Questions to ask your critique partners and/or beta readers

Reading nook - 1905

We did not receive any submissions for First 100 Critique last week.  It appears y'all are a little burned out on the First 50/100 Critique idea, so we'll let it sit for awhile.  Don't worry, we'll resurrect it a little later this year.

According to the OA About page, “We blog regularly, sharing writing tips and hosting contests (like #queryfriday and #PassOrPages).”  So during this break from First 50/100, let's talk about some writing tips.  This week – Questions to ask your critique partners and/or beta readers.

First question – what's the difference between critique partners and beta readers?  A critique partner is a writer who reads your work and gives you feedback from a writer's perspective.  You will usually “pay” for this help by doing the same thing in return.  A beta reader is a reader, usually one who reads in your genre and is a member of your target audience, who gives you feedback based on a reader's perspective, not a writer's perspective.

The types of questions and feedback you want from each one can be different, but can also be the same.

I trolled the internet and found several good lists of questions you can consider asking your critique partners and/or beta readers.

Writer's Digest

Helping Writers Become Authors

Beta Reader IO

Jami Gold

The Write Life

The Kill Zone

When I read someone's first chapter, I usually comment on (1) was the first line/paragraph good for the category/genre, (2) did the first line/paragraph hook me, (3) did I like the MC, (4) was the dialogue authentic and believable, (5) was the action believable, (6) was it exciting and/or fun, (7) can I visualize the setting, (8) does the timeline make sense, (9) were there parts where I wanted to read more of the MC's thoughts [this one is common], and (10) would I want to read this all the way to the end.

I also tend to leave "stream of consciousness" comments.  If I have a thought while I'm reading, I make a comment so the writer knows what's going through my mind at that point in the story.

When someone reads your manuscript, what kinds of questions to you ask your readers?  And when you read for someone, what kinds of comments do you give?  Let us know in the comments!

O'Abby's Vacation Flash Fiction Competition

O'Abby is on vacation this week here:

To keep you busy while she's away mountain biking, hiking, swimming and sunning herself, she challenges you to write a piece of flash fiction (no more than 500 words), inspired by this stunning view.

Post them in the comments, and when she's back next week, she'll pick a winner to receive a prize.

Have a fantastic week!

X O'Abby

2020 Writing Resolutions

It's a new year! A new decade! And, though some might say otherwise, it's not too late to decide on a new year's resolution.

I try to look at new year's resolutions more as guidelines than rules. Rather than saying, "I'm going to send 100 queries!" I tell myself "I'm going to work on my query more and get some feedback." Instead of pledging "I'm going to go to the gym every day!" I think "I'm going to be more active." This kind of thinking works for me - setting a broad goal that I can accomplish in any number of ways, instead of setting a very specific goal that requires one singular task.

For 2020, my goal is to revise the manuscript I wrote for NaNoWriMo last year, and really get the worldbuilding solid. If you haven't made a resolution yet, there are plenty of writing-focused topics that might be a good choice! Maybe you'd like to spend more time on writing, so you could resolve to write for 20 minutes a day or even just to spend more time thinking about your work. Maybe you'd like to focus on some specific goals, like finishing that one manuscript and meeting more fellow writers. Maybe your goal is to be less distracted when you're writing by using apps or timers. Whatever it is, if it gets you writing, it'll be a good one!

What's your resolution for 2020? Drop it in the comments below!

First 100 Words Critique

She writes with both hands!

Based on your input, you want more than 50 words and you want a broader category/genre.  This week we'll try the first 100 words of an ADULT HISTORICAL FANTASY.  We'll also open an entry period for ANY CATEGORY / GENRE YOU WANT TO SUBMIT.  You need to tell us what the category and genre is, so we can provide appropriate critique.

Here's the entry requirements.  If you want to enter, send us an email as follows:

Subject:  First 100 Critique – [name your category and genre]

The following 100 words are my own work and I give OA permission to post it on the OA blog for the life of the blog.

I commented on the entries posted on [date] and [date] as [your online ID].

My first 100 words:

[Copy/paste your first 100 words here.]

Send us your entry by Friday January 10, 2020.  We'll confirm receipt and let you know the date it will post on the blog.  Then, please invite your friends to read and critique.  The more the merrier!

If you don't receive a confirmation email by Sunday January 12, 2020, send us a DM on twitter and we'll figure it out.

We haven't chosen the category/genre for the first Pass or Pages yet, but if you want your first 250 to hook an agent, and you hope we choose YOUR category/genre, consider submitting your first 100 so you can get new eyes on your opening.

On to this week's entry!

Reminder:  Be nice, but be honest.  [Comments that are not polite/respectful will be deleted.]  What would YOU like to know if this was YOUR first 100 words?  Do you think it's a good opening line for the category/genre?  Does it have a hook?  Does it pull you into the story?  Do you want to read more?  Why or why not?  Be specific, so your critique helps the person who wrote the entry.

Adult, Historical Fantasy

Inside the Peach Orchard Inn, Lord Liu Jie expected to see ghosts. If the farmers knew that, they'd kill him.

They won’t if I don’t react. Besides, I don't see real ghosts. They're embarrassing hallucinations I want to see because two of them are my children.

Hallucinations or not, today will be difficult. Behind the bar, the yellow silk of an imperial call to war flickered in the lamplight.

Jie reread it.

"Yellow Turban rebels assault the people and threaten the capital. The Son of Heaven requires aid, as sons might come to their father.  All districts report."

Dear O'Abby, Is 2020 really the beginning of the decade?

Dear O'Abby,

I find myself having arguments with people all the time about things I find perfectly obvious (like Sunday, not Monday being the first day of the week - look at a calendar, people) so I thought I'd ask you if you had a definitive answer to this one:  Is 2020 the beginning of the decade, or is 2021?

I know it's not a writing question, but enquiring minds must know...

Best,

Decade-Confused

Dear Decade-Confused,

I too have that Sunday/Monday argument with various family members on a regular basis, and while some calendars do start the week on the right day (Sunday), rather maddeningly, some start the week on a Monday.  Which just gives those damn Monday people more ammunition for their argument.

But I digress...

