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Beta reading interview two-Nicole Murphy

April 21, 2012 by donnamareehanson

Another Canberra author Nicole Murphy has agreed to be interviewed on how she uses beta readers to assist in her writing process. I have beta read for Nicole in the past, which was a lot of fun. Nicole had her Dream of Asarlai Trilogy published by HarperCollins Voyager imprint. Nicole and I are also co-chairing Conflux 9, the Australian National Science Fiction Convention in 2013. Link is here. We are also heading off to the Romance Writers of Australia Conference in the Gold Coast in August. The link is here.

If you want to know more about Nicole and her books, her website is here.

1. How many beta readers do you have and how long have you used beta readers in your writing process?

I’ve got LOTS of beta readers – I’m constantly picking up new people to read for me, because I write so fast I don’t want to keep bugging the same folks. I think at the moment, I can safely say I’ve got about a dozen people who I can ask to read for me, and there’s probably more that I’ve not been game to ask.

I started using beta readers in 2007. What turned me onto the value of having some external eyes look at a piece was putting Secret Ones through the first CSFG novel crit group. I had four people go over it and very lovingly tear it to shreds. It helped a lot because I do find it hard to be objective about my writing (It’s brilliant! I’m a frickin’ genius!). When I sold Dream of Asarlai to Harpercollins, there wasn’t a crit group to get the other books through and so I called on friends (such as yourself) that I knew I could count on to give me a fair reckoning of the good and the bad in the story. Nowadays, I wouldn’t dream of submitting a novel to a publisher without it being beta-read first.

2. In what ways do beta readers assist you in developing your novel for publication?

Firstly, they assure me that what I’ve written is worth pursuing. Plotting has long been a difficult point for me and so their feedback on whether it makes sense and whether things are following along properly and have I tested the characters well enough or not is really important. The other great thing beta readers do is by asking questions (would she really react like that? Why do those rules apply to only those people?) it makes me think more deeply about characterisation and worldbuilding and enables me to add extra depth to the story.

3. Do all your beta readers pick up the same points?

Not at all. I’ve had some wildly differing views from people. For example, in my long contemporary romance, one reader said I let on what the baddie was up too to easily, the other said not. One said sex scenes were great, other said not as good at the Dream of Asarlai ones. With the SF romance one that I’m getting results back on at the moment, only one has so far questioned the worldbuilding and interestingly, she’s the one with the science fiction reading background. This is why it’s important to have readers from a variety of backgrounds, because they’ll all pick up different things.

4. Do you sometimes target your beta readers to particular areas based on the experience you had with them in the past? For example, one reader is good at plot holes, another reader is good at grammatical issues and another might be good at style. Or do you take what comes?

Kinda. There are some readers that have more experience with one genre than another, and so I might only give them books in that genre. But then, from time to time, it’s interesting to hear the POV of a person who doesn’t normally read that genre on the readability of your book.

I tend to get beta-readers for big picture stuff. Sure, there’s some stuff that they pick up on in terms of grammar and such (such as you, the great de-justifier!) but generally, I’m not getting the books beta-read for that level. Maybe I should, because I know I’m not the greatest grammarian in the world and my use of words is something I try constantly to improve, but that feels more a personal thing to me. Plus, my style is quite a simple one and so tends not to need too much tweaking to make readable.

5. Do you always want the same thing from the beta reader for each novel? For example, when you have deadlines and only have time for high-level feedback?

Overall, I’m sending to the beta-readers when I’m at the point of revisions in saying “I think I’ve got a pretty good hold on the story now, the worldbuilding, the characterisation, so lets find out what’s working and what’s not so I can tweak it”. I tend not to ask more from the readers than that.

6. How hard is it to find a good beta reader?

I don’t think it’s too hard. You can probably train people into it, by giving them questions to consider as they read. And making sure they understand you WANT to hear the bad as well as the good.

I think recognising a good versus a bad beta reader FOR YOU is important. Some people just aren’t the right reader for you – what they look for in a story, what appeals to them, what they believe is right isn’t what you do. For example, people who like a more literary style of writing, who want beautiful words as well as good story, aren’t going to get as much out of my books and I’m not going to get as much out of their critiques because we’re focussed on achieving different things with our writing and that’s cool.

