Is it done yet? 

The question seems ridiculous, really. 

When speaking about his or her own work, you'd think a writer would know the answer to those four little words strung together. They make up an important, terrifying sentence, with so much weight and worry attached.

Is it done yet?

No idea.

Probably.

At least for now.

Maybe. Maybe not. Probably not.

I've read many blogs on the subject of knowing when your manuscript is complete and ready for submission. Most of them state the obvious. When you've got nothing more to say, you're done. When you've got nothing more to say and have proofed it...you're done. When you've got nothing more to say, have proofed it, and have had a professional editor proof it...you're done.

That's all well and good, but I could look at a professionally edited, already published, "bought and paid for" news article, blog, manuscript, or other personal work from years ago, and would likely still find something to change about my own writing, in that moment. When it comes to the written word, my mind doesn't embrace absolutes. I don't shut off the valve of creativity the moment I write "the end." I continue to tinker with my work in my head for days, months, even years later. At any moment, I might change my mind. I might pick a different ending. I might tweak a sentence, or two, or 200.

And it's okay to be that unsure. It's my work, and I get to decide whether to leave it alone or change it...again.

Maybe I'm feeling a bit feisty and want to go for that snarky tone, because someone just ticked me off.

Or, maybe I'm feeling nostalgic and want to add a flutter of a memory.

Or, maybe I'm feeling silly and mysterious. Maybe I'm feeling dour and prophetic. Maybe I'm feeling tired or euphoric.

All those maybes could change my own perception of my work. 

The point I'm trying to make is that it's okay if a writer doesn't feel confident in "the end." Frankly, the ending might change tomorrow, when a writer suddenly has a moment of clarity. 

Don't get me wrong. I'm not remotely a wishy-washy person—not in my writing and certainly not in my life. I submit work under deadline on a weekly basis, confident in the knowledge that I have submitted my best work possible, in that moment. I wouldn't do it any other way. That doesn't mean it can't be (or won't be) improved upon by myself or an editor or a client. Sometimes, my work goes untouched by an editor's red pen, and it's "done"—perfect, even—in my client's eyes. Sometimes, I wish I'd had more time with that same piece, because I know I could do better. But that would be for me. I've learned, over the years, those are the projects I have to let go. If the client is happy, then I need to move on. I need to be done, too.

Is it done yet?

Probably not, but it's as done as it's going to be, until I have a good reason to change my mind about it.

We all want perfection. And most of us don't see that perfection in our own work.

A writer, particularly one who may be new to writing or doesn't have a lot of confidence in his or her ability to come to a "perfect" conclusion, should never feel guilty or novice for finding it hard to find "the end." If you are questioning yourself, you're not a bad writer or alone in that indecision. You're just like everyone else. Your mind is still working...churning out those other artistic choices. 

Is it done yet?

Sure, if that's what you want to call it.

My manuscript is done, too. 

Until I change my mind.

***

As always, thanks to Michelle Haas for the cool artwork.

#amwriting #WIP #amquerying #amdone #amsodone #WritingCommunity #writingtips #MondayMotivation #MotivationMonday

Building realistic, colorful characters might be my favorite part of the fiction writing process. There is a tiny piece of me in every character I create. SOME people (my husband) would say I am quite a colorful character myself. That's okay; what makes me colorful is also what makes me interesting—what makes me realistic.

Creating characters your fiction readers will wish to support and cheer on for 300+ pages is crucial. Let's discuss. 

TIPS for writing realistic, colorful characters:

1. Unless your character is named Bo Derek, she's not a perfect "10" (I'm dating myself, I know). We might want gorgeous hair, a stellar bod, a genius IQ, tons of $$$, and a winning personality, but perfect people don't exist in real life. Even a real person, who may seem perfect at first glance, will have a fault or insecurity lurking just below the flawless surface. Faults and insecurities are what make a character real and relatable. Identify such. Expose such. Use such.

2. A protagonist needs redeeming qualities. You've heard the phrase "gruff but lovable?" Make sure your protagonist isn't so fraught with faults and insecurities that he or she is unlikeable. A character must change from the beginning to the end of a story (character arc is a thing), but you don't want a character to be such a mess readers don't want to take that journey. If the protagonist has a foul mouth and prickly demeanor, create a balance. Have him or her do something to let the true character shine through. Adopt a side-kick from the local animal shelter? Maybe. Slip a $20 tip on the counter for the single mother bartender? Sure. You get the idea. 

