The Write Life has released a comprehensive list of 100 websites for writers โ covering many topics in a writer’s daily life.
I discovered this list this morning in a newsletter and took a few minutes to explore it. It could easily have turned into hours, of course, but I was a good business person and extracted myself from the quicksand of website-hopping before I sank too deep. Just in that brief foray, however, I saw several sites/podcasts that I already subscribe to or visit regularly, and many more that I want to visit. If you are looking for information on writerly topics, this list would be an excellent place to start your search. Happy writing! ~
When I pick up a book to read the inner jacket or back cover hook, or if I’m scanning Amazon, Goodreads, Book Sirens, Book Barbarians, any of the myriad places I get my reading material, one of the first things I notice is the name of the protagonist.
What IS in a name?
If I like that particular combination of letters, it ticks a mental box and I am more likely to read on. It doesn’t mean if I don’t like what I see that I won’t investigate further, but I am more likely to continue if I do.
Is that a shallow initial evaluation? Perhaps, but to me it is not. Names have always been a very important and fascinating topic I have explored. It may be some carryover from having a longer, complicated Polish birth surname that was challenging for a four-year-old to learn how to spell. And then add in that my not-unusual first name has an unusual spelling, I have been correcting people from day one. Ugh, <eye rolls>. So maybe then it is all my parents’ fault, but I’m honestly not looking to place blame for something I find fascinating.
My three dogs ( l-r) Dash, Nyssa, and Tristan
So much so, that after I chose Dash for my most recent Aussie boy, and he absorbed the energy of the word 100%, I have kept Zen in the forefront of my mind for the next one… one can hope, right?
Once I was aware enough to make the connection between our mother cows and calves, I made myself responsible for remembering who-went-with-who and their names. Names were chosen for any number of reasons, but never just arbitrarily. There was always a meaning, time period, or reference that inspired the choice. We even had twins born one winter on the day of the Super Bowl that gave us Raider and Redskin. My dogs are no different, it is a part of welcoming a new family member that I take very seriously.
I could fill this room with names…
It should come as no surprise then if I say that one of the reasons I want to write a fantasy novel is that I want to NAME characters, countries, cities, castles, forests, lakesโall of it! And through the naming, each person, creature, and location becomes real to me; in my mind and on paper (or screen) they now have an existence and can be interacted with. One of the most fulfilling blocks of time I spent two weeks ago was naming all 54 of the cities/towns and their House Seats of the family scion that resides there.
Yeah, I said thatโ54 scion residences and 54 cities or towns. 108 names, and I loved every single minute of it over the three days it took me. Is that excessive? Possibly, but its part of my world building and though I don’t know when I will write any of them in, they are in existence waiting to be deployed. These locations give some structure to my world; physical destinations I can make things happen in, talk about in dialogue, and use as landmarks.
The power in a name, I believe, comes from the interaction of the energy of the word with our own energy. At our most fundamental state, we are beings of energy, and energy flows in waves like sound, or light, or as depicted by the ripples in this pond. A word is a series of sounds (energy waves) made by our vocal cords. The waves interact with those comprising ourselves each time they are spoken (and perhaps even on a really infinitesimal level, thought) enhancing, nullifying, and interfering according to their amplitude, wavelength, and frequency. That energy becomes part of us, at least it makes sense to me that it does.
Take my dog Dash as an example. I chose that word, that verb actually, for his name thinking I would return to training dog agility and compete with him, and for the boy in The Incredibles, one of my favorite movies. I wanted something short, catchy, distinctive in sound that embodied quickness and speed. We never got to the agility due to an injury, but he still spends his days zipping around the yard, under his Akita sister, bouncing off her as they play, careening after squirrels at the very end of his leash, and making himself disappear under the trundle when I go out for an evening. He dashes everywhere, his legs take him distances in negative amounts of time it seems. Every time I call his name a blur of red fur appears, wiggles, smiles, but never stops moving. He is Dash- the energy of the word, the meaning, the embodiment of the sound. Now I’m sure somewhere there is a Dash who lazes around on the couch, but my experience has been the opposite. So I dare you, name something Trek and see if you spend your days eating bon-bons in front of the TV together. My money’s on NO…
Consequently then, when I read the blurb of a book and encounter the character’s name, I am interacting with the energy of the word. If it is an energy that resonates positively, if it rolls off the tongue easily (I actually do read aloud quite a lot), if the squiggles of the letters look good on the page, I will continue my perusal. I am investing my time as a reader, after all, so I want to be able to pay attention and not be distracted by a name I can’t pronounce for however-many-hundred pages. That said, if it is included in the book, you can bet I will use the glossary and/or pronunciation guide. I am a BIG fan of those add-ins (can you tell I read A LOT of fantasy?) Give me some energy to work with from the outset and I’m all in. Names DO have power. ~
Do you experience names in a similar manner? What energy do the names your characters, or some of your favorite characters, contain? How do you come up with names in your works? I’d love to hear your thoughts, drop me a comment below. Until next time, write on! ~
This meme came across my personal Facebook feed on the morning of December 1st. It summed up so much of what I was thinking about at that moment, both through the words and the concept of the art. I was reading a book written by a friend and had just encountered the storyโs plot twist; we were expecting the first snowstorm of the season to start later that afternoon; not only is it December, the last month of 2019, but the last month of the decade (yes, I know, it really is!); I have been working on the outline of my own fantasy novel, and am wondering if I need some sort of twist to deepen the reader engagement. The quote seemed written specifically for me.