7. Do you have any advice for readers who want to be beta readers or even editors in the long run? For example, what type of commentary do you prefer?

Beta-reading is about being analytical. Ascertaining not only what’s not working and why, but what IS working and why. Because sometimes, the what is working will give the author the clue as to how to fix the what is not working.

When you’re beta-reading, the aim is to give the author feedback to improve the book. “I liked this” isnt’ helpful. “I just wasn’t warming to Character X – they came across as too selfish to be the lead in a romance novel” is.

Thank you very much Nicole. A very interesting point of view to add to the discussion. I find it interesting that you don’t find it hard to find beta readers and that you have so many. You must be breeding them somewhere in a dark corner of your office.

By the way, the Canberra Speculative Fiction Guild (CSFG), which has a novel writing and a novel critique group can be found here.

Donna

Posted in Beta reading, Interviews, Writing advice | 3 Comments »

Beta Reading-Introduction and first interviewee Gillian Polack

April 15, 2012 by donnamareehanson

What is a beta reader? A beta reader is a first reader, someone who looks at a novel in progress, either at the early stages, the mid-stages or the late stages.

Beta readers read for free. Sometimes in exchange they will be offered return beta reading by the other author. Where payment is involved, this is usually a manuscript appraisal, which can be expensive and is more formal. Some writers do seek this service to help them develop their novel.

As a writer I have used beta readers for my manuscripts and been a beta reader for a number of authors. With my commencement of editing studies, I thought there were some parallel elements to what an editor does. An editor may read through a manuscript and provide critique and analysis, where they are looking to provide structural and copy edit type feedback.

The usefulness of beta readers are many fold and depending on the author and the reader can reveal a range of useful information for both parties. As a writer getting feedback on how the plot stands up, how the characters are working and the like is extremely valuable. So too, is getting feedback on what is not working. It is not a good use of a beta reader to seek to win praise, because that’s not going to help your work. Praise is nice of course, but you are really looking to see how a critical reader will react to the story. I’ve had beta readers provide very little feedback, saying only that they like it. It really isn’t any use asking these people to read again because there’s no learning involved.

As a beta reader, I find the process teaches me a whole lot about writing, and about the issues that a writer can face when writing a complex story. I also gain satisfaction from helping a friend. I have some talented friends.

Some writers have formal critiquing networks and this is also very interesting to examine as part of this series of blog interviews.

So the first interview is from Gillian Polack whose novel Life Through Cellophane has been picked up for reprint by Momentum Books. Her website is here.

Thank you Gillian for responding so quickly to my interview questions.

1. How many beta readers do you have and how long have you used beta readers in your writing process?
I’ve used beta readers since the CSFG novel critiquing circle took a look at Life through Cellophane. I don’t have a set number or a set process. Sometimes I ask for volunteers if I have specific problems with a novel and sometimes I run a story past a critiquing circle and sometimes I will ask someone particular to have a look and get a handle on where I am.

2. In what ways do beta readers assist you in developing your novel for publication?
The biggest assistance they’ve been is in helping me define my audience and what kind of book it is. I don’t write bang in the centre of genre, and it really makes a difference in explaining to a publisher “This is alternate world steampunk” or “Domestic horror with added chocolate” if I know what readers think. The beta readers also help me improve the internal balance of the novel – if they go to sleep, I know I’m in big trouble.

3. Do all your beta readers pick up the same points?
No two beta readers have ever picked up the same points on anything major. One will focus on the lack of romantic interest and another will wonder if I checked the history (poor soul, they didn’t know what hit them when I cited sources for an hour) and another will pick on the opening and point out (completely correctly) that it doesn’t quite fit the rest of it. One reader will say that the novel would be better if I dumped strand A of the plot and another will say “No, strand A is perfect – she should dump strand B.” What I get from all of this is a sense of how readers actually interact with my work, which helps me sense how it’s doing what it’s doing.