3. Antagonists can have shades of good. Taking tips #1 & #2 one step further, realize that no character should be black or white, bad or good. Quoting one of my favorite musicals, "Ogres are like onions." Everyone has layers (even Shrek, who was definitely not the antagonist, despite many of the storybook characters originally thinking he was a big, bad, scary green dude). Unless a character is pure evil, he or she can have some good. That's what makes him human, interesting, relatable, and unpredictable.

4. Speaking of unpredictable, avoid stereotypes. Dumb jock. Brainy introvert. Vain beauty queen. Assumptions are made about certain people groups, even though there are just as many vain jocks, dumb introverts, and brainy beauty queens (see what I did there?). The point is to avoid stereotypes. Take your first idea of a character and spin the dial to something a few degrees left or right of what a reader expects. Change it up, and your character becomes much, much more interesting.

5. Actions speak louder than words. It's a trite phrase, but it's true. It is with the actions or reactions of characters that readers really get to know them. If your protagonist insists she hates music when asked to join the choir, but she sings solo in the shower every morning, we gain a clue to her true personality and some of those pesky insecurities. When writing fiction, be sure to use your character's actions to your advantage and as a way to add layers to the character and story.

6. Do your research. If you're writing for or about teens, you better have access to teens. Go to the mall. Watch your own children interact with their friends. Ask a teen to beta read your work. The same can be said of any specialized group of people you may be writing for or about, whether a beautician, widower, teacher, CEO, farmer, alcoholic, etc. Do whatever you can to familiarize yourself with and understand that character in a real-world setting, because you can't write what you don't know.

7. Know a character's language. Wooden or unnatural dialogue can quickly create a disconnect. Each character should have very distinctive patterns of speech, so it is obvious, even without a tag, that the dialogue came from a particular character. Example: in my working manuscript, I have a retired baseball player who calls his daughter "kid" and uses coaching lingo. I don't use this tactic in every bit of dialogue, but I've sprinkled it in enough that it's become synonymous with that character.

8. Don't allow a secondary character to steal the show. Everyone loves a larger-than-life character, but be careful a secondary character doesn't become a distraction and/or unbelievable caricature. Like in theater, the character who stumbles onstage in a crazy outfit, throws out a one-liner with exaggerated facial expressions and body movements, and just as quickly stumbles back off the stage can be great for a brief laugh and moment in the spotlight. However, if that same character is hamming it up in a group scene while the main character is doing a major life monologue, it can detract from readers getting to know something about the protagonist. 
​
Anyway you write it, a character who is realistic and colorful can build a connection with his or her readers. YOUR readers. 

Good luck and write on!

As always, thanks for the artwork, Michelle Haas.

#CharacterDevelopment #WIP #Writer #MondayMotivation #WednesdayWisdom #WritingCommunity #AmWriting #AmEditing 

1. Get up. Get showered. Get dressed. As a writer who works from home 365 days a year, not just during a world crisis, I've learned that a normal going-to-the-office start to my day makes me infinitely more productive. Doing the basics (putting on pants ... any pants) helps me feel like a human, lifts my spirits, and gets me motivated.

2. Claim a space. Create your own private corner in which to work, even if it's in a spare closet of an unused bedroom. Avoid trying to work in common areas potentially needed by "co-workers" for television viewing, eating, sleeping, etc. Assume someone, at any time, may invade such areas (during filming of TikTok video featuring family dog lip-synching "Don't Stand So Close to Me").

3. Create a schedule. It's important to set a schedule for yourself, even if it's a loose list of manageable goals (alphabetizing query rejection letters). Without a plan, you're more likely to get distracted by the news or laundry or the third 1000-piece puzzle you've started on the kitchen table in the past two weeks.

4. But be flexible. Just as you should set a schedule, recognize that your co-workers are seeing a significant change in their own daily routine, as well, and may need some of your time (to build the blanket fort in the living room using the couch, two chairs, and every pillow and bedspread in the house). Remote workers with children may need to stretch the business day out, with family time built in every couple hours, as needed.

5. Communicate schedule to co-workers. Be they your 8-year-old daughter, elderly mother, or temporarily-out-of-work hubby, make sure your Corona roommates understand when you are working. Give them boundaries (crime scene tape across office door) and make it clear when you are unavailable (to play Mario Cart for the 30th time in 24 hours).

6. Take breaks and move. Take frequent breaks to clear your head and stretch. A home office should have a proper office chair, but many of the thrown together Corona home offices offer not-so-ergonomically-correct furniture. Save the back and get up and move (to Dance, Dance, Revolution with toddler) or take a quick run (to the corner mart for more toilet paper).

