Any writer who has gotten to the beta reader feedback stage of their writing journey knows handing your MS to others to read is a helpful part of the process. It can be essential for addressing plot issues, character flaws, confusing narratives, what works and what doesn’t, and picking up those elusive typos. It’s also …
One milestone to hit in the book writing process is sending your WIP off to beta readers. Your betas can be family, friends, fellow writers, or even paid for services. I’ve used all types, including this week when I finally sent my latest work in progress to four fellow writers! These talented author friends and …
While busy, modern-day lives mean there will always be occasions when you can't write when you want to, there is also a time in a writer's life when you want to write, but you just can't. Not because you couldn't sit down at your desk. Not because you didn't have the whole house to yourself. …
Continue reading 4 Reasons Why You Can’t Write And What To Do About It
When you find a good beta reader, it's like striking gold. Suddenly you have riches of feedback to help shape your story into the MS you set out to write when you typed the first sentence. It's natural to want to return the favor and help another writer. Beta reading for others will also help you …
Continue reading The Do’s And Don’ts Of Being A Good Beta Reader
So, it happened. You gave your manuscript to someone to read, expecting accolades, messages of praise, or at the very least, confirmation the story and characters are good—and the feedback wasn't what you were expecting. In fact, it signaled that your MS is bad. Really. Bad. While this kind of feedback is enough to crush …
No one likes rejection. When you’re a writer staring at a rejection letter, realizing how much one little word can hurt (and wondering why words have turned against you—you love them!), you’ll need something to make you feel better. I’ve been through some rejections—a whole year in fact. The first one stung. Others rolled off …
As much as we want to think everything we write is gold, it isn’t. In fact, when you’re first starting out, it’s not even silver or bronze. Anyone who has dipped their toe into the feedback pool knows how scary it is to send your beloved draft to someone else. You know how it feels …
Continue reading The Dos And Don’ts Of Handling Bad Feedback
Recently, I had four talented fellow writers beta read book one of my supernatural YA series. This was the book I spent a year shopping to agents, and waited over a year for a publisher response. There were issues with the manuscript. I knew it from the rejections. So I rewrote parts, bumped a minor …
Continue reading How To Sort Through Feedback Without Going Insane
Unless the book you’ve written is so bad that allowing others to read it will somehow bring about the end of the world (in which case you should probably kill that MS with fire), seeking feedback is a helpful step for any writer. It's a step I've taken numerous times in the last few years, …
Continue reading Seeking Feedback From Beta Readers (And Why It’s Not As Scary As You Think)
K.M. Allan 