4. Do you sometimes target your beta readers to particular areas based on the experience you had with them in the past? For example, one reader is good at plot holes, another reader is good at grammatical issues and another might be good at style. Or do you take what comes?
I have one friend who beta reads for the complexities – she has a wonderfully convoluted brain and she makes very telling comments when the various layers in the text aren’t equal or balanced. I have had beta readers who check for grammar, but they tend to be frustrated. I make errors (everyone does) but quite often my grammatical errors are intentional, especially incomplete sentences. I don’t need to turn incomplete sentences into complete sentences, for the most part: I need to decide if they belong at all. They’re a part of my style and I tend to overdo them. Speaking of style, the best style editors I’ve ever had have been my editors – they have picked up on things that my beta readers missed. Still, when someone makes good comments along any of these lines (especially concerning plot holes!) it makes me very happy.

5. Do you always want the same thing from the beta reader for each novel? For example, when you have deadlines and only have time for high-level feedback?
I’ve been very lucky with deadlines. No, not lucky. I’ve set up a pattern whereby I have a lot of time to revise and rethink. I know that this pattern of work won’t endure forever, but while it lasts I’m making the most of it and learning as much as I can from the comments of others. This means that I have the luxury of choosing whether to seek beta readers for a particular volume and when to seek them.
Since each of my novels is rather different from the previous in many ways, I ask beta readers to look for different things. One I just asked to read a novel to see if it was tolerable for a male reader and if it made sense.

6. How hard is it to find a good beta reader?

I have so much trouble answering this. Sometimes they’re lined up, wanting to read my manuscript and sometimes I manage without them, for they are not to be found. It’s hard to find someone who understands what I need to hear about the book, and that it’s not the same as what a reviewer explains to a potential market. When I find that person, I am grateful, for their words can be golden.

7. Do you have any advice for readers who want to be beta readers or even editors in the long run? For example, what type of commentary to you prefer?

Learn how to look at a manuscript to see what it can be. Once you can see what that particular writer is capable of, with that specific story, then seeing the ways the writer can bring it into being isn’t that hard. A lot of people see the story as they want it to be, not the best it can be within itself. Comments that tell me how more appearances of this character would be gratefully accepted help because yes, it’s good to know that the character works, but they don’t help nearly as much as knowing that the subordinate story is woefully underdeveloped and lacking in the lovely complexity that makes the main story so good. Telling me that my grammar sucks doesn’t help unless you give examples and even then, you’d better be very careful that you’re right. I’ve been told off for non-existent grammatical errors and I’ve also been told off for using words that don’t exist, which only demonstrated (when I check, which I tend to) that I knew more grammar and had a wider vocabulary than that beta reader.

The best beta reader of all is a reality check on my telling of a story. They don’t need to know the technical reason why something doesn’t work (although an editor really does need to know – this is a big difference between the two) but if they can explain where it doesn’t work and how for them it has failed, I can work out the reason. In other words, complete and honest (and hopefully tactful) comments are very, very handy.

Gillian, thank you very much for an interesting start to this series of blog posts on beta reading. As I have a number of these on hand, I’m sure this will be an interesting series.

Donna

Posted in Beta reading, Editing, Interviews, Writing, Writing advice | 1 Comment »

Dictation software- some tips

April 6, 2012 by donnamareehanson

Recently I posted about my RSI and that I was using some dictation software, notably Dragon NaturallySpeaking. I’m using the software at work and I’m using software at home.

However, there is a difference in the calibre of the program I am using in both places and I’ve been receiving training on the professional version of the software. What the training has done is open my mind to the vast possibilities inherent in the program. I’m not going to go chapter and verse into the instruction that I received. However, I think I can give a few tips on how to make the software work well for you. Noting, however, that dictating fiction is still a bit of a leap. If one can overcome the technical difficulties and increase the accuracy of the software, then I think working towards being able to dictate a novel or a short story will be easier.