7. Eat meals with co-workers. Don't be tempted to breeze through lunch with just a yogurt at your desk. Whether you set aside the computer long enough to eat (the 25th box of Mac 'n Cheese) with your child or you Zoom a real co-worker with whom you'd normally share lunch (Wine Wednesday), it's good for both body and mind to take a noonday break and re-fuel. 

8. Leave work at the office. When you've had enough, turn off the computer and shut down your home office properly, so you can fully flip the switch and engage with your co-workers/roommates. You need that (happy hour while bing-watching "Modern Family") and so do they.

9. Enjoy a day off. When almost all of your hours in a week are spent in the same space, it can be hard to fully disengage from the home office. Don't forget to take a day off—FULLY—and engage in non-work-related activities in your home (family fashion show with old prom dresses/bridesmaid gowns).

Best of luck finding the joy and humor in your home, sweet home office!

#FridayFun #WritingBlog #WritingCommunity #Writer #WritingTips #WIP #AmWriting #ModernFamily

Freelance writing is never, ever dull.

As a member of the #WritingCommunity, the days often fly by. I am completely engaged by the process, the pressure, the people, and the positives of allowing my words to flow with color and creativity onto the page. 

But freelance writing isn't just about words.

Let's be real. 




_____________________
artwork by Michelle Haas


A Week in the Life ...

Monday — From my small, enclosed porch office with a stellar view of Lake Erie, I prepared materials for a writing presentation at the local library and sent out reminders to community Facebook groups and my writing email list. I updated my writing website, researched viable agents to #query, and spent several hours editing my current fiction manuscript. 
 
Not to put a glamorous spin on it, I also did three loads of laundry, sanitized two toilet bowls, scooped the cat litter box, walked the dog, and put away dishes … not necessarily in that order;).

Tuesday — I chatted about social media advertising with a local musician during lunch at a Rotary meeting. I spent the evening with businessmen/women and nonprofit volunteers, attempting to impart the tips and tricks I've learned about publicity writing. I gave them advice on how NOT to alienate local news sources when submitting press releases, something I learned through trial and error, a fair amount of red ink, and many years of listening to my past Pittsburgh news editor tell me her tales of woe.
 
I sort of organized my spice drawer. I mean really. Who needs three containers of paprika? I scooped the litter box. 
 
Wednesday — I researched interesting community members for future features I've been asked to write for a magazine. I also gave my motion graphics artist daughter feedback on a chapter of her "just for fun" fantasy work-in-progress (Michelle Haas ... I'm jealous you managed over 50,000 words in less than a month while taking art school classes. Seriously? Like, who does that without #NaNoWriMo on the calendar?). 
 
I got bread, milk, toilet paper, and M&Ms in preparation for a proposed snow storm, and I watched #Survivor. I scooped the litter box. 
 
Thursday — I line-edited a freelance project (whilst at my hair stylist's, and in between snips of DNA and color foils). I also researched specific questions about SEO in the “Search Engine Optimization for Dummies” book, so I can better "optimize" my own writing website and help future business clients improve website content. I made contact with two business owners who may need marketing help.
 
AND I started this writing blog and made a vat of sweet potato soup. Thursday was a very busy day. Thursday night, I scooped the litter box.
 
Friday — I wrote a press release about R.J. Norgard, a clever Lake Erie mystery author who used to be a counterintelligence officer and eventual private investigator in the beautiful 49th state of Alaska. Waaaay Coooool (Get it? Alaska is cold. I can now add dad joke-writing to my resume). I spent several hours editing my manuscript.
 
And did more laundry. And a toilet bowl. And the litter box.
 
This weekend will include more manuscript edits and a critique session with my writing group buddies & author Adam Hoss in Sandusky, OH. 
 
Yeah, the week in the life of a freelance writer is never dull. 
 
Sometimes, what I do isn't just about words, but I enjoy it ... infinitely more than scooping the litter box.

​Write on, my freelance friends!
 
#AmWriting #Blog #WritingBlog #WIP #WritingTips #FictionFriday #FearlessFriday #NaNoWriMo #Fantasy #AmEditing #SEO #FreelanceWriter #Freelance
 
Thanks for the cool graphics, Michelle Haas.

I haven't added a word to my current work-in-progress in almost a month. Like a napping dog, I'm giving my keyboard a wide berth, allowing it a proper rest.

I'm hoping my manuscript will benefit from the hands-off approach and grow into something larger ... something worth chasing ... like a ball or stick or mail truck.