The meandering path fading off into the distance of the scene drew me in and offered comfort, and also curiosity. I absorbed this resonance and turned to Numerology – one of my avid interests โ for a bit of research on the potential waiting in my December 2019. Without going into detail, I came away with the recurring themes of i) having the courage to face changes, ii) being flexible and accepting of events as they occur, and iii) reflecting on the quiet and patience 2019 has taught.
I took the third theme and applied it during my quieter moments over the first two weeks. 2019 has been a relatively quiet year for me. I have worked diligently on reacting appropriately to situations, not adding drama where it doesnโt belong. That balance has given me confidence to assess my goals and plan the steps of what I need to do to achieve them. I have made headway in important areas and recognize where I need to be more focused in others. One of the hardest lessons has certainly been patience, but with the help of an amazing, supportive Facebook group (13 Steps to Evil – Villain Masters), I have embraced weekly accountability and breaking tasks into small, even โbabyโ steps. This way the rewards compound continually until the item is finally done, which inspires more action, and the check marks keep coming. Thanks guys, I couldnโt do it without you, truly. #13STE ๐
So far the most notable change December has offered has been the weather, and the schedule re-arrangements I have begun to make. The last several years snowfall hasnโt begun in earnest until well into January, but this year we have already had over 24โon my little hill. And itโs been cooooollldd already (< 20F most mornings), too cold to walk my dogs before 6 am as I prefer to do. Sleeping in a little and walking after the sun is well up is quite difficult for an early morning person like me, but if nature intended the winter months to be a time of rest and renewal, perhaps I should be more flexible and embrace that sentiment too. It is going well to this point, I can say, and I plan to continue amending as the New England weather allows.
The first theme, though, is a defining thread of 2019 for me, and beyond; it applies no matter the month. Iโve been cognizant of building toward a major life shift for a while now, so I am very conscious about making decisions that bring me closer to my goals. I now recognize opportunities as I encounter them, keeping my mind and energy open to all of the choices along my path, instead of reacting in the moment and missing something potentially valuable. I think โhaving courageโ is another way to say โface your fear of the unknown.โ Knowing that I am in the process of changing careers and building a business is absolutely terrifying, but not facing that fear means not giving myself the opportunity to succeed. And to succeed in this endeavor is what I most desire at this point on my journey.
There it is again, the truth I absorbed about a year ago after reading The All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness โ
Fear and desire, the two greatest motivators of action (or inaction) in our lives.
I LOVE that idea with all that I am.
Back to the opening meme, I see that my goals lie further down the road in the distance, while the foundations of change lie patiently under the blanket of white snow. And Iโm okay with that. Itโs winter, so I will continue laying the brickwork and doing the quiet work during the restful time. And when the time for action comes, I will be ready because Iโve remained open to it and recognized it for what it is. Hereโs to the journey down the snowy path, with all the plot twists along the way. Welcome 2020, letโs get this party started. ~
There are certainly times when I think I could read writerly advice for days on end and never absorb enough of it. And those are also the times when I stop and realize that I am procrastinating… such an ugly word for such a fun activity. But in those spans, I do run across much of value, so I thought I would share some of it here in this segment I will call Tipsy Wisdoms. These editions will be periodical (read when I get around to it, <snicker, snicker>) and hopefully fun. Many posts may be from Tumblr, and I choose to do it this way instead of posting my whole Tumblr blog here because they have different foci. That said, I will do my UTMOST to credit the original poster, and hooray!!! for all of these individuals who have put into words the many things we all can use a reminder of. I hope you enjoy Tipsy Wisdoms!