The first thing the tutor did was replace the standard microphone set that came with the program. This tutor is a qualified reseller and trainer of the program so she knows what she is talking about. So the first thing, if you’re serious about writing and you have issues with RSI or carpal tunnel, then invest in a quality microphone set. The tutor is as a USB soundcard and the different headset to increase the accuracy of voice recognition. She says you can get the accuracy as high as 95%. I noticed that using this microphone arrangement the program was much easier to use. I also noticed an increase in accuracy. At work, however, I’m using the professional version and my laptop has sufficient RAM to cope the program’s demands. Even then, there are hiccups and occasional hanging, which aren’t necessarily due to the program but the heavy demands from Word and other programs open in time. (I’m using a network computer, which has a range of other programs running in the background) I’m going to invest in a cordless microphone set at home because I have other issues including lower back and neck pain. With a cordless headset, I’d be able to stand up still dictate. (I understand John Birmingham users a cordless headphone and a stand-up workstation) Although, apparently you can lose some accuracy with a cordless headset, particularly in an open office environment. I think it will work for me at home. I’m also considering buying a different edition of the dictation software because the premium and the professional are much more powerful versions. Before I do that, however, need to upgrade my computer because it is really important to have the necessary grunt for the dictation software to be fast enough to be efficient.

Another key point that I picked up from a training is the importance of using the ‘vocabulary editor’. This is really useful for adding terms that you use a lot and also for differentiating terms that have other meanings. For example, salutations in e-mail like ‘Dear Dweeb’ or ‘Hi Dweeb’ and ‘Hi Beans’. If you say ‘open vocabulary editor’ the menu appears and allows you to key in the term and ‘add’ it and then when you say the term again it usually has no trouble recognising it. Also, the vocabulary editor is updated when you say ‘spell that’ or ‘correct that’ when there is an inaccurate recognition. Sometimes the program makes a mistake because the word dictated is also a command. This can be frustrating because you really don’t understand why it is not recognising a word. I had this problem when I was trying to say an old lady had a lace cap. It just would recognise ‘cap’ because it is also a command as in ‘cap that’ so a way around it in the Vocabulary Editor is to put in ‘lace cap’ in the written form but with a corresponding spoken form. In my case, I said ‘insert frilly lace thing’ and it types ‘lace cap’ and so you see it can be useful. For speculative fiction writers, having a set of strange names or devices or places in your Vocabulary Editor can make your life much easier.

I am finding that I can dictate work documents to a certain extent and sometimes that is faster than typing. This is particularly so when I’m reading from a text which I’m quoting from. If you find the ultimate hurdle difficult to surmount, that is, dictating your fiction novel or short story, the dictation software can be useful to reduce the amount of keystrokes required in your day. For example, dictating e-mails, Facebook updates,tweets, blog posts and Internet surfing. Using the dictation software can reduce the workload for already tired arms. In theory, this should allow more pain free time to work on a novels et cetera.

I highly recommend using skilled tutor to open your mind to the possibilities of the dictation software, particularly where the tutor may have developed macros which create shortcuts for things that you do frequently. My tutor has some macros which she will install next lesson, which make using track changes a lot easier. Personally, I find track changes are very demanding part of work when working on edits because each one requires about three mouse clicks and mouse clicking is particularly difficult using a normal mouse and even a trackball mouse. (I have switched to a vertical mouse called Evoluent website here)

Anyway so ends my lecture on dictation software. I hope this is useful to some of you. Remember you still need to take regular breaks even though you are typing because you are sitting in a static position. Also dictating can be tiring because you are talking and concentrating, so take breaks.

I also think that dictation software is the stuff of science fiction (which is extremely cool) and the advances made the program since the mid 90s is absolutely amazing. you can write as fast as you speak.

So you can increase the accuracy of the machine through a few simple techniques and reducing inaccuracies can increase your acceptance of the program and make it more useful for dictating fiction. I dictated 95% of this blog post.

Below is a link to some of the microphones you can use/buy etc Here

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Life goes by with a dizzing whoosh!

April 4, 2012 by donnamareehanson

I have been meaning to update this blog for a while. I know excuses, excuses, that’s all you ever hear from me. The RSI is improving. It probably won’t go away completely but I do feel improved. Work is less stressful but it is there under the layers. However, Easter is coming (coming before Winter!) and well I’ll have some time to do stuff.

I bought a little ginger kitten, called Jaffa (after the Australian orange-coated chocolate balls). The kitten is part of my stress reduction strategy (audit speak) and it’s working. Jaffa is gorgeous and yes I’ll probably be one of those people who puts pictures of their cat up on their blogs. Well if others can get away with it why not me?