Voices of authority say that because there was no 'year zero' when the current era began more than 2,000 years ago, all decades, centuries and millenia begin with 'year 1'.  Which means that technically, the new decade won't begin until 2021.  It also means we all celebrated the turn of the century and the beginning of the new millennium a year early.  Boy, do I feel foolish now.

But the popular voice has, for many decades past, said that the new decade begins the day that third digit changes.  So the 1960s ended as soon as the clock ticked to midnight on 1 January 1970 rather than struggling along for another year to the point the 1970s actually began.

Over half the population believes the new decade begins in 2020, so despite this not being technically correct, I doubt that's going to stop anyone celebrating this week.  But you will know the truth, and you can confuse the hell out of everyone next year when you throw your welcome to the '20's party on the true and actual date, feeling intellectually superior to all your friends.

Happy New Year to you all!  I hope 2020 is a great year for you, first year of the new decade or not!

X O'Abby.

Operation Awesome #20Questions in #2020 of #NewBook Debut Authors Jim Kroepfl and Stephanie Kroepfl

Merged by Jim Kroepfl and Stephanie Kroepfl

1- For you, what defines the difference between graffiti, street art, and murals?

The first big difference is that graffiti is illegal, while a mural is often commissioned, or at the least, the artist has approval to paint the mural. Even the small rural town of Granby, Colorado recently hired a number of artists to complete murals on a number of buildings in the town. Street art is more difficult to define in that it may have elements of both graffiti and murals. Some people say that street art is painted in daylight in view of the public, but Banksy is considered a street artist and he certainly does not create his art in view of the public. I think our feeling as to whether something is street art or graffiti has to do with the goal of the artist. Do they mean to create a piece of public art, or do they mean to just make a mark in the world through tagging or painting stylized words or pictures? Of course, the big question then becomes, who gets to decide what is art? Ultimately, that may be up to the person that owns the building and whether they want it gone or not.

2- Would you please, in 160 characters or less, give a #WriteTip ?

Create a gripping character who people can relate to or want to emulate, and put them in trouble. In other words, make the reader care!

3- What is the best piece of writing advice you've received?

The first reply we ever got from an agent was “The pacing seems off throughout.” That was it. Boy, we took it to heart. We spent months trying to understand pacing, since, at the time, we didn’t have a clue. Now, pacing is so important in our stories: how to make the story move, and yet, breathe. After twenty drafts, we will still cut entire chapters, just because they don’t have the right kind of pacing. The agent may have thought that was an off-the-cuff comment, but we have never forgotten it.

4- What lead to you two writing together?

We met when we were teenagers, and from our first conversation, we knew we would write together at some point. We had corporate careers in jobs that involved a lot of writing. At some point a few years ago, it became apparent that we were done working for other people, and the first thing we did was start writing fiction. It almost wasn’t a conscious decision, but something that happened because we knew it was inevitable, and it became a matter of “now or never.”

5- Would you share a picture with us of your book somewhere fun?

Here is one of us with a bull moose, which roam around our neighborhood at the edge of the Rocky Mountain Park all the time. The people around us (standing many, many yards back) thought we were crazy. Knowing how impertinent moose can be, they were probably right.

6- Would you two want your consciousnesses transferred into clone bodies after death, if that were an option?

We don’t think so. Life is precious, and we’re actually fascinated by what comes next. If John Lennon had been cloned, then wouldn’t he just be taking the place of who might be the next John Lennon? That being said, we really do think it’s going to happen, and probably sooner than we all think.

7- What's your Twitter handle, and do you have two or three writer friends on there to shout-out to for #WriterWednesday ?

@jimkroepfl
@JoshuaDBelin (author of the Ecosystem series) @DallasWoodburn (author of the upcoming “The Best Week that Never Happened”) @paulaertker (author of the Crime Travelers series)

8- Do you have a favorite #bookstagram image or account/ profile?

To be honest, my favorite is the profile of Brandy Vallance, a historical romance writer: brandyvallanceauthor. She fills her profile with fascinating photos of historical buildings and interesting settings. I get the feeling that I know what story she is working on when I browse her Instagram page.

9- What most motivates you to read a new book?

Is the character and the situation gripping to the point that we can’t stop reading? I think more than anything that has to do with the main character having a real goal. They must be proactive in a challenging situation, and that has to happen right away. This is true for both heroes and villains. Artemis Fowl wants to take over the world, and the reader loves him for it.

10- It's our tenth anniversary! How far has your writing come in the past ten years and where do you see your writing career ten years from now?

We have come from wanting to write a novel, to writing one, to getting an agent (actually, quite a few), to getting the right publisher, and finally seeing our first book in print. These sound like career goals, but they were also writing goals. We were very conscious of how we had to develop our writing all along the way, and winning awards, getting short stories published and responding to criticism from agents and editors were so important in becoming better writers. In ten years, it would be wonderful if we had ten published novels and a well-developed career. In fact, it’s hard to imagine anything else when we think ten years ahead.

11- What is your favorite book by someone else, what's the author's Twitter handle, and what do you love most about that book? #FridayReads book recommendation time!

Author name: Neal Shusterman @NealShusterman
Title: Unwind
Love because: It’s a great YA science fiction book that explores a unique solution to the pro-life vs. pro-choice debate. The story is not preachy and doesn’t take sides; instead, it shows that every answer creates heartache. Plus, it’s a fast-paced adventure story with a rich cast of characters you care about.


12- What emotions do you hope your book will evoke for the reader?

We would love the reader to walk away with a better understanding that everybody is smart in their own way, and the best ideas often come from including people who don’t think like you. Life is far more interesting when we don’t only hang out with clones of ourselves.

13- What kind of impact do you hope your book will have?

“Merged” indirectly explores the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) vs STEAM (the addition of art) debate in education. We would love our book to be influential in increasing the Arts in school curriculums, and giving kids more access to explore music, art, and creative writing.

14- What is the best writing tool, program, or reference book you've ever bought?

The best writing tool we’ve discovered is a very basic plotting device. We have a large cork board hanging on the wall, and we pin on it different colored index cards. Each card represents a chapter/scene. This has allowed us to visually see plotting snags such as whether the three act structure is sized correctly, how many chapters each point-of-view character has, a sagging middle, where the dark moment lies in the story, and it helps us see what needs to be changed when we move around scenes.