I thought this listing of synonyms for light all condensed into one place was a fabulous idea! What a great resource! Thanks, linestorm!
This next post is courtesy of fictionadventurer over on Tumblr. It is a healthy reminder of how as writers we can get into our own heads and muck up what doesn’t need to be mucked up… especially for one who fights perfectionism constantly and has high standards like myself. Take it as a gentle nudge~
I think thereโs a tendency for some writers to fall into the mindset that a good story has to have All The Things. Unique and nuanced three-dimensional characters, a completely immersive setting, a structurally flawless plot and pristine prose that conveys a distinct and memorable authorial voice. While itโs good to achieve a basic level of competence in all those things, I think itโs important to remember that no story can deliver everything.
Some of that is pure logicโa story generally canโt have both a snappy, page-turning plot and leisurely pages of vivid description, so a choice has to be made. But also, readers donโt necessarily need perfection in everything. They canโt pay attention to everything. And even the best and most popular books draw in readers by being very good in one or two areas, even if they arenโt necessarily strong in others. Tolkien is praised for his vivid worldbuilding even if some people donโt like his prose styling. People love Austenโs characters and wit even if she tells us next to nothing about her setting. And so on and so forth. I know that there are certain authors I read for their characters or for their masterful prose, and I donโt really care if the other areas are neglected because theyโre not what I came for. And they rank among my favorite books not because theyโre great at everything, but that theyโre really great at that one specific thing.
Itโs okay to have strengths. Maybe you focus a lot of energy on intricate characterization while your descriptions tend toward minimalism. Itโs fineโreaders might fall in love with your characters and not mind that their imaginations have to fill in a few extra setting details. Maybe pacing a plot is childโs play while styling a beautiful sentence feels like pulling teeth. Thatโs alright, tooโreaders may be so busy turning pages that they donโt mind your purely functional prose. But if youโre spending time agonizing over all the things at once, you may not be able to reach brilliance in any of the areas.
While itโs good to learn the craft and improve your writing, reaching for perfection can be paralyzing. It can lead to endless reading of articles and books about writing, while no actual stories are written. So Iโm thinking this limited approach can help. Rather than trying to be the author who writes a Great Book, think about being an author whoโs great at a certain part of writing. And the rest might not matter as much as youโd feared. original post byfictionadventurer
Wow, how time does fly between when I start a post and when I finish it… We have been graced with absolutely perfect early fall weather, allowing me to stay outside in summer mode almost the whole month, until today, really. 80 two days ago, 60 today. But that is New England, wait a minute or two, and it will change.
Despite the warmer temps though, it is certainly feeling like fall, both within and without. The Celtic holiday of Mabon and the Autumnal Equinox were last week, ushering in the harvest season and the time to sink our roots firmly in the ground for the coming winter. Fittingly enough, the same day was also my father’s birthday, and he is the most grounded person I know, from his devotion to our family farm and its yearly patterns, to stubbornly refusing to allow my brother and I to take on and decide more of what goes on here dailyโhe is truly enough to smother all of my airy ambitions. But strangely enough, his presence often can bring me back from my daydreamy aspirations onto the solid ground of “just get it done.” So here I am- gettin’ IT done.
Late August has perennially been a time of emotional unrest for me, one who is, by nature, not emotionally inclined. It may be harvest season, with pumpkin spice everything and mums and asters on every doorstep, but I get restless and start feeling stuck. The simplest way I can explain it is that school is starting for the younger set, and I feel like I should be starting something new too. I have felt for a long time (namely the 20+ years I have been out of college) that New Year’s Day should actually be where Labor Day is in the calendar. Everything new starts in the fallโschool, college, football, basketball, and hockey seasons, television series, new car models are released, so many things. And yet I am just doing the same things as the month before. Yeah, it makes me crazy…
But I suppose the real way to look at this enigma is that I am the one keeping myself the sameโso why don’t I do something about it? Well, in a roundabout way, I think I did, cause before I knew what was happening, I had two new projects to embark on, and my angst faded overnight. I had just decided early in September that I would use the harvest season energy toward finishing my business website and launching it, and start looking into preparation for NaNoWriMo in November (if I am brave enough to attempt it?). About a day or two later, I found myself with two new horticultural endeavorsโone quicker re-design, and one very substantial grounds reclamation project that could go on indefinitely. Both of these types of projects still satisfy something deep inside me, so I accepted them and dove in headfirst. Problem solved, right?