I have handed my uni assignment in just now. I am studying English Grammar. I enjoy it but aspects are hard as well as interesting. The assignment was difficult in that there were particular grammatical structures that I had to find in certain places. For example, a modal verb in a children’s book. (a modal is must, can, may etc). Or find the present perfect (has taken etc) on the front page of a newspaper, or passive clause using ‘by’ on line. Well gee, all that is time consuming. The passive construction using ‘by’ on line was the hardest. What is it with the press these days writing in active voice or other passive constructions not using ‘by’. Made my life very difficult. So anyway, there were two elements to the assignment-understanding the question and finding the example. Everything had to be referenced to the university’s standard. More time consuming stuff. But it is handed up.

Recent happenings include Stephanie Smith resigning from Voyager at HarperCollins. That is a sad farewell. She’s a lovely person and a great editor. Her replacement is equally lovely, Deonie Fiford. So some new and interesting things happening there. I know a lot of my published author friends were very sad to say goodbye to Stephanie. However, I hope to keep in touch with her even though she has relocated to Tasmania.

I’ve submitted two manuscripts (slush pile) and non slush pile. I had an invite from a publisher to submit other work. It had been a couple of years since we had corresponded but I thought it worth the effort to email and ask if I could send my new work in. I was very, very happy to get a yes. Better to have a manuscript being read by an editor than sitting in your computer.

I should mention that more Australian publishers have started slush piles, Hachette/Orbit being the latest.

I’ve submitted one short story to a pro market. I’ve got a couple that I should revised and resend out.I’ve just been busy (and not using my arm).

I had edits and proofing to do for ‘Sangue Della Notte’ appearing in Damnation and Dames. This anthology launches over the weekend. I’m very excited. I’m sorry I won’t be at Swancon for the launch. Perth is a long way and my dollars have gone into hiding somewhere.

I have put up an interview with Marc Gascoigne over on the Conflux Natcon Website here

It is worth checking out.

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March 24, 2012 by donnamareehanson

I’m dictating this post from my iPad. I had a lesson in Dragon NaturallySpeaking at work on Thursday and the tutor told me about this free iPhone application called DragonDictate. It’s pretty cool, and it lends itself to posting to twitter and e-mail on either the iPad or the iPhone very simply.

Learning Dragon naturally speaking also opened my mind to the vast possibilities of using Dragon NaturallySpeaking on the computer. For example switching windows. The trick is using the vocabulary editor and set up options. The tutor also developed macros to shortcut things.

Okay the dictate function is limited. I’m now typing this post on the iPad. But it works for twitter, facebook and short emails. I’ve also used the copy/paste function to copy to the notes app.

Things seem more positive this week, generally.

Posted in Dragon, RSI, VSR, Writing | Leave a Comment »

When you’re not writing

March 13, 2012 by donnamareehanson

With this RSI thing I’m not getting to the computer much at home. I’ve got the dictation software at work and at home but it’s still hard going not being able to type at will, so to speak. I feel I have this backlog of ideas chasing around in my head in the night keeping me awake and all I want to do is get to the computer and write them down, but I know that I can’t.

I don’t sit here sending out stories. I’m not tweaking the ones that I know I have an idea of how to fix. The object of this post is not to whinge so much as to talk about what I am doing. I am writing in a way. I’m working on hard copy, taking my time to read through Ruby heart at present. I was pleased to find areas that I can improve on so when I can work on it, I can fix them and eventually end it out.

I have also taken the opportunity to attack my ‘to read’ pile. I find reading helps me to improve my writing by expanding my ideas, by allowing me to studying technique and by keeping me entertained. And while this is going on my RSI is slowly improving. Not fast for enough me, but it is improving. I also can’t knit or crochet. Arrh!

Meanwhile there’s been some edits for the story appearing in Damnation and Dames, which to be launched at Swancon over Easter. It sounds like it’s going to be a very funky anthology and I really wish I was going to be there for the launch. However I’m not going to be.