15- In what ways are the main characters in your book diverse? diversebooks.org #WeNeedDiverseBooks

One of the two protagonists in “Merged” is Orfyn, a mixed race sixteen-year-old boy who is raised by a nun in an orphanage. His skin color is not what causes him to be discriminated against, it’s the fact that he’s a street artist. But it’s his artistic ability that gives him the opportunity to change his life. Discrimination is not necessarily about the obvious.

16- Who is your favorite book review blogger?

Hannah, the Rainy Reader. It’s obvious that she takes the time to read the entire book. She always includes well thought out positive feedback and constructive criticism. Her input on our book has given us guidance on how to improve the sequel.

17- What was the deciding factor in your publication route?

We both have a marketing background, so we understood the difficulty in getting a wide distribution and reaching diverse audiences when self-publishing. This is our first published book, and it has always been our dream to experience all that the traditional route has to offer. “Merged” is traditionally published by Month9Books, a small publisher who specializes in YA and MG science fiction and fantasy.

18- Which author, past or present, do you feel most resembles your work?

We study John Green’s novels. We don’t presume that we’re as accomplished as him, but we try to follow his example in creating relatable characters with flaws, a story that includes smart humor, and to ask important questions that make the reader tackle their own assumptions about right and wrong.

19- Would you please ask our audience a question to answer in the comments?

So many people work for the money in jobs they’re not passionate about. If you didn’t have to worry about money, what is your dream job? Please remember your answer and don’t give up on it.

20- Anything else you would care to share about your book and yourself?

Our favorite type of science fiction is that which isn’t that far away from becoming a reality. We hope our readers have fun thinking about “what if.”


Merged by Jim Kroepfl and Stephanie Kroepfl

Please vote for 2020!

Looking forward to 2020!

From last week's post and several emails and twitter comments, we've received the following requests for Mondays in 2020:

Keep First 50 words
First 500 words
First 100 words
First page/250 words
Queries
Elevator pitch [25 words]
Broad/expanded genre in whatever is chosen

Amren did “First Page Impressions” in early 2019.  Nathaniel occasionally does “Query Friday.”  For both of these, one person who commented on that week's post is chosen by random drawing.  That person then emails their first page or query to OA and Amren or Nathaniel provides feedback.  Do you like the idea of private feedback from one of the OA members, or would you prefer that the selection be posted on the blog [for everyone to comment and learn from]?

We can also alternate.  For example, First 50 on the first Monday of the month and something else for other Mondays.

We want this blog to be helpful to YOU.  This means we need YOUR input and opinions on what YOU want to see.  Please let us know in the comments.

Thank you all for being awesome!

Pass or Pages 2020 Dates!

Is there a particular genre and/or age category you'd like to see us host this year? Fill out the form below to let us know!

Writing during the holidays

There were no questions for O'Abby this week, so I thought with the holiday period upon us, it might be useful to give a few tips around writing during the holidays.  I had meant to publish this last week, but just noticed it didn't actually publish...  Better late than never, eh?

The holiday season can be a very busy and stressful time.  It may mean traveling to visit family or having a houseful of guests.  If you're a writer, especially one on deadline, it can be hard to carve out time and space to get writing work done.

If it is at all possible, my advice would be to give yourself a break.  There is enough going on at this time of year without stressing about writing as well.  But if you are on a deadline and need to work during this time, you're going to need some strategies to deal with this.

If you are traveling to be with family, you may be able to use the travel time to write (not if you're driving though... that would be dangerous).  If not, bring your laptop or notebooks with you and once you arrive, suss out a quiet writing spot you can claim.  Make sure your family understands that your writing is important and that if you're working, you shouldn't be disturbed. Or even better, see if there is a coffee shop or library nearby you could work in so you're away from all the disruptions and mayhem.  It's amazing what you can get done with just an hour or two of uninterrupted, quiet. Grandparents can be godsends so make sure you use them if they're around.

If your home is the destination for out-of-town guests, you may need to juggle things even more.  You may need to get up early to squeeze your writing time in around all your other commitments.  But remember, it's only for a short time and if it's important, you will do it.  You may also be able to sneak away for an hour or two here and there if you have willing family members available to take care of kids etc.

The important thing is not to panic.  Maybe you will lose a few hours of working time you thought you might have.  Maybe you'll even lose a whole week.  It's okay.  You can make it up later, once the madness of the holidays is over (assuming your deadline isn't early January...  If it is, you really should have scheduled your time so you'd be 99% done before the holidays started.).  In the weeks after the holidays, figure out places you can steal time to write to make up for the time you lost.  Early mornings, lunch breaks, commuting time on public transport - all the places I suggested you use to write your NaNo projects.  You can get a lot done in very small scraps of time if you're determined.

Most of all, enjoy your holiday, however you celebrate it.

J's Debut Author Spotlight Wrap-Up Is About #BookReviews

The 2019 special question asked of debut authors:

Why do you think readers should write book reviews?

It's a chance to share your opinion with other like-minded readers, to help navigate the world of stories. There's nothing better than finding your next favorite adventure. If the reader is also an aspiring writer, then that's even more important! It grows the skill set to understand what works and doesn't work about another writer's story, and it also helps the author by spreading the word!
- Laura Gia West

I think readers should write book reviews because these review really mean a lot to the people whose writings are being read. Irrespective of the reviews whether they are good or bad, they open a scope of getting better for the best.
- Abhishek Behera

I think writing a review is an excellent way to show support to writers whose work you enjoy. Such a simple thing can make such a difference to writers, especially newer writers who are hoping people will take a chance on their work.
- Deborah A Stansil

because we are writing for them.
- Nidhi GS

It helps the writer improve, it helps the writer understand his/her good and bad points, additionally, it helps other readers to know about the book.
- Balaka Basu

It helps readers to become more aware of what they do and don't like in a story, as well as helping authors to potentially pinpoint issues in their own writing that they might want to improve on in the future.
- Rebekah Loper

How else are we going to find out which books will grab us by the hearts and eyeballs?
- Scott Wilson

Ideally, so they’ll have to really think about the books that they’re reading in some depth. At least, that’s why I write them.
-Gail Shepherd