To recap, I participated in November's National Novel Writing Month. Upon meeting my goal of 50,000 words and getting the roughest of drafts down, I stopped writing "cold turkey" the day before Thanksgiving. Unlike many of my #NaNoWriMo peers, I chose not to push my word count higher, even though my women's fiction project will probably need at least another 20-30K words.

"Sutton's Second Chance" includes an addict's story. At the start, I didn't realize how emotionally draining this plot line would prove, and, though proud of my month-long accomplishment, I found myself glad to step away from the manuscript once I met my November goal. It's not that I didn't want to touch it again. Quite the opposite. At its bones, it's a story which must be told and heard. Exhausted, I simply wanted a chance to recover and enjoy the holidays with family. I intended to continue that writing break through until the end of the year and start again in January.

The joke was on me. The brain apparently didn't get the memo. It hasn't rested since Turkey Day. 

Though my keyboard hasn't produced any fiction in almost a month, I haven't stopped writing in my head. I haven't stopped thinking about my story. I've been working quite hard, actually, straightening out the kinks, firming up the plot, getting to know my characters, identifying missing chapters, and tossing half-formed ideas at my husband like hot potatoes from the oven — often randomly in the middle of the football game or an hour after turning off our bedside light. 

I'm a planner. When I start a project, I like to research and outline the basics, before I begin. That planning is a great start, but every project evolves once I'm in it. So much of my best "writing" is done away from my computer, after the bones of the story are down. I'm taking the time to let my brain catch up to what my heart poured out on the page. 

Each writer approaches a project in a different way, but every writer can benefit from a break from the keyboard. Every writer can benefit from time to think.

To be clear, I've been taking notes as my ideas surface. It's a terrifying, incredibly long, hand-written list of what I need to further research, change, eliminate, or add, when I finally decide to go back to the keyboard and begin again. It will take me months just to finish that first draft and likely a year to produce a draft worthy of a beta reader.

But I'm okay with that. My writing will be stronger for it and far more ready for an agent's eyes, someday, because I let my fledgling manuscript get a good rest like the napping dog. 

I am not a #NaNoWriMo writer who pushes to publish before the dust settles. I have no gripe with those writers, and many produce beautifully crafted first drafts. That's not me. My work needs time to mature—grow—while I'm away from the keyboard.

And thinking about EVERYTHING.

#NaNoWriMo2019 #WIP #WritingCommunity #AmWriting #Thinking #WomensFiction #Editing #AmEditing #LetItRest #WritingTip #WritingTips

Why should you finish what you start?

I'll be perfectly frank. I have skated along, just doing what I needed to do to stay just above the daily goal line for #NaNoWriMo2019. Still, with the exception of Day #2, a planned non-writing day because of a classmate reunion, I have not missed a single day during this entire month. There were days I wrote 4,000 words. There were days I only wrote 400 words. The take away? Even though I haven't yet hit that magical 50K to "win" NaNoWriMo for the second year in a row, I will, MOST DEFINITELY, finish what I started.

I am currently sitting at about 45,000 words. 50K is doable, obviously. Not that far away, but it hasn't been easy. The process is exhausting, both mentally and physically.

If it's hard to find time in your day or you don't feel well or your car broke down or you're in the middle of a writer's block OR you're only a fraction done, it's still worth following through with #NaNoWriMo2019.

Here's why:
​
1. "Almost" is nice, too. I worked really hard to prep for this, and I've written consistently the entire month. To give up would feel like wimping out. It's worth trying, even if I don't make it. I have written more in three weeks than I usually write in three months. No matter the final word count, it's more than I had when I started. It's writing progress. That's a win, in my book.

2. Finishing feels like a serious victory. Last year, I actually burst into tears of joy when I glanced down at my word count and realized I had jumped right over that 50K mark without even noticing. Goals aren't always easy to meet, but getting there tastes so sweet. So, so, so sweet.

2. The story is worth the time. When I jumped right over 50K (without noticing), I was in the middle of a really tense ending scene. I was in the zone, baby. It was good stuff. It was a story that needed to be told, not just because I wanted to get to a certain word count, but because the story was solid and worth spending a month to tell. I went on to spend many, many more months editing and lengthening that story. It WAS worth the telling and is now in the final draft stage. My 2019 project, the sequel, is equally important to me. It's a story that needs told.

3. I said I would. Any goal, once it's out there, is a goal to be achieved or tossed away, like so many promises in the wind. I said I would finish. It took a lot of effort to get even close, so not seeing it through—not trying my best every single day left in the month—would feel like a goal lost for the wrong reasons.

