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I’ve have a new idea for a story and it’s been whirling in my mind. Images, characters, locations, incidents have all been revealing themselves to me.
I’ve completed a mind map for most of it and last week I wrote the first few scenes. There are plenty of unanswered questions and gaps in the story and I’m not even sure I know how it will end. I’ll need to figure that all out, but for now it feels like a story that can be good. A story I can write.
Writer’s are often told,
Write what you know.
and this is a topic I know about!
But what about my WIP?
So much left to do. I’m not done with it, at least I don’t want to be. I want to keep working on it but I think I’ve gotten to the hard(est) part and I’ve been feeling stuck for some time!
In the meantime, this new story has gotten my attention. Writing, creating – it’s the part most writer’s love the best and I’m no exception. The characters lure me in, their stories grab me, the scenes play before my mind’s eye, the words spill from my pen. It’s intoxicating and makes it easy to forget the hard(er) work of revising my WIP.
I’ve also often heard a writer should
Let your story marinate.
Put it aside and work on something new so when I go back to it I will see it with a fresh perspective. This is supposed to be good for the story.
I hope that’s true. My fear is that I’ve gone through this before — finish a draft, get stuck, move onto the next story. It’s a familiar cycle. Rarely do I ever get back to that draft, or the previous one, or the one before that. I thought this WIP was different. I’ve reached many more milestone with this one:
- Over 100,000 words
- 3 drafts/revisions
- More awareness of what to look for during revisions
- And I’ve actually told people about where I am in the process
But I worry if I start on this new one, I’ll get carried away and never get back to finishing it.
The Beta-Reader
Ideally, I’d like to have my WIP out to beta-readers and then work on the new story while waiting for feedback, but I’m just not ready to share. Not yet.
Oh and I don’t have any beta readers lined up. Yeah, I need to work on that too, so my question to you is: Do you have any tips about how to find good beta readers? How did you find yours? I’d love to hear about it!![Beta Reader is a person who reads a written work, generally fiction, with what has been described[1] as "a critical eye, with the aim of improving grammar, spelling, characterization, and general style of a story prior to its release to the general public.](https://writingpiecesofme.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/beta-reader.jpg)
In the meantime, I’m off to jot down a few notes about this new story … but just a few … oh and maybe write that scene that’s been playing in my head … and …
*gets swept away in new story*
I have several people in mind as beta readers. I am generally tight-lipped what I write.
In two of my WIP, one that is slowly brimming away, may have some brutality, violence. As for the former, it has brutality, violence and one interesting character.
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Sound intriguing, as soon as your wrote “and one interesting character” my ears perked up. Of course now I want to know what the story is about 🙂
Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
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I have about 8 stories going, and I like it that way…because when I get bored or stuck on one, I move onto one that excites me. I think you should have fun with the new one playing in your mind and set aside some time each day to do you WIP as well. Betas–I just asked a few people in my writing group. Some have been priceless, others I decide not to use on the next book because they didn’t give me the help I was hoping for. It’s trial and error until you find the perfect ones. I have never beta read for anyone else, but if you need someone, I would read yours and hope I give you helpful advice.
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Char, thank you so much for the offer! I wasn’t necessarily soliciting, but hey, I may take you up on that 🙂 Part of me feels guilty asking anyone to take the time to read through my story and give feedback. That’s a lot of work and of course my insecurities being that if it’s not any good, that could be torturous to someone.
I’m glad to hear you are working on so many stories at once. That makes me feel better about splitting my time on two. I think I was feeling a little like I was giving up on my WIP, which I don’t want to do. But it may be good to put it aside for a little while and just enjoy the creative flow.
By the way, 8 stories? How do you keep them all straight in your head?
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When the story comes, I drop everything and go with that. So when I say 8 stories, they are all written roughly to where my creativity took them. The revising process on them takes lots more time, and I do that as I get in a mood. Right now I am forcing myself to finish editing Eyes of light book 3, but I still find myself sometimes dying to dive into one of the others. Editing is not always fun. But I truly believe that when the creative juices are flowing and you are enjoying where they are taking you…don’t feel bad about putting aside the other WIP to get the main plot down as it comes to you.
And as for feeling bad about using betas…you shouldn’t. All writers need them, and so we should offer to be betas for others if we want others to help us…right? I guess when you become an international bestseller and you have dozens of people a week emailing you to ask you to read their work, you can be snobby, but until then, practicing beta reading on others helps you refine your own writing…so most writers won’t feel you are taking advantage of them (especially if they offer like I did).
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Great point Char. I think it’s time I begin offering my services as a beta reader, then I won’t feel so bad asking 🙂 I know you’ve been working hard on Eyes of Light #3 but good luck with all of those stories. I’m impressed with how you balance it all!!
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You are not the only one who works on several pieces at once! Although I strive to finish the draft before moving on to another story, (which I usually accomplish) after that I like having one story in first draft, another in revision, and when the time comes, I suppose I will have one or two out in queryland!
As far as beta readers, the best way I’ve found to get someone to read my story is to read theirs. 🙂 This also gives me an idea of their writing strengths and weaknesses, as well as whether they are a good fit for my story.
Congrats on the new story! This is such a fun time for a writer.
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Kirsten, I like your approach about reading other writer’s work to get a sense if they would work as readers for your story. I can use that as a great learning experience as well as a nice opportunity to find beta readers for my own writing. Thanks for the tip! I’ll have to find ways of offering up my own beta reading availability. And thanks, by the way, it is a fun time and I am enjoying the flow of writing out the new idea. 🙂
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Arlene, the beta readers I have lined up are friends who are avid readers. They have different tastes, but I know they’ll give me honest feedback -not just say what they think I want to hear. For me that’s the first step before getting a professional involved.