I love book reviews, and I wrote some myself. I think book reviews are extremely important because that’s one way for authors to hear from readers, and see what resonated with them and what didn’t work. I read every single review about my book (on Goodreads, Instagram, blogs, etc) and I want to continue to do so. I want to see if I succeeded in stirring emotions in the readers. I want to know what annoyed them and what they truly hated. I want to be a better storyteller.
- Natasha Tynes

I didn’t understand the importance of reviews until I wrote a book. Yes, reviews help sell. Yes, reviews boost ratings and turn other people on to a novel. But as an author, I just want to know what people thought of my book! If they had a favorite character or if they especially hated the car in scene three. It boggles my mind that we can reach out to authors and let them know what we thought of the musings from their head. The world is a magnificent place.
- Chelsea Marie Ballard

Reviews are a great way to help your favourite authors gain more visibility, and also to introduce others to wonderful books they may not have heard of. I always read reviews on Goodreads before I buy a book to get an idea of whether I will like it or not. I’m not sure I’m brave enough to read reviews of my own work, though!
- Anstice Brown

Writing book reviews helps distil how you feel about a book. Why you like it or why you don’t. I find writing book reviews helps my own writing because when I don’t like something, I’m forced to ask myself why and to figure out a way to articulate what I feel is wrong. That thing is then on my radar, so when reading my own stuff critically, I might notice something I wouldn’t have earlier.
-Kate Larkindale

Reviews are so important! One, because what reader doesn't like to talk about books? And reviews are a great space for readers to share what they loved (or didn't) about a book. Also, reviews are SO helpful for authors. Sites like Amazon use review-based algorithms that impact where that book "sits" on their digital shelves, so the more reviews the better.
-Lillian Clark

The process of writing a review presents an opportunity for readers to reflect. What did the story mean to me? It expands the community of readers and provides for an exchange of ideas. Reviews keep writers honest. Good reviews encourage; meaningful critiques help the writer get better. And reviews sell books.
-Bo Kearns

Reviews help tremendously to exposure and to someone's decision to support/buy that author's work. Just like Yelp and restaurant reviews might help you decide where to go out Saturday night, the reviews on Amazon or Barnes&http://Noble.com or other sites you can leave reviews will help other readers to get a feel for the book and decide if that's what they're looking for. Please leave me a review!!
-Danielle Ledezma

Reviews help spread the word about books, as do “shout outs” and shares on social media. There are so many books published every year, and each book is vying for attention. If you like a book, write a review or share some social media love to help spread the word.
- Sarah Scheerger

Three reasons.
1. It helps other readers with similar tastes know what they will and won’t like.
2. It helps sell books as it contributes towards promotional hype.
3. The nice reviews give us writers something to shout about - so if you’re a blogger you get an author-endorsed push too.
-N J Simmonds

Oh my gosh, book reviews are so incredibly important! They can help a reader decide whether they want to give a book a chance. Especially as a self-published author, word of mouth is one of the strongest tools we have. That being said, reviews need to be written in a useful way. If I read a review and it just says the book was amazing or the book was awful, that’s not useful. WHY was it good or awful? I want to know what specifically about it was good or bad. IT also potentially lets the author know what they can use to apply to future projects. Well-written reviews (whether positive or negative) are incredibly useful feedback.
-J. Lawson

There are two reasons. First of all, it helps authors! If you liked a book and think an author should keep writing, write a review. It doesn’t have to be a five-star review (even a one-star review can help!).
Readers should also review books so that other readers know what to expect. I used to read Goodreads reviews every single time I thought about picking up a book. Both the high praise reviews and the negative reviews told me something about the book and helped me decide whether the book was for me.
-Claire Bartlett

Book reviews help readers decide to buy a book and they help writers sell books. But don’t be mean. Every book is an author’s heart and soul. Keep that in mind.
-Sam Hawk

Because every time you read a book and don’t review it, an author looses a sliver of their soul :)
In all seriousness though, reviewing books is important for so many reasons. If you love a book, the best way you can thank an author is to review it. It drives visibility and sales which trickles down to then allowing the author another shot at their next book. If you hate a book and find it incredibly problematic, it’s well within your right to say so and maybe would help like minded people avoid reading something they wouldn’t enjoy.
That seems obvious though. Less obvious would be that it doesn’t matter what ‘level’ of your writing career you are on. Starting out, debut, 20 books under your belt, it’s the same for all: almost every single writer I know will go through phases where we question why we do this, etc. Negative thoughts can try to sneak in and tell you that everything you’ve ever written belongs in the trash. When you are feeling THAT down, look at your phone and have a review from someone who says your book changed their life—in a millisecond— your attitude is adjusted and your hope somehow renewed.
-L.D. Crichton

I think it helps other readers know if a book is a good fit for them. I also think the review process for each reader is very personal. Once this book is in your hands, it is ultimately your story too. It will inspire entirely different emotions in you than it did in me, or your friends, or your mom... No two people will have the same feelings about a book. Just like how I am one of two people who love the movie Waterworld.
Also, this is my first time being an author at the end of a book review from a stranger. I’ve been told by a few authors that I shouldn’t read the reviews, but I did in the first few weeks. Initially, there was this visceral gut-punch realization that it is out there in the world and real people are reading it and I can’t pull it back if there are things about it they don’t like. Its over, done, and free for everyone to form opinions about. Imagine spending years of your life working on this one creative project, building characters, molding their story and lives–basically living in that place with them–and then turning it over to the world without the ability to alter or change it anymore. It is utterly terrifying. I’ve learned a lot based off the reviews so far. Nothing will ever be perfect, but the few reviews I have read tell me what I’m doing really well and what I will work on in the next book.
-Kaytalin Platt

I think leaving reviews is the best way to do other readers a favor. Our internet culture too often seems to feeds off negativity. Writing a review for a book you enjoyed is like the literary equivalent of planting a tree. You are doing something good not just for the author but for the world—for other readers who might now also discover the book and love it as much you do.
-Stephanie Jimenez

This book publishing industry is falling. But I’ve heard more and more people would like to write than read. As such, someone should explain the joy of book reading. That’s the stimulus package for the industry. It’s the review, not the book, that would drive their appetite for the good books.
-Keita Nagano