4. I'm on a roll. I finished last year for the first time. I'll finish this year, because I want to prove 2018 wasn't a fluke. It wasn't. Trust me ... there's no going back now:)

Don't give up. Keep trying. Finish what you start. I'm rooting for you. You've got this. 

Write on, my #NaNoWriMo friends. I'll meet you at the finish line!

#NaNoWinner2019 #WIP #SCBWI #writingtip #writers #winner #fiction #WritingCommunity #MondayMotivation

You can do it.

It's NaNoWriMo time. As we close in on Friday, Nov. 1, and the start of National Novel Writing Month (with the goal of writing 50,000 words in 30 days), here are some thoughts on my process and what you can do in less than a week to prepare to write that story keeping you up at night.

Don't think you have it in you to write a first draft in a month? Haven't done anything to prep? These shortcuts can make starting that writing project on Nov. 1 less overwhelming. It's not too late to take the chance! 

LAST MINUTE tricks to prepare for NaNoWriMo:

1. Create an account. Without a NaNoWriMo account, you won't really feel bound to pursue your goal. It takes only a few minutes to sign up, and it's free. Having a live account will give you a nudge to commit. Even if you choose not to follow through, the website is brimming with writing tips. 

2. Brainstorm plots/settings centered around something/somewhere already familiar to you. You don't HAVE to write what you know, but, in the case of NaNoWriMo, writing within your knowledge base and/or in a setting you've been to will reduce research and help you get off to a quick start. 

3. Get to know your characters. Listen to the voices in your head. Take just a couple hours to create mini character profiles of those you'd like to include in your story. Give each character his or her own page in your notebook and jot down potential names, what they look like, age, occupation, any connection you'd like them to have to other characters, interesting mannerisms, speech patterns, how they dress, etc. This is tons of fun. Through character profiles you can actually get ideas for conflict and plotting (and sub-plotting) for your story. 

4. Set it up. Where do you want this to take place? What time of year? Whether it is a place you've been to many times before or someplace completely fictional, write down the basics of your setting. Town? Region? State? Planet? If it helps, sketch a map of the surroundings. If the setting is real, create a folder on your laptop to stash various links that will help you pull facts in later, as you need them, to make your representation of the setting more realistic. An easy option is to go to the area's Visitors Bureau website, which may provide historical information and photos.

5. Create a SHORT plot synopsis. Once you've got some interesting characters to play with and a place to let them play, jot down potential "What if..." scenarios that allow your characters to interact. Which scenario interests you most? Which would be easiest to write without a lot of research? Which creates the most conflict? Once you hone in on the plot you want to pursue, attempt to write a short 1-2 paragraph synopsis. Like the back cover of your favorite book, this synopsis should not be too long but with enough details to draw a reader in. 

6. Glimpse the beginning, middle, and end. Just because many planner-type NaNoWriMo participants have taken all of October to fully prep for the big event—spread sheets, blocked off calendar, play list, 30 page synopsis, and a brand new coffee mug—doesn't mean you, a "pantser"-type, can't be successful flying by the seat of your drawers. Just try to have some general idea of how you want your story to start, what specific actions/plot points might happen midway through the story, and some sense of what happens to end the story. In other words, what is your point A and point B and what possible pitfalls will your characters see/experience when traveling down their path from one point to the other? 

That's it, really. With the above steps, you've got a base. I can guarantee, those characters are likely to take a few wild turns off the path, and they might even send you down a completely unexpected rabbit hole, but at least you'll have some sense of where you'd like to go. That's all you need to participate in NaNoWriMo. It's all I had last year, and my 2018 project not only made it to 50K words but is now fully fleshed out, edited, and in the hands of beta readers. 

Just do it. It's not too late to take the chance.

For more tips, check out my Oct. 3, 2018 blog post on prepping for NaNoWriMo.

#NaNoWriMo #NaNoWriMo2019 #WIP #WritingCommunity #MotivationMonday #MondayMotivation #AmWriting #Fiction #Writer #WriteStuff #WriteOn #WritingInspiration 

Yep, I'm doing it again. I'm taking the challenge.

National Novel Writing Month, NaNoWriMo, is November, and I'm prepping for my next novel, "Sutton's Second Chance," what I hope will be the sequel to my 2018 effort, "Charlotte's Choice" (now called "Sutton's Choice").

The goal of NaNoWriMo is to write 50,000 words, or essentially a short novel, in one month. I did that last year by the skin of my teeth with 50,497 words and a day to spare. I was so into writing the final chapter of my rough, rough, rough, rough draft, I didn't notice jumping over the 50k mark (and my "win") until several hundred words beyond my goal. I literally burst into tears when I realized I'd crossed that line. 