Yes. I sort of think that the universe responded to that sort of restless energy I put out there and crafted me a solution, but only after I had decided to create my own. Most years I have continued to rail against the end of summer, giving in to those restless feelings and letting them make me agitated and cross when no avenue appears for them. But when I accepted that angst-filled energy and aimed to turn it into something positive, outlets materialized immediately. Suddenly I find myself with my fingers in way too many pies, with the opposite problemโnot enough hours in the day to do all I want to. But hey, that is the problem to have, especially for the harvest season, that “just get it done” time of year. Cause the next season that comes is the dark one, when time feels interminable in the New England winter. So I’m gonna take it as it comes now, and do it while I can. All of it.~
… a dynamic, fast-paced, racy tale that left me wondering where the vampires are really hanging out.
My Goodreads opinion featured in the sidebar menu mentions that I am late to the J. R. Ward party, and well, I’m really just late to the vampire party in general. Or perhaps I’m early, if you believe the elusive ones are on the upswing again as subject matter. Either way, I am a huge fan of the adult world of vampiresโ the more darkness, secrets, chiseled features, repressed emotions, and mind powers the better. That being said, for current fans of The Black Dagger Brotherhood series, The Savior is another installment in a well-loved series; for me it was an introduction to exactly where I want to be.
The first thing I noticed was Ms. Ward’s writing styleโit’s in-your-face, direct, extremely realistic in dialogue, and sensual. After my inner voice adjusted to it (in the first three pages), I actually breathed a sigh of relief and said (out loud) “Holy shit! She writes like I think! I love this!” I flew through the first seventy-five pages and spent the rest of the book finding enough time to be able to read large portions. I couldn’t just do small bits, I needed to get into the New York winter the story was set in and stay for a while.
Even though it is the seventeenth in the series, The Savior was easily consumed as a standalone book. It was obvious many of the other Brothers have history I was unaware of, but it did not hinder my engagement with the Murhder and his tale, or detract from the story line for me. In fact, I like the idea that each Brother has his own book (so it seems), and that if I ever wish I can go back and read them. A perfect construction of a series to keep an author writing and employed once their audience is hooked.
The hierarchy and structure of the underground world the vampires move in was outlined and described more than adequately throughout the book without big informative paragraphs. I am always intrigued by plots that have their own languages, naming systems, pronunciations, and genealogies, and Ms. Ward has developed several of these threads throughout the series. For me, it just enhances the imaginative experience of “getting into the world” of the book, something that is at the very top of my list when it comes to entertaining my overactive brain. Reading is definitely how I lose myself and relax; my imagination craves room to roam and The Savior indulged it fully.
Murhder and the human Sarah’s paths cross at critical points in each of their lives. Both have experienced traumatic loss and need that last nudge to lift them out of the meager existences they have been trapped in. Well-crafted character arcs take them from their low points, back into feeling alive and fulfilled, and into the resolution of the plot. Suffused with undercurrents of political machination, dark vampiric activities, mind magic, huge male tempers and egos, hot, erotic sex, and current scientific topics, J. R. Ward spins a dynamic, fast-paced, racy tale that left me wondering where the vampires are really hanging out. ‘Cause if they are here, I wanna be one. Sign me up, I’m in!~
*Hardcover image source Amazon.com. Hardcover publisher Gallery Books, April 2019.
In the first part of this Human Writing Aides post, I talked about some of the definitions and nuances of these author/reader arrangements, and some ideas and considerations surrounding the topics. This second part will follow the current human writing aide role I am performing for an author and what I have learned along the way.
Back in the winter, I answered a query
in a Facebook group of a new author looking for someone willing to read the
first two chapters of his โdark fantasyโ work in progress. I have been a
fantasy reader and lover since I was around 12, so the genre, and his added
footnote of including elves and magic, certainly piqued my interest. I also
have to admit that the idea of being one of the first to read something that
could be the next bestseller really intrigues me, and I had some free time, so
I replied โSure. Iโll read it.โ The reply along the lines of โGreat, thank you
very much!โ came, and after an exchange of email addresses, the document
appeared in my inbox.
I opened the file and began reading. The next day I sent an email back with my observations, questions, and suggestions. I fervently hoped I wasnโt being too critical, but I tempered that with the knowledge that I had approached the document with a few basic thoughts in mind:
If this were my work, what would I want to know?
How would I receive my comments (as pertains to the emotional aspect of the language used)?
This author and I know nothing about one another, so I may need to explain my thoughts sometimes to convey my meaning.