Book reviews are the BEST way to help an author whose work you loved. Even a few short words of appreciation can be enough to bring a whole host of new readers to the story, and that's a pretty sure-fire way to guarantee you're going to get MORE stories from this author. Essentially, you're boosting awareness, whether it's with a full or short review, or even a 5 star rating on its own. You're becoming part of the story's story, and that's pretty badass if you ask me!
-Luke Dalton

Book reviews are incredibly helpful to authors. Most of us are on our own for marketing and honestly the best support we get is reviews from readers. If you appreciate an author’s work, leaving a review is a great way to support them. And, of course, it helps other readers figure out if the book is a fit as well. Gotta love a win win!
-Malayna Evans

If a reader enjoyed a book then reviewing it is really one of the best ways to thank the writer. It helps other readers to find the book and helps it to stand out in the marketplace.
-Jennifer Camiccia

Reviews are so crucial ; think of the last time you took a chance on an unknown author with 2 book reviews. Then think of the last time you impulse-bought a book because it had dozens (or hundreds) of reviews with a decent rating. Plus, in the end, getting more people to read the books you love just means more people to made headcanons and geek out with.
-Avery Ames

My favorite books have come from friends telling me about a book they think I would love, whether that’s over a cup of coffee or in a conversation on social media. It’s such a joy to be able to connect someone with a book they love and reviews help do that!
-Elizabeth Chiles Shelburne

To spread the good word! It may inspire someone else to pick up the book.
-Jordan Zucker

Because reviews are the only way to keep books alive—in today’s world where readers have more power and platform than ever before, they should exercise it to show the books they love to other readers.
-Damyanti Biswas

I think readers should write book reviews if they want to connect a little bit more with the story. Sometimes, I don’t know exactly how I feel about what I’ve read until I write it out. So, writing a review can be helpful for the reader to process what they’ve just read, but it’s also supremely helpful for other readers to get a sense of what they can expect when they get into a novel.
Personally, I don’t rely exclusively on book reviews to tell me if a story is good or not. Sometimes, I love a book that other people didn’t, or I just didn’t connect with a book that has starred reviews across the board.
-Kelly Coon

Book reviews are a great way to share your joy in a book (or air your concerns). They help readers find good books and help authors and others in the book industry understand more about their readers.
-K H Canobi

Readers should write reviews for other readers. It can help others find great books. Reviews should be honest but not mean—that’s true in life not just reviews!
-Lisa Moore Ramée

I think reviews, especially positive ones, help authors more than anyone realizes, in so many ways! Word of mouth is essential. Not everyone has the marketing budget of the big publishing houses. So if you love something, don’t keep it to yourself! We writers appreciate it more than you know!
-Liz Kerin

People should write reviews to create a culture of response to a work, providing links between readers who are looking for their next story dive. It takes a lot of kind, articulate responses to combat the generic, mean ones, but together we can create a community of readers who are truly invested in sharing their ideas about stories with each other. Whether a response is positive or negative, being able to frame it in a way that helps direct other readers is a gift to the reading community. Be honest. But be kind. Authors are human too.
-Jacqueline Firkins

I am a huge fan of readers (all readers—regardless of age) writing reviews. It’s probably the only way for authors to accurately gauge whether or not our work is connecting. That’s why I frequently have my middle school student write and share their reviews with peers.
-Ernesto Cisneros

What question would you like debut authors to answer in 2020?
Which debut author spotlight was your favorite this year?
Congratulations to Kim C who won the Rafflecopter giveaway.

And Now, Something Completely Different: Being a Dungeon Master

About a year ago, I applied for several writing jobs at a video game company I really admired, whose stories and quests always managed to surprise me. Unfortunately, halfway through the final application process, my grandmother passed away, and I had to turn in an unfinished campaign because I was grieving. I didn't get the job, and it absolutely crushed me. Since then, it's been really hard to work up the...I'm not sure what the right word is, the interest, the oomph, the courage, to start game writing again. But I'm getting there. This Friday, I'm going to be the Dungeon Master for my first ever Dungeons and Dragons group, using a campaign I wrote myself!

If you're not familiar with DnD, it's a tabletop role-playing game where adventurers (the players) make their way through a campaign (a series of interactions, battles, and investigations) to achieve some specific objective (rescue the princess, retrieve the ancient artifact, defeat the dragon). There are pre-published campaigns, but I've decided to write my own (also known as a homebrew campaign). Nobody tell my partner, because he's one of my players, but they're going to get sucked into a pyramid scheme that's trying to bring about a dragon attack. It's good stuff.

A little something like this

Game writing can be a fun way to interact with your own stories and see how other people interact with them as well. I always wanted more "choose your own adventure" books when I was a kid, so I love the idea of branching storylines. If worldbuilding is your thing, or if you're a chronic overwriter, game writing may be a fun thing for you to try! You can work within an existing world that already has rules and maps and bad guys, or you can create your own. You don't have to use DnD, either - there's Trail of Cthulhu, Night's Black Agents, Pathfinder, and so many more.

If you want to try game writing, or writing for branching storylines, there are a few good resources to check out. One is Twine, which is a free open-source tool for telling interactive, nonlinear stories. You can download it or use it online. It's pretty easy to use, and I actually had to use it for my game writing applications. Choose Your Story is a good place to get feedback on your work. And of course, you can always ask for feedback on Twitter, Reddit, and other writing communities (including this one!). So go forth and be adventurous :)

It's less than two weeks before 2020!!!!

In 2019, we started something new – First 50 Critiques.  It started out well.  The first entry received 9 thoughtful comments.

Last week's entry received 2 comments.

If people don't comment and leave a critique, there is no incentive for folks to submit their first 50 words for critique.

Or for us to continue this feature.

Do you want this feature to continue?  Why are you not leaving a comment/critique?  Can we make any changes to make this more interesting for you? 

What would you like us to do in 2020?  Please let us know in TODAY'S COMMENTS.  Do you want this feature to continue?  If so, we received one First 50 entry last week for the “adult” category, which will post on January 6.  If you want this feature to continue, PLEASE POST A COMMENT on that entry.

If you'd like us to do something else in 2020, let us know.  We want need your suggestions and recommendations.

Thank you!

Ernesto Cisneros's Debut Author Spotlight #NewBook #20Questions at Operation Awesome

Efren Divided by Ernesto Cisneros

1- In your opinion, given studies such as this (americanimmigrationcouncil.org/), are America's current immigration enforcement methods doing more harm than good?