That is a feeling well worth recreating. I broke down a fiction writing barrier with NaNoWriMo 2018. Not only did I meet my goal, I spent 11 months cleaning up the mess that was my first draft. Four drafts later, "Sutton's Choice" is complete at about 70,000 words and now in the hands of beta readers. Once their comments come in, I'll be diving back in and hope to have a viable final draft ready by next spring, so I can start sending to lit agents. 

NaNoWriMo was such a game-changer for me, I hope to keep the momentum going in 2019. Here are 6 reasons why NaNoWriMo is worth the time, even if the result is a messy,  ugly first draft.

1. I wrote to get the story down. I did not have time to second guess every word and tweak my writing as I went. I had to GET IT DOWN, and worry about the nuances of it later. This allowed me to try new things and stop analyzing my every thought. Overall, I believe this process was more organic, and the writing felt more natural.

2. It gave me a goal with very concrete deadlines. I love a challenge, and NaNoWriMo is definitely that. For anyone with a full or part-time job, it becomes even more so. I decided to do NaNoWriMo because I work best when I have a deadline. I take due dates seriously, so not following through with this would have been a fail for me.

3. It made my writing public. "Announcing" I was doing NaNoWriMo nudged me to follow through. By going public with my short synopsis and keeping my readers apprised of my word count progress, I knew I had to prove (to myself and everyone else) that I could finish. Obviously, I'm following that same principle in 2019.:)

4. I felt a part of something. Writing can be a lonely sport. Writing during NaNoWriMo is like going to a month-long writing workshop at which you can ask anyone anything at anytime, via the Internet and Facebook NaNoWriMo groups, and probably get multiple answers to your question ... plus tons of encouragement that you are doing great. NaNoWriMo is a wonderful support system.

5. It provided a rhythm to my writing. In the past, I'd sit down to a chapter written the day before and feel the need to back up and edit ... sometimes entire chapters at a time. Because of the time crunch of NaNoWriMo, I only allowed myself to back up and edit 1-2 pages each day. That way I'd get my editing fix in without taking hours out of my writing time. This also allowed me to get back into the rhythm of the story, so I could go full steam ahead with something new each day. Essentially, NaNoWriMo made me a more efficient writer.

6. I finished. Messy or not, I completed a first draft of a novel, something many writers say they'd like to do, think they can do, should find the time to do, but never do. I DID do it. Though it was rough, rough, rough, the first draft of Sutton's Choice was something to be proud of, and the final draft is just around the corner. I have NaNoWriMo to thank.

NaNoWriMo is not for everyone, but for those of us that can look past the mess that is that first draft, and see the nugget of gold beneath the ugly, the process is totally worth the time and effort.

Good luck and happy writing!

​#NaNoNites #AmPrepping #Writer #NaNoNoWriMo2019 #WIP #MotivationMonday #WednesdayWisdom #WritingTip #WriteTip #SCBWI #fiction #amquerying #NaNoWriMo

The good news? I've been busy editing the 4th draft of the women's fiction I started last November during NaNoWriMo.

The borderline scary news? This week, it's leaving its safe haven on my computer and falling into the hands of my beta readers.

Yikes.

Pretty sure I'm going to hear some things I don't want to hear about my work-in-progress, but using beta readers at this stage, though scary, will likely make the difference between a completed manuscript that does justice to its characters/plot and an unpublishable story that just barely scratches the surface.

I'd prefer to take the extra time to get input from beta readers, rather than rush to submit to agents without proper feedback. Although I am a member of two writing critique groups and have had many sets of eyes on my writing for months now, beta readers, of all kinds, are what I need to keep me honest and true to my story.

For me, a beta reader is all about the big picture.

My writing critique partners look at my work 1-2 chapters at a time, but with a monthly gap and always with a writer's eye. Beta readers fill a different need. I treat them as exactly what they are ... READERS. I ask my beta readers to pretend they've pulled my book from a library or bookstore shelf. I encourage them to read my work as seamlessly as possible, only jotting down general notes, as needed, while they absorb the story as a whole.

Big picture. 

​Ultimately, it is a beta reader who will be able to give me feedback on story cohesion, character depth, pacing, content accuracy, etc., because my beta readers won't be focusing on the sentence structure and grammar, but looking at the story with a wider lens.

Choosing beta readers, however, can be a tricky thing.