Now that I finished the read through of Ruby heart, it shouldn’t be too much work put through the changes. These I can do with the dictation software or by hand (as long as I am very careful and don’t spend too long at the pc). However, I am finding I’m suffering from a lack of motivation at the moment. It could be that James has just had some surgery and I’ve got some health problems and the general level of chaos around here due to family members coming and going. I do need to be more resilient though, because it’s just life and I have to live with it.

University started up again and I’m studying English grammar. I have to prepare a presentation for Thursday on transitive and intransitive verbs. It sounds daunting , but I should be able to cope. That reminds me of any those textbooks…

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Guest blog up at The Great Raven

March 13, 2012 by donnamareehanson

Sue Bursztynski has featured a guest blog post by me on her review site The Great Raven. This is in celebration of the release of the anthology Mystic Resonance published by Specusphere.

It is really nice of Sue to host posts from all the contributors so keep an eye out for a series of posts.It is interesting hearing how ideas became stories and then became published.

Enjoy
Here it is

You can purchase the anthology here. at the specusphere.com site.

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Popping back in to say hello

February 28, 2012 by donnamareehanson

It’s been a while since I blogged. This seems to be a phrase that I say all too often and I apologise that. Once back from the writing retreat, I’ve been up to my neck in work but also wrestling with RSI. This not only involves tennis elbow (mouse elbow), but aching wrists and a very sore shoulder. Is somewhat restricts my activities on the computer, and requires treatment by a physiotherapist. It affects how I use the computer at work and how I use the computer at home.

I must admit, with regards to the dictation software, I haven’t progressed very far at all. I think the software is fine for dictating things like this blog or an e-mail as these are fairly straightforward. But the fiction it’s going to be quite a leap for me. One of my pet hates is how the dictation software mishears me when I say stop and writes will stop. I daresay things will improve with practice but I find dictating fiction a rather tedious and difficult process. It’s so much faster to write the damn thing. ( I used to be able to write 1500 words in a hour when I was drafting)

On the other hand, even though I bought a trackball mouse, my hands and wrists and shoulder get sore with use. I’ve upped the RAM but it’s not quite enough so I’m going to have to replace the processor on this computer or buy new one. It’s not quite a sunny outlook, when you think that you may never be able to type in the way that used to, or even for the next few months. It’s quite frustrating and the novelty of the dictation software fades when the reality sets in. It’s no panacea for a disability. By the way the auto formatting in this program sucks. I feel like sitting here and saying a lot of very bad words.

I’m probably feeling a little bit morbid. On Sunday, I did an edit my story, which is going to appear in ‘Damnation and Dames’ and it took me quite a while (as it was detailed) and I did it by hand. Now I’m at the process of accepting and rejecting changes, which involves a lot of mouse work and even with a trackball mouse, it is causing pain and I’m taking a rest by dictating this blog. So in the meantime, I’m reading and studying English grammar at university. However, now that stress at work has lessened to some extent I have had lots of ideas coming through for stories I want to write. However, I have to pace myself and be patient. Lah! I find being patient one of the hardest things.

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Finished the read through

February 12, 2012 by donnamareehanson

This morning I got up a little bit earlier and completed my readthrough of Dragon Wine. Now I’m going to experiment with Dragon naturally speaking to see whether I can implement the tweaks that I highlighted in my readthrough.

I was quite surprised that they were not as many typos is as I expected. However, there were a few interesting ones. For example, ‘giggling’ curls instead of ‘jigging ‘curls. That one was interesting and it would not have been picked up through spellcheck. Only the readthrough would have had the potential to pick it up. So I’ll leave you now with this very small update while I attempt dictate my way through my very long manuscript.

I expect another blog post later either crowing in triumph or seriously venting.

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I forgot to add.

February 8, 2012 by donnamareehanson

Here is the page for Damnation and Dames, with very sexy cover art over at the publisher’s website.

Here

You’ll notice they have opened submissions for Bloodstones. I have to put on my thinking cap for that one.

Then I should say that I added, my son, Taamati Te Rata, who is a 3D artist, who worked on games such as Medieval Total War to my links. Check out his site.

When I get a novel published, I have made him swear a blood oath to do a book trailer for me.

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