Keep on writing!!!! 😉
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Denise I definitely agree that I need to have feedback from beta readers before I get any “professionals” involved. I have had friends offer to read for me, but I feel like that can get awkward. Maybe it’s my own insecurity that what I wrote is not that good and they may have to tell me. Or worse, they might feel bad and not tell me. Guess I have to take that next step and just take them up on it if I ever want to get past this point. Thanks for the tip and encouragement Denise!
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I’ve been known to work on multiple stories at one time, too. 😉 I don’t think I could handle as many as Char(!), but I’ve had two novels going at once and even added the two Meghan stories to the mix. As long as you find a way to keep them separate that works for you, then I think you’ll be fine.
Blog buddies are a good place to look for betas, too. I’ve found several wonderful writers that I’ve already exchanged works with or will do so when their manuscripts are ready. The day job is swamping me this summer, but if you need someone after that, I’d be happy to help, too. 🙂
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Thanks JM, I may take you up on that. Having read through your experiences with your two WIPs and with your betas tells me you’d be great! I don’t think I’ll be ready to share until the end of summer anyway and that might make for a good deadline.
Hope you don’t get TOO swamped with the day job work and you get to enjoy the summer! I’d be great if it lasted an extra month or two considering I feel we got jipped on the front end this year on the East Coast. 🙂
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Best of luck, Arlene. It sounds like you are truly energized!
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Thank you Naomi. New ideas are refreshing and energizing! Based on everyone’s comments I realize there is no reason to not dive right in, so I’m swimming in the deep end of my new story now! 🙂 Enjoy your weekend!
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Wonderful! Enjoy your weekend too.
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That sounds exciting! Definitely let yourself get swept away and go wherever the story takes you. The marinating thing really works too. When I worked on short stories, I’d go from story to story and sometimes wouldn’t go back to one for months. Then I was always really surprised by how much there was to change and how obvious the changes were. Best of luck with the new one!
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Sheila, Your experience of returning to your stories and finding “how obvious the changes are” is an inspiring thought! Instead of struggling to figure out the best way to make changes and improve the story, it would be nice to just find them 🙂 Let’s hope that happens. In the meantime, I am going to let myself get swept away and will enjoy every moment of it. I won’t give up on my other WIP, I actually look forward to letting it marinate now. Thanks for the inspiration! 🙂
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It helps me to set up deadlines for tasks. I usually need to let a draft sit for 3-6 months before I can make real revisions. So I draft something new. But I make myself return to that older manuscript after the drafting.
For beta readers, I think it’s all about how you work. Some people need several strangers. Others prefer trusted friends and fellow writers. Weirdly, my mom is one of my best beta readers. She’s quick to point out when something isn’t working or is annoying her. 😉
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Kourtney, I think that’s the key “make myself return to that older manuscript.” I absolutely need to do that and if I know that I have people waiting to read (betas) then that would give me more incentive to meet that deadline. That’s my plan for right now … I’m enjoying the drafting of this new story, but I can’t let myself forget about the other one.
It’s awesome that your mom is your beta reader. I’ve had friends offer and I think I have to get over the feeling that I’m burdening them and take them up on it as long as they know what they’re in for.
Hope you have a Happy 4th! Enjoy the weekend!!
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If someone offers to be a beta–take them up on it! Just make sure you let them know what you need. I had one beta who always wanted to verbally tell me his critique. It was tough because I don’t process feedback well that way. Another beta was quick to employ track changes comments and do a follow up talk if needed. As long as you manage expectations, it’s good to have betas who are friends or family.
I had a nice 4th with family. How was your holiday?
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Hi Arlene. I just finished the beta reader stage (well, it’s still out with one reader) and it was the scariest thing I’ve ever done! BUT, it was so rewarding on so many levels! Not only did my worst fears (of everyone hating it) not come true, but I received incredibly helpful feedback. I carefully chose my readers with a sort of strategy: I’m lucky enough to have a friend that used to edit in college; I chose an “average” reader; I have a very savvy, picky reader, and then there was my honest-to-a-fault friend. As scared as I was to let the picky and honest readers see my work, their insight was amazing! Now I’m revising based on feedback before sending it off to a pro editor. Good luck to you!
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Hi Beth, Sounds like you have a great group of people to choose from for beta readers. I’m so glad you were able to get constructive feedback to help you revise. I look forward to seeing what you end up with, when you publish 🙂
I think I have to get over my fears and just do it — give my work over to some betas. But not yet 🙂 I have to finish at least one more review and then I have to just do it (ha ha).
Thanks so much for the comment and visit!!
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This is a common problem for me. My mind likes to wander off places, but I have to keep pulling it back. When a story is really burning, then I go ahead and let myself put aside the WIP for a short time. Sometimes it helps reignite the creativity and excitement on my main WIP. Then, I can set aside the new, shiny toy, and let that marinate as I get back to the WIP.
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Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting!!
To be honest, I’ve lost some of my discipline with the distraction of summer 🙂 Now that everyone seems to be falling into their routines of school and such, hopefully I can do the same and get back on track with one or both of my WIPs. I’ve let that first one marinate for some time now … I’m actually looking forward to pulling it out of the (virtual) drawer and (virtually) dusting if off and see how I read it now. I’m sure I will see plenty of room for improvement.
Thanks again for the comment! 🙂
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“I’ve have a new idea for a story and it’s been whirling in my mind. Images, characters, locations, incidents have all been revealing themselves…………… but for now it feels like a story that can be good. A story I can write. ”
i share your thoughts 🙂 i feel the same way about my debut novel 🙂
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Debut novel? Exciting!! Good luck with it. Can’t wait to hear more about it! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
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