"Charlotte's Choice," now dubbed "Sutton's Choice," is about a 28-year-old writer, Charlotte Sutton, who learns her estranged father Chuck, a famous sports writer and community news publisher, likely has early-onset Alzheimer's disease. Charlotte must return to Lakeside, Ohio, her small Lake Erie hometown, to take on responsibilities she never expected, never wanted, and never asked for. In addition to facing her father, and all the emotional baggage that comes with their rocky relationship, she must also face the locals she avoided all through her growing up years. Add in a failing community newspaper, an almost defunct marina, and a teenage sibling Charlotte didn't know existed, and "Sutton's Choice" becomes a minefield of medical, legal, and emotional content.

There's the rub. I'm no doctor, no lawyer, no counselor.

Did I do my research well enough when setting up all these plot points? That's something my beta readers may be able to help me with, if I've chosen them wisely. 

To put a face on my ultimate beta reader for "Sutton's Choice," I need:

• a reader who is a doctor/caregiver of Alzheimer's patients
• a reader who has personal knowledge of Alzheimer's as a family member, spouse, or friend of a patient
• a reader with general dementia knowledge
• a reader with professional grief counseling knowledge or professional experience with teen depression/bullying (such as a school counselor)
• a reader the same age as my main character—about mid to late twenties
• a reader with intimate knowledge of Lakeside, Ohio and its surrounding areas
• a reader who grew up in the Lakeside, Ohio area and went through its school system, just like Charlotte
• a reader who was an only child all through the growing up years, just like Charlotte
• a reader who is from a split family, just like Charlotte
• a reader who is a parent with teenagers in the house
• a reader who is knowledgeable about sports, in all forms
• a reader who is a writer
• a reader who has working knowledge of a small, family newspaper
• a reader who has legal/personal knowledge of Ohio family law & estate planning
• a reader who has guardianship of a younger sibling
• a reader who loves women's fiction
• a reader who has a literature or English background
• a reader who is my #1 fan (my spouse) and/or a "Brenda Supporter," because every writer should have at least one of those
• MOST IMPORTANT, a reader who will be brutally honest if my manuscript sucks in certain places, but not as a whole, because a true Negative Nelly beta reader should be avoided, if at all possible

And the list could go on and on.

I was selective about who I asked to be my beta readers, but I didn't scrimp. Total, I asked 26 people, for very specific reasons, to help me with this project. Because being a beta reader is a time suck on other people's lives, I expected only about half to respond with a "yes," and I was spot on. Of the baker's dozen of confirmed beta readers, about half came from those with personal Alzheimer experience. My writing friends have a lot going on with their own work, so I was pleasantly surprised by the couple with interest. Some of my readers definitely fall under the "Brenda Supporter" category, and that's okay, because a pat on the back is always welcome. A couple lawyer friends and two educators are joining the fray. Many of the readers fill more than one bullet on my list, and most are intimately familiar with Lakeside.

All in all, I'm thrilled with the diversity of my beta readers.

Tips for working with beta readers:

• When initially asking for beta readers, send a "query-like" request giving a short synopsis of the story, what is expected of your beta readers (notes on each chapter, weekly updates on progress, or whatever you set as a goal), and why that person is qualified to help. To give them a glimpse of what they will be reading, include a PDF of the first chapter.
• Give very specific guidelines regarding the timeline of when readers can expect to receive the full manuscript and what deadline you have set for a return of materials and/or feedback. Give your readers at least a month to complete the reading. I usually allow 6-8 weeks.
• ​Ask all confirmed beta readers for an email address, so you can easily communicate with the group as a whole during the process. 
• If possible, give your readers various format options. Some readers prefer a hardcopy they can hold in their hands and make notes in. This may be an added expense, but worth every penny in copy costs and postage, if it means you get concrete feedback. Some readers want a digital format for their computer (Give as a PDF, instead of Word doc, so changes cannot be easily made). Some readers want a download for their Kindle reader. Depending on how you've set up the initial format, you may have to experiment with PDF and Word files, to find the option that reads best on Kindle. I usually download the manuscript to my own Kindle first, so I can see what the doc download will look like. Check your Amazon Prime directions for personal doc downloads, but I've usually had the most success with a Word file.
• On both hardcopy and digital formats, include a date and your contact info. Also note in the cover sheet and/or on each page footer that all versions of the document are your property and may not be distributed elsewhere in any format without consent.
• Provide each beta reader with a general guideline sheet (no more than one page, so so as not to overwhelm them) of what you want them providing feedback about during the reading. In my case, I'm looking for fairly general input about plot viability, but beta readers can be used to watch for very specific things, depending on their background. Some beta readers can be broken into specific groups such as Grammar Police, Legal Eagles, Character/Setting Developers, etc. JUST BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT YOUR EXPECTATIONS for each, individual beta reader.
• Don't be a hound, but DO follow up about two weeks after providing readers with the manuscript, just to touch base. It can be as simple as a group email asking if anyone has any mid-read concerns or questions. This way, any reader who hasn't started will get a polite nudge to do so, and anyone who is deep into the manuscript will know you haven't forgotten them.
• Don't be a hound, but DO contact all readers about one week before the deadline you've set for return of materials/feedback, so your readers know their time with your manuscript is nearing an end. 
• Determine how you wish to receive feedback and be clear to your readers about this process. Will you require all hardcopies returned to you (at your own postage expense, of course) or may they keep them and submit comments via email? 
• Don't be surprised if not everyone finishes your manuscript or even responds with comments at the end of the process. Life gets in the way, and even the beta readers with the best intentions can have something interrupt their participation. Sometimes your manuscript is also just not their "cup of tea." And that's okay. That is why sending to a large number of readers is necessary. Of my baker's dozen of confirmed readers, I'll be happy if I receive constructive comments from half. 