The most frightening aspect of our current immigration enforcement is how it continues to run its campaign against immigrants without much regulation or accountability from the law. Families are being ripped apart and imprisoned in what can only be described as modern-day concentration camps—often for profit. Congress needs to shut down ICE immediately and ensure freedom and permanent protection for all undocumented immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.

One of the most dangerous aspects of this current agency is the manner in which it portrays undocumented people as being a threat to America and its security. That is simply NOT the case. America was founded by immigrants, for immigrants. Its diversity is a strength, not a weakness.

2- Would you please, in 160 characters or less, give a #WriteTip ?

The best writing tip I could offer is to share your work with passionate readers. This could be a librarian, teacher, even that student who carries a book everywhere he/she/they go. Have them highlight the parts that they like. Do this with a few people. What you will find is that different people will find different strengths in your writing. Embrace these things. Much of my highlighted work involved my use of dialogue. Apparently, it is a strength of mine that I wasn’t even aware of. Since then, I make it a point to incorporate a lot if in my writing today. In simple terms, write to your strengths.

3- What ignited your passion for writing?

As a kid, I was a true space cadet, always daydreaming. I never really thought about it as being anything particularly useful or positive. But now, I’ve realized that I was writing stories and strengthening my creativity. So please, let kids day dream—it’s not a bad thing.

4- Catsup or ketchup? And what's the most unusual food you use that condiment on?

First things first, I always refer to it as ketchup. When I was little, my dad convinced me that “catsup” contained actual cat inside. So I made it a point to buy name brands that used that prefer spelling. With that said, I pour “ketchup” onto just about everything—excluding dairy products. That would be gross. Or would it? Hmm.

5- What's your Twitter handle, and do you have two or three writer friends on there to shout-out to for #WriterWednesday ?

I would definitely like to give a shout-out to @sarahscheerger , @ErinDealey , and my debut pals over at @Class2k20Books

6- Would you share a picture with us of your book in the California sun?

How about the quad area of the school where part of the book takes place?

7- How do you feel that ordinary people could best help the children in ICE's cages?

I would say that we must contact our government representatives and let them know that we will not allow this blatant disregard of international law. Our political leaders have a moral obligation to prevent families from being forcibly separated. And if they do not take appropriate action, then it is up to us to hold them accountable.

Another way would be to make financial contributions to groups like the ACLU who continue to fight for the rights of all immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.

8- What most motivates you to read a new book?

I would say it’s the storyline that gets me to open a book, but it’s the character development that keeps me reading. If I’m invested and connect with a character, then I will follow them on just about any journey. Discovering well-written characters is kind of like making a new friend and having them take you somewhere you haven’t been before.

9- What is your favorite book by someone else, what's the author's Twitter handle, and what do you love most about that book? #FridayReads book recommendation time!

Author name:Sarah Scheerger @sarahscheerger
Title: OPERATION FROG EFFECT
Love because: her book left me missing each and every one of her characters. It is expertly written.

That's one of the debut authors who joined our spotlight this year! Sarah Scheerger's interview

10- Who is currently your biggest fan? What does that person love most (or "ship") about your debut novel?

Ironically, this would be Sarah Scheerger as well. We are each other’s biggest fan.
I believe it’s because we both value many of the same things and work with characters that have a lot of heart.

11- What emotions do you hope your book will evoke for the reader, and is there a particular scene you hope will resonate with readers?

Actually, I’m finding that people are connecting with totally different aspects of the book. Student’s are identifying mostly with the cultural aspects of the world building, while teachers are mostly connecting with the student-pupil relationship. Still others connect more with the loving dynamics of Efrén and his two little siblings. The book really does have something for everyone.

12- Do you have a favorite #bookstagram image or account/ profile?

https://instagram.com/tv/B6HzZjYnRv1/

13- How do you hope your book will help readers in their life?

I want my readers to know that everyone’s story matters and that every single one of us is worthy of having a story told about us. Each of us is special with a unique view of the world. It is my wish that they discover the means by which to share it.

14- What is the most memorable trait or visual oddity of one of your characters?

I feel like that would be Max, who was born with his umbilical cord wrapped around his neck, which cause some cognitive delays to occur. His love for his brother (and food) is the source of many great scenes.

15- In what ways are the main characters in your book diverse? diversebooks.org #WeNeedDiverseBooks

The majority of my characters are Latino. It was my intent to bring some recognition to this often marginalized group. Like the main character, Efrén, the narrator code-shifts, switching languages from time to time. He attends a predominantly Latino school in a predominantly Latino community.

16- Who is your favorite book review blogger?

Hands down, that would have to be Mr. John Schu’s blog: Watch. Connect. Read. John is a true advocate, connecting readers and authors together. He is incredibly supportive and goes out of his way to help everyone, regardless of what press they are working with.

17- What was the deciding factor in your publication route?

The biggest factor was being fortunate enough to meet and land representation from Deborah Warren of East West Literary. Her belief in me never faltered. It is because of her that I get to work with the amazing folk at HarperCollins.

18- Why do you think readers should write book reviews?

I am a huge fan of readers (all readers—regardless of age) writing reviews. It’s probably the only way for authors to accurately gauge whether or not our work is connecting. That’s why I frequently have my middle school student write and share their reviews with peers.

19- Do you have a discussion topic which you would like the readers of this interview to answer or remark on in the comments?

I know there is a lot of hate going around our country, and it seems to me, much of it stems from ignorance. It is a lot easier to hate things we don’t know than it is things familiar to us. In this case, it’s migrant families. So I invite everyone to step into this world to meet my students, my friends, and family. What you will find is that we have much more in common than we do differences.

20- Anything else you would care to share about your book and yourself?

This book was not an easy story to tell, but my twenty-plus years of teaching in a low-socioeconomic neighborhood helped supply the backdrop for this book. THIS STORY IS NOT MINE ALONE. It is that of many young students whom I have had the honor of working with over the years. I feel privileged to share this world with you.

I thank you for all the support you have given me in helping to BRING EFREN DIVIDED into the hands of those who need to read it most.
@Author_Cisneros


Efren Divided by Ernesto Cisneros

Why Mentoring Feels Broken Sometimes

"I don't know where things are broken."

This was what I told a writer friend a little over a year ago, back when I was still querying my YA fantasy. I had been in the query trenches for two years at that point, sent over one hundred queries, and applied to dozens of mentoring opportunities, but somehow, I never got any positive responses. Agents weren't interested in my work. Mentors didn't even request more pages. And all I could think was, where is the disconnect here?

There are so many things that are hard about being a writer, and getting feedback can be one of the toughest – and not just because feedback is sometimes hard to take. I've advocated for the magic of beta readers and critique partners over and over, and I stand by that opinion. But the problem is, there are so many unpublished writers, and so few published ones, that it's really hard to get the information about whatever magic it is that your writing is missing. Most of us just don't know what agents are looking for, because we're not agented ourselves. Before I went through the process of signing with my agent and going through revisions and submission, it was understandably hard for other writers to place their trust in me. What right did I have to tell them that chapter three could use more “oomph”? And for that matter, why should I trust Betty from Oklahoma City that my villain wasn’t villain-y enough?

The role that's meant to bridge that gap is mentors, people who are agented or who have published books before, and who are willing to provide their experience and expertise to us hopefuls. Finding a mentor, though, is incredibly difficult. Hundreds of people apply to be mentored by a single person, hoping for that chance to find out what’s broken in their process of revisions and querying. But if you’re not picked, you get nothing – you learn nothing about your writing, nothing about your query letter, nothing to make you a better writer. You come out of the experience with no more information than when you went into it.

This is the thing I find objectionable about mentoring opportunities. More often than not, it seems as if the mentors pick the most interesting story, the one that seems most likely to succeed - and, as a result, the one that actually needs the least help. The people who truly need assistance, the writers are really struggling, seem to fall by the wayside every time. I remember literally crying on the floor in the closet in our tiny basement apartment because I’d been rejected from yet another mentoring program, and I received no feedback from the mentor once again. I didn’t know what was wrong with my manuscript. I didn’t know what needed to be fixed. I needed help with my writing so badly, and yet it seemed to always be out of my reach.

Gatekeeping in writing is HUGE, and sometimes understandably so - publishers have to make money, after all. But the process is often so obtuse, so opaque, that it’s impossible to even see the path to the other side. That’s where I take issue with mentoring. I understand that mentors’ time is valuable, that they can’t exactly pen a handwritten note to every entrant. It would take days, if not weeks, to reply to everyone with some sort of feedback. But at the same time, back when I was querying, all I wanted was a single sentence, and many times I didn’t even get that. So I urge you, if any of you out there are mentors, or want to be, or have been, please remember what it’s like to be querying. Remember how lost you felt, how little support there was for you on your journey. Give your applicants every opportunity that you can, and remember that they’re just as important as your mentee. They may never get the support that only you can give. Just give them a minute of your time. That may be all they need to succeed.

First 50 Critique - Adult Urban Fantasy #1

Winter Solstice December 21

We are accepting entries this week!  Category – Adult, any genre.

If you want to submit your First 50 for critique, here's the entrance requirements.  We are accepting entries in the Adult category, any genre.  If you qualify and want to enter, send us an email formatted as follows:

[Subject:] First 50 Critique – Adult [insert genre]

The following 50 words are my own work and I give OA permission to post it on the OA blog for the life of the blog.

I commented on the entries posted on DATE and DATE as [your online ID].

My first 50 words:

[Copy/paste your first 50 words here.]

Entry period opens now and closes at the end of the day on Friday December 20, 2019. All entries will receive a confirmation email from us by Saturday December 21, 2019 that acknowledges receipt of your entry and, if you've complied with all requirements, lets you know what date [in January] it will be included on the blog for critique. If you do NOT receive a confirming email by Sunday December 22, 2019, send us a DM on Twitter and we'll give you alternative instructions for sending us your entry.

Now on to this week's entry!

Reminder: Be nice, but be honest. [Comments that are not polite/respectful will be deleted.] What would YOU like to know if this was YOUR first 50 words? Do you think it's a good opening line for the category/genre? Does it have a hook? Does it pull you into the story? Do you want to read more? Why or why not? Be specific, so your critique helps the person who wrote the entry.

Here's this week's entry.

First 50 Words – Adult Urban Fantasy #1

Police arrived before parents did at Tuck Academy. Ricky Turner and May Flizwatter had gone missing in the middle of class. “Excuse me,” Lilia Turner pushed her way through the growing crowd. She squinted against the noonday sun, finally spotting the sheriff and the academy principal. “Where’s my son?”

Dear O'Abby: Can I be a writer when I can't spell?

Dear O’Abby,

I’m a writer, or at least, I’m trying to be a writer. But I have a big problem. I’m a terrible speller. And when it comes to grammer and punctuation, I’m even worst. I wasn’t brought up speaking English and while I’m totally fluent in spoken English now, I think I’ve missed some important rules when it comes to written language.

I have written two novels and I would love them to be published, but I’m not confidence that my grasp of written English is good enough to get an agent or a publisher. Do you have any advice?

Yours,

Second Language


Dear Second Language,

Being bad at spelling, grammar or punctuation is not the barrier to being a published writer you might think it is. It just means you need to do a bit of extra work before you send your work out to any publishing professionals.

There are a huge number of online writing tools you can use to check your work on your own. This article gives some information about the different spelling and grammar correction software options available. If you are serious about writing, it is worth investing a little money in something like this if you’re not confident of your grasp of the rules.

Once you have run your MS through one of these tools, it will still probably need another look over because for all AI is great at picking up errors, it doesn’t always correct things in a way that suits your own writing style. So do a read-through and fix anything that doesn’t sound right for your character or doesn’t fit with your personal style.

Once you’ve done this, it’s time to get a fresh set of eyes across it. A critique partner who has a strong grasp of spelling, grammar and punctuation would be good. If you don’t have one of these, maybe try reaching out to an English teacher you might know. Or ask around in your online community to see if anyone might be available to help you with this specific area. If you have a budget, you could look at hiring a copy editor, but as they usually charge by the word, it can get expensive. Especially if you’re writing epic fantasy!

Once you have incorporated the feedback from all these sources, you should have a MS that is spelling and grammar error free! And that sounds like you’ve been writing English all your life. As long as you ensure the same care is put into your query and synopsis, your submission package shouldn’t stand out from the pack in all the wrong ways.

Good luck!

O’Abby

Debut Author Spotlight #Giveaway at Operation Awesome

a Rafflecopter giveaway


- Laura Gia West
- Abhishek Behera
- Deborah A Stansil
- Nidhi GS
- Balaka Basu
- Rebekah Loper
- Scott Wilson
-Gail Shepherd
- Natasha Tynes
- Chelsea Marie Ballard
- Anstice Brown
-Kate Larkindale
-Lillian Clark
-Bo Kearns
-Danielle Ledezma
- Sarah Scheerger
-N J Simmonds
-J. Lawson
-Claire Bartlett
-Sam Hawk
-L.D. Crichton
-Kaytalin Platt
-Stephanie Jimenez
-Keita Nagano
-Luke Dalton
-Malayna Evans
-Jennifer Camiccia
-Avery Ames
-Elizabeth Chiles Shelburne
-Jordan Zucker
-Damyanti Biswas
-Kelly Coon
-K H Canobi
-Lisa Moore Ramée
-Liz Kerin
-Jacqueline Firkins
-Ernesto Cisneros

Dealing with Burnout

So you finished NaNoWriMo! Now it’s time for revisions, finding CPs and beta readers, more revisions, potentially working with a sensitivity reader, even more revisions, query writing, looking for agents, writing a synopsis…

Blergh.

I don’t know about the rest of you, but when I finished NaNoWriMo, I was tired. Bone-tired, exhausted, no-I-will-not-go-to-school-today dead on my feet. Or in my writing chair. Whatever. It didn’t help that I’d just moved 500 miles and had to get our apartment put together while also starting a new job, all during NaNoWriMo. With 50,000 words written at the end of the month, I thought I’d be pumped to set my NaNoWriMo manuscript aside and start revisions on my other manuscript in December. I’m on my last round of revisions, after all, and the sooner I get them done, the sooner my agent can start sending my work out!

Well, days went by, and I wasn’t getting anything done. I really wanted to, but the thought of scrutinizing every word, sentence, and page got me worn out just thinking about it. So I finally realized that there was no other way around it: I am burned. out.

Burnout is hard in any profession. Getting tired of doing your usual tasks is rough, and it makes getting anything at all done difficult. When I go to my 9-to-5, I can at least force myself to get job done because I know I have to (and, honestly, because I’m getting paid to do it). I can’t just sit around and do nothing when I don’t want to do my work. When it comes to writing, though, there’s no urgent deadline. Every deadline I have is set by myself, and when I come home from my job, it’s really hard to be motivated.

I thought about setting hard deadlines. I thought about staying up late to smash through the revisions. I even thought about taking a day off from work. Unfortunately, though, there's no cure-all for burnout. You can't just have a cup of tea and be back to full charge, or rest for a day and *poof* you're all better. It takes time to overcome, and as painful as that is, the longer I let myself rest, the more ready I feel to get back to writing.

So I’m trying to take a break. I’m laying off my manuscripts and going on hiatus from Twitter. I was spending way too much time on those daily hashtag games, anyway. If you keep finding yourself procrastinating instead of writing, stop and think for a moment. Sure, maybe you’re just procrastinating for the sake of procrastinating. But maybe, after a really intense month of hammering out a few thousand or a few hundred or even a few dozen words a day, you need a break, too. Make a new year’s resolution to write. Give yourself the rest of the year off. You’d be in good company.

First 50 Critique - YA/Fantasy #2

For all the details of how this works, click here.  We are NOT accepting entries this week.  But if you want to enter when we DO open the entry period, you must post a critique on at least TWO previous entries before you'll be able to submit.

Reminder: Be nice, but be honest. [Comments that are not polite/respectful will be deleted.] What would YOU like to know if this was YOUR first 50 words? Do you think it's a good opening line for the category/genre? Does it have a hook? Does it pull you into the story? Do you want to read more? Why or why not? Be specific, so your critique helps the person who wrote the entry.

Here's this week's entry.

First 50 Words - YA/Fantasy/Speculative #2

I hope I’ll survive high school without being hauled off by the government’s newest taskforce. The vice-principal whispered to the cafeteria guy about today’s raid. Only one state away. I wonder if someone else I know was taken? As if the first day of high school isn’t stressful enough. 

The Next Step...

Welcome to December!

Hopefully those of you who were doing NaNo achieved your goals. And even if you didn’t get to 50K, you still have more written than you did on 31 October which is a win  in my book! I surprised myself and managed just under 60K in November.  My book isn’t finished yet, but I figure I have only another 15K or so to go.  I aim to be done by Christmas so I can enjoy my summer holiday (I live in New Zealand so Christmas is in summer) without that hanging over me.

Last week O’Abby had a question about what to do once you’ve finished your NaNo book and I outlined some ideas about revising that first draft (here) and promised we’d talk about the next step this week.  So here goes.

Once your book is revised and polished and your readers can’t find any more major flaws, you need to decide what publishing route is right for you and your book.

If you want to be traditionally published by one of the big publishing houses you will need to find a literary agent as most of these publishers don’t accept manuscripts directly from authors.  There are numerous agents and they all represent different types of books.  Research is required to ensure you find one who will be able to sell your book.  There are a number of websites that can help you with your search.  I would recommend Query Tracker as a useful tool, and for finding our what different agents are actively looking for, MSWL.  Once you’ve found a few agents you’re interested in, I suggest you follow them on Twitter to see what they’re looking for and if you think you might be compatible with them.  Picking the wrong agent is worse than having no agent, so it’s worth going in with as much knowledge as possible.

If you are someone who likes control, self-publishing might be the best route for you.  It’s hard work because every part of the process is in your hands, from editing, to cover design to publicity and marketing.  But you get a bigger cut of the royalties from your sales and you can control when your book releases, what it looks like, the price and pretty much everything else about the process.  I would suggest though, you get a professional editor and cover designer to work with you because readers notice shoddy editing, and a bad cover gives the wrong first impression of your book and can kill sales.

The third option is to publish with a small press.  Most of these do not require an agent to submit so you can contact them directly.  There are a large number of small presses, some which specialize in particular genres and styles and others that publish a