a big head about it. Being excited that you've found a solution is awesome. Lording it over the writer, or being condescending just makes you look like a jerk.
How about you? Do you have any tips that make critiquing a better experience?