beta readers – Sydney Aaliyah Michelle

Insecure Writer’s Support Group – Confused

Published on January 8, 2014January 7, 2014 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle44 Comments

InsecureWritersSupportGroup

I am so confused, I don’t really know my next step. Thank you in advance for your advice. It is appreciated more then you know.

I don’t mean to sound so desperate, but just when I thought I had my insecurities in check, another annoying one pops up and takes over my brain.

I received feedback from five Beta’s on my current MS. Three of them are writers, one is a friend in my reader’s demographic and the other is someone who the person helping me publish my book sent it to.

While I know my book needs some work and isn’t close to publication, the feedback from the first four people have been constructive and positive, and they loved the story. But, the last person. Wow, well, my thick skin is being tested.

Basically she/he said it was 100 pages to long and not serious enough and basically she didn’t like it. Or maybe she did, I don’t know. I can’t tell. Her comments were completely different than the other four. She hated things about my MC that other reader’s liked. Her impression of the book was so far on the other end of the spectrum form the other four.

Now, I know what your going to say. Why am I giving so much credence to the one? I don’t know. She had some valid point’s too, but so much of what she said was complete new to me and I am not sure how to proceed.

That’s why I am confused. What would you do?

Thanks to the awesome co-hosts for the January 8 posting of the IWSG Bob Milne, River Fairchild, Julie Dao, and Sarah Foster! Take some time and visit other IWSG members. In my experience, we all share some the same insecurities. You may help someone or find a way to cope yourself.

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Insecure Writer Support Group

Published on September 4, 2013 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle21 Comments

Or, 7 days away from finishing my fourth round of edits. More on that in a minute.

InsecureWritersSupportGroup

Big thank you and congrats go out to Mr. Alex J. Cavanuagh and his team for taking IWSG to the next level. If you haven’t read about the big announcement, click here.

Thanks to this month’s co-host Chemist Ken, SL Hennessy, Michelle Wallace, and Joylene Nowell Butler.

Ok, back to the topic at hand.

Write the first draft – check

Let it sit for three weeks – check

Read through and find the big mistakes (edit #1) – check

Read through and find the big mistakes you missed on the first read through (edit #2) – check

Read through and find the small mistakes (edit #3) – check

Read out loud and find the not so obvious mistakes (edit #4) – Finish in 7 days.

But, then what?

I love this story. It has consumed all of my free time over the last four months. I’ve put in the work to turn it into a story that even after reading through it 10,000 times, the parts that are supposed to make me laugh, still make me laugh and the parts that are supposed to make me cry, still make me cry and I can’t wait to see what happens even though I know the ending.

But, is that enough to put it out there for the world to see?

I know about beta readers and critique partners and editors, I’ll do all that, too. What I really want to know is even after all that, will there be a clear sign that let’s me know, ok, publish it?

How do you know when your story is good enough for public consumption?

My Weekly Update – Edits, Please.

Published on March 3, 2013March 2, 2013 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle9 Comments

I’m a Minnion

Thanks to Nicole from The Madlab Post for choosing me to be one of her minions.

I am on a staff with Sheila Siler, Tami Van Zalez and M.J. Joachim. A talented, smart and fun group to be a part of and we will do Nicole proud.

Have you signed up for the A to Z Challenge? For more information, read this.

Still trying to figure out a theme, read this.

Third Week Of Edits

In order to stay up to date on my edits, I have a number of accountabilities (that’s a word) in place.

the writers dojo – As a part of NiNoReMo group, I have set a goal to edit 12 chapters in the month of March. Ali cross and the rest of the group are super supportive and I don’t want to let them down.
Beta readers – I am sending chapters to my beta readers as soon as I finish editing them and it’s a good sign when my beta’s are calling me to send more chapters. They are breathless with anticipation (anyone know where that quote comes from?). And, one of my beta’s said, I can’t wait to see if the main characters get together, but she picked the wrong two main characters, so she is going to be in for a surprise. That’s what I hope every reading my book when they read it. I suck them in and then turn the tables on it. hahahahaha(evil laugh).
DFW Writer’s Conference – I want my beta’s to finish reading so I can have all edits done and ready to go for the conference in May. All those agents out there are just waiting to read my manuscript. 😉

Do you work better when you’re held accountable or are you one of those internally motivated people (~~hate envy~~ proud of those people)?

Post to Ponder – Edit Edition

Chapter Edits – A Quick Overview by Raewyn Hewitt – If you’re new to editing and not sure where to start, follow these steps. It will get you far.

Four Situations When We Should Tell Rather than Show by Marcy Kennedy – I know this sounds blasphemous, but read it. It makes so much sense.

Close Edits: What I Look Out For by Tara Tyler – Great list of edits to look for.

My Favorite Blog of the Week

Rejection Love Letters – John Tompkins is a writer who has turn rejection into triumph. Ok, maybe not triumph, but he certainly has the right attitude. I have been LOL’ing over his sight all week. He turns his rejection letters into love letter.

New Followers

Next Week’s Schedule

Tuesday – Tattoo Tuesday – calling all tattoo’ed writers

Wednesday – SQM Silver Lining Playbook

Friday – The Only Exception Blog Tour

Sunday – My Weekly Update