What's In Your Writer's Library?

[Sally]

Oh dear, I think the topic of this thread is drifting. Well, let's see where it goes...

[Jill]

That sounds like a good way to distinguish between over-used and necessary to further the character or plot or both.

[[deleted user]]

I'm going to put in a "hoorah" for Nancy Kress's Beginnings, Middles & Ends. I've read it through at least three times, underlined it, dog-eared it, and just recently, when a beta reader gave me some feedback on my beginning chapters, went back, read it again, and --- the light went on! So I made some changes that should make the beginning a lot more powerful.
We build habits that are good and habits that are bad. Repetition makes the habits stronger, whatever they are. Good writing produces more good writing.

[Sally]

I've heard about "Beginnings, Middles & Ends" - it sounds like one I need to add to my library.

[Steven]

If you can get it, try "Joseph Conrad on Fiction" by Howard Louis Conrad, Walter F. Wright, ed.

Obscure but worth a study.

[Eric]

For what my never humble opinion is worth, Simpson's Come to Grips with English Grammar - Flash (Kindle edition), USD 3.99, is an excellent way to learn or refresh your recollections of basic English grammar.

It's not a how-to-write-fiction book, but it's a short (96 pp.) and inexpensive grounding in those basics.

Here's the AMZ link:

https://www.amazon.com/Get-Grips-Engl...

Also, for those whose writing requires slang, particularly if you're writing historical fiction, I've found the Chambers Dictionary of Slang, edited by Jonathon Green to be invaluable, especially since he tells you the time frame for the use of the term. Here's the AMZ link for information about availability and pricing:

https://www.amazon.com/Chambers-Slang...

Of course, I'd really love to own Green's 3-volume Dictionary of Slang, but AMZ wants USD 625.00 (when it becomes available), and the third-party sellers with new copies want USD 300.00 and up. *sigh*

Last, if anyone is interested in actual Regency-era dictionaries of slang, send me a PM. They're out there for free.

Eric-who-sometimes-knows-things

[Jill]

Charles wrote: "I'm going to put in a "hoorah" for Nancy Kress's Beginnings, Middles & Ends. I've read it through at least three times, underlined it, dog-eared it, and just recently, when a beta read..."

Such an endorsement that I've ordered the book from ABE < great price! $3.63 and free shipping!!

[[deleted user]]

I hope it is a useful to you as it has been for me.

[Jill]

How do you get beta readers??

[Eric]

Jill,

First, my apologies if I'm telling you stuff you already know.

Beta readers can be anyone from friends/family to people you meet online. Friends/family are, of course, most likely to tell you what you want to hear (great! wonderful! couldn't put it down!) rather than what you might need to hear.

Some beta readers are ones who react to the substance: plot, characterization, holes in both, where it lags, where it doesn't, an overall suggestion it needs X to make it better.

Some beta readers tell you about grammar issues: commas, run-on sentences; bad grammar; typos; over-used words and what I call the "technical" things about writing.

Some (the kind I'm grateful to find) do both.

As for locating them, my experience is limited to what I've experienced since I first started publishing in 2013. My genre is gay MM romances, and there's a group for that genre on GR. It's open to both writers and readers, and there's a single thread/discussion there where everyone who needs a beta reader can post a request, and where those wanting to beta read can post their availability.

Even if you have family/friends who are capable of giving you objective reactions/advice...and willing to do so...I suggest seeing if there is a group on GR for your writing genre. Join it and check out beta reading possibilities.

Although I can't tell you how to get in touch with GR moderators, if there is some general "Post Your Questions Here" thread, you might post something saying, "Hi! I write [this type] of [fiction, non-fiction, children's literature]. Is there a group for this on GR? Any suggestions on finding beta readers?"

You might also try the GR Librarians. I don't think this (where do I find beta readers) is in their purview, but you might ask the same type of question as suggested above to see if they can point you in the right direction.

Hope this helps.

Eric

[Sally]

Jill wrote: "How do you get beta readers??"

I make a list of friends who I know read a lot, with half of them also being writers (and I like to split them half-and-half by gender, as well), and I ask them if they'd like to read my (nearly completed) manuscript and make critical comments.

I send printed-out copies to those who say yes, and I include some notes about what I'm looking for. Writers give me specifics about problems they find; non-writers usually give impressions about what isn't working for them. Both are valuable - think about the fact that most of your readers (after publication) will not be writers. Therefore you want to address problems the non-writer beta readers identify, even if they are not as specific as the comments you get from writers. If I get comments on the same thing from two or more of my beta readers, that's a red flag to me that I need to address that issue.

Also, the perspectives of beta readers (aside from critical comments) are fascinating - they often come up with angles that I would never have thought of, and which often improve the story.

I ask 12 to 16 people to be beta readers, and usually 10-12 say yes, and I end up with about 8 readers who follow through and return the printed copies to me with their red-ink comments and notes. I then compile the notes of each into one printed copy, and re-work the manuscript from there.

I usually end up sitting down with about half of the beta readers, one on one, and going over their comments with them, which is also very helpful for me to gain a better idea of their perspective and why they had a question about this part or that.

My written work is pretty good when I get to the beta-reader stage, but the stuff I get from my beta readers is invaluable, and my work is vastly improved by serious incorporation of their contributions.

[Quantum]

Jill wrote: "How do you get beta readers??"

Beta Readers Group is pretty popular. ymmv

[rivka]

Eric wrote: "You might also try the GR Librarians."

Please don't. Goodreads Librarians are wonderful, and happy to help authors with adding or correcting book records on Goodreads. But they are volunteers, not staff members, and are not the appropriate place to ask for how-to-publish questions. Goodreads has a number of authors-helping-authors type groups, and those would be a much better option.

[Eric]

rivka wrote: "Eric wrote: "You might also try the GR Librarians."

Please don't. Goodreads Librarians are wonderful, and happy to help authors with adding or correcting book records on Goodreads. But they are vo..."

Rivka,

I think what I actually suggested was to ask the Librarians where to ask the question...not to answer the question. Respectfully, there is a difference.

Sorry if I was confusing.

Eric

[Doug]

Sally wrote: "Oh dear, I think the topic of this thread is drifting. Well, let's see where it goes..."

*raises hand* I'm guilty...wandering off topic

[N.K.]

Hmmm yet to develop one.

[Gerry]

My beta readers have been friends who like to read and other authors who I can return the favor to,

[Matt]

My writer's library is over twenty books, so it's easier to "show you" rather than type all of the information out.

P.S. I also keep a copy of my own work within my library.

Here's the link: http://pin.it/n5Qc26m

[Sally]

Matt wrote: "My writer's library is over twenty books, so it's easier to "show you" rather than type all of the information out.

P.S. I also keep a copy of my own work within my library.

Here's the link: htt..."

That book on internal dialogue is one I ought to get. Thanks!

[Matt]

Sally wrote: "Matt wrote: "My writer's library is over twenty books, so it's easier to "show you" rather than type all of the information out.

P.S. I also keep a copy of my own work within my library.

Here's ..."

That Internal Dialogue book was excellent. I had no problem dog earring pages and highlighting paragraphs...lol

[Jill]

Jill wrote: "How do you get beta readers??"

Sorry I feel so dense about this, but how exactly do you get to the thread for groups regarding beta readers?