And, now I wait. Will my beta readers like it? Will they hate it? Whatever the answer, at least I know I have done everything I can to further my manuscript.

Thanks to my beta readers, I am looking at the big picture and taking "Sutton's Choice" one step closer to submission and—hopefully—publication.

#BetaReaders #WIP #AmWriting #AmEditing #WritingCommunity #NaNoWriMo #Editor #Fiction #WomensFiction #NovelIdea #MotivationMonday #MondayMotivation

My women's fiction work-in-progress, "Charlotte's Choice," is nearing the final draft stage. I've been working on honing a short pitch, so I can start submitting to literary agents this winter. 

For those of you who just went "lights out" with that phrase, think back flap paragraph of a novel. In a nutshell, it is the most basic summarization of a story and typically a single sentence of about 25-35 words.

The short pitch is gold when it comes time to submit a query to an agent. It can be one's best friend or worst enemy, depending on how well it is written. 



artwork by Instagram @mhaas_art

​A short pitch is also sometimes called the premise, or central idea, of a story.

Without a central idea, a story may become just a series of rambling scenes with no point. Identifying the premise BEFORE diving into a new story can help focus the project from day one and keep a writer on track with a concrete purpose. If, however, a writer chooses to formulate a premise after the first draft, the writer may discover the plot has more holes than Swiss cheese (This was the case with the very first novel I attempted to write. The first draft required major revisions to fix central idea problems. I wish I'd recognized the importance of a premise before beginning my novel). 

A premise should contain five elements: character, situation/setting, "oh, crap" moment, goal/objective, and an opponent. Basically, the premise explains who has a problem and what the main character must do to solve the problem before something seriously bad happens.

Sample Premise Formula: When (opening conflict/disaster) happens to (character or characters), he/she/they must (action to overcome conflict/defeat opponent) to (obtain objective/complete quest).

Example: When a tornado whisks Dorothy off to a magical land, she must enlist the help of new friends and a lovely pair of ruby slippers to defeat a wicked witch and find her way home to Kansas.

Have fun Googling premise formulas. There are a gazillion versions, and, depending on what you're writing, it may take some time to find the formula that best suits the project.

Below is the working short pitch/premise for the women's fiction novel I started last fall during National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo).

Charlotte's Choice
By Brenda Haas

When 28-year-old writer Charlotte Sutton's estranged father Chuck is diagnosed with Alzheimer's, the dutiful daughter must return to her small, Lake Erie hometown to face her father and the past she'd run from 10 years prior.

Still tweaking. Not 100% happy with the wording yet. It's not quite ready to put in an agent query letter, but I'm getting close. 

Charlotte's Choice Premise Analysis --

Character: Charlotte, a 28-year-old writer (strong)
Situation/Setting: small, Lake Erie hometown (strong)
Oh, Crap Moment: father Chuck is diagnosed with Alzheimer's (strong)
Goal/Objective: face father and past she'd run from 10 years prior (somewhat weak, too ambiguous)
Opponent: Chuck? Alzheimer's? Past? Charlotte herself? (somewhat weak. I think the primary opponent is Charlotte herself, because it's Charlotte's flashback memories of her past that create an internal conflict ... a personal, mental opponent).

I'll keep working on this until I'm comfortable reciting it in my sleep, or it sounds right the next time someone asks me what I'm working on:)

​For more info on premise, check out the Novel Factory for some great free handouts.

Good luck and pitch on, my writerly friends!

#amwriting #amediting #amquerying #WIP #writingtips #writingtip #writetip