This is NOT proofreading! Stick to the larger concepts of story and characters.
The last one was, at times, the most difficult to adhere to, just having finished an online proofreaderโs training course, but I quickly came to a comfortable compromise with myself on that topic. Nervously, I hit the SEND button and waited for the reply to come.
Did I say too much?
The
return email arrived and I waited until I had enough time to devote it
uninterrupted. Even if it was an angry retort, it was important to me that I
understand the position the author was coming from, and how perhaps I could
have made the exchange better, if necessary. To my great relief, however, his
response was upbeat and grateful. In fact, twenty-eight chapters and several
months later, our arrangement is still going strong.
Thankfully…
Over the course of that time, my reply format has changed, but my overall approach has remained consistent. As one of two initial sets of eyes on the author partner’s WIP, my main concern is that he getshis story out onto the page. I see the thoughts and scenes sort of like stick-figure peopleโonce they are out of the authorโs head onto paper they have a rudimentary existence. Subsequent revisions and edits will flesh them out into substantial beings, complex characters, and strong storylines.
I look for:
inconsistencies in character elements
random ideas that seem to just show up in the plot
tense shifts
things that trip me up when I’m reading, especially in setting descriptions and battle scenes
I set my proofreaderโs eye aside largely, except where it may help other post-first-revision readers (i.e. possessives). I also suggest using strong verbs that enhance the context and sentences around them. Even at this early stage, it makes sense to me to encourage strong, straightforward writing before the work will be handed off to another reader.
All the while, though, I keep in mind that I am not re-writing, but merely suggesting what could be changed, enhanced, clarified,described, or omitted, as the case may be. Yes, my returned documents contain numerous colored additions of missing words and letters, apostrophes, noted verb tense shifts, perhaps a few commas when I was undoubtedly confused, and comment bubbles FULL of questions and observations. Many times I do stop and wonder if I am overwhelming my author partner. But then I think that if Iโm noticing something now, then by pointing it out, I give him the opportunity to fill some of the holes and continue refining his style and voice in forthcoming chapters. My colored ink can always be rejected because after all, it is his work, not mine.
Another aspect that I was aware of in a global sense, but has become a fun part of this project for me, is working with an English writer originally from England, whereas I am from the American English camp. Our differences in phraseology, spellings, and even some word usage are interesting and always make me smile. A few times I have wanted to change some decidedly non-American terminology, but I patted my Yankee brain on the head and said, โDown girl, go relax.โ Because this isnโt my story, and the world is largely non-American; it probably sounds perfectly correct to many who will read it. So I sayโฆ Let it be! (Lol)
So perhaps then, according to the definitions in Part 1, on this project I am:
part CP (reading from a writer’s perspective with attention to style, POV, and tense, the agreement of exchange)
part alpha reader (looking for plot holes, picking up inconsistencies and blind spots)
and even a little bit beta (reading from a readerโs POV as a fantasy lover, making small text edits)
What is most important, though, is that it is an agreed-upon and mutually beneficial exchange between the author and me. The emails with the next installments always make me happy, and he has told me many times he appreciates my suggestions and observations. I look forward the seeing this story as a finished manuscript, and then as a printed series of books, knowing how far it has come from those first emailed chapters. Iโm along for the journey, and since I have just received the last two chapters for this book in the series, Iโd say we will be doing some back-tracking and re-routing on the way to the end, but one thing is for certainโwe will both be better writers and readers when the last page is turned.~
A hot topic in social media writers’ groups these days is critique partners/alpha readers/beta readers, and all aspects about them: what are they and the differences between them; where do you find them; what should you expect from them as an author; what the reader can expect from the authors; should they be paid, and so on. The answers seem to vary widely the more you read about the subject and depending on the source of the information. There is also a fair amount of emotion attached to the subject, and rightly so. Sending your hard-fought literary creation out for perusal by an unknown entity takes cajones, let’s face it, that struggle is very real. Everyone who puts pen to paper wants to be encouraged and viewed positively, but just as in life in general, it’s more often the not-so “Ra-ra! Yes, I love it!” comments that promote growth as a writer.
Which one do I need?
I read a couple of blog posts on iWriterly and Indies Unlimited recently that described these three human writing aides quite neatly. iWriterlyโs Meg Latorre describes critique partners (CP) as:
โโฆwriters who provide feedback on your work, usually by request (to exchange chapters).โ Meg Latorre, iWriterly, (follow her on YouTube)
Such a person could easily be confused with Indies Unlimitedโs definition of an alpha reader as someone who reads a work-in-progress in the early stages of compilation, and perhaps even again after a first edit, but before it is sent to a content editor. They go on to say that an alpha readerโs purpose
…is to see if the overall structure of your book works. Are there glaring issues or plot holes large enough to float an ocean liner through? The idea is to have a trusted reader who might spot issues you miss or have a blind spot about. … If you decide to, the sooner in the process the better. You want to limit wasted effort you’ll expend polishing sections that might get reworked or even tossed out based on feedback from the alpha reader.”
Both sites agreed that beta readers come later in the process, after at least a few self-edits. Betas tend to be other readers who have an interest in the genre and are also willing to offer feedback, both positive and negative. They may offer simple line edits in addition to larger concept suggestions, or not, it depends upon the person and what the author is looking for. Many times these details can be discussed and agreed upon before the document is even sent.
Typically, these three feedback sources have not been compensated, but that is changing some as I see freelancers listing them as part of their core services. I believe that there is certainly room for discussion in this realm, as it all boils down simply to someone spending their time for the benefit of another (and hopefully themselves as well). Everyoneโs time has value and that should be taken into consideration. Perhaps there doesnโt have to be an actual transfer of funds, but certainly a signed, messaged copy of the work in its finished form is a well-deserved token.
If you don’t feel that compensation is necessary, that’s cool. I know many don’t.
Alternatively, a fun way to say thank you could be to gift your reader with a month or a few (depending on the scope of the work) of an appropriate subscription box. I have treated myself to the Scribbler subscription box during the dreary New England winter months, and I loved it. Itโs full of writer-friendly stuff, tips, tools of the trade, and of course, a real BOOK, so it is supporting other authors as well. Finding the type-covered box in the mail always brought a smile to my face, and a few hours of Christmas-in-whenever. Subscription boxes are numerous now, there is one for most every kind of interest, finding one that youโd like to send (or receive, which is how I think about it) shouldnโt be difficult.
Hereโs another, perhaps more practical idea for appreciation (if applicable): compensate the critiquer the amount it would be to upgrade one of their trade memberships a level. Freelancers and industry professionals alike have many organizations to choose to belong to, such as The Editorial Freelancersโ Association, Freelancersโ Union, The Society for Editing (ACES), The Society for Editors and Proofreaders (UK based), and several others, all of which have tiers of membership with associated fees. Levelling up many times allows for the purchase of a course or seminar at a reduced rate, or discounted entry fees to conferences and association gatherings. This way each party is continuing to hone their craft and improve their repertoire. That is truly a gift that keeps on giving!
In a similar vein, if your CP is on Patreon, it couldnโt get any easier! Helping our fellow creative souls toward their goals is a productive way to show support and appreciation. In fact, Iโm investigating this platform myselfโฆ
Testimonials and/or endorsements of the CP/reader on their website should undoubtedly be part of the authorโs response. Testimonials and reviews are extremely important to members of the freelance community, they help to support our business and bolster our confidence. And yes, even if it is a less positive sentiment, it may help other writers judge if the reader is offering the level of feedback they are looking for. We all gotta take the good and the not-so-goodโ if the CP/reader can dish it out, they better be able to take it in return.
Freelancer’s lifeblood…
One big difference that is noted in these three human aides is their approach of the manuscript- either from a writerโsperspective or a readerโs. Some authors choose to enlist the services of all three, while some only seek out one or two. I can see value in each one depending on the authorโs writing style, time and/or deadlines, and the type of work it is. Some (VERY) basic line editing in the early stages can also reduce copy editing and proofreading costs in the later stages.
Writer-writer
CPโs and alpha readers can often expect to be reading raw, unedited copyโliterally right off the pen or keyboard. If you canโt stomach misspellings, a lack of punctuation and often formatting, and imprecise grammar, please, save everyone the frustration and opt for a beta or later stage read instead. You will be SOOOOO much more comfortable! Authors, on the other hand, can receive their feedback in many forms, from list-type replies to in-document notations. But be prepared for some criticism, it is what you should ASK for! This is all just a round-about way of saying that the most important part of the reader/author arrangement is communication about the extent of the feedback. When each side has expressed what they are looking for and knows their scope, the chances of a positive experience are much better. Which really is the end goal, right?
In the second part of this post, I will discuss the blend of CP and alpha reading (according to the above definitions) I am currently providing for an author halfway around the world from me, and what I have learned from the partnership. Until then, keep writing, reading, and playing with words however you can! ~
The Sun, a Book, and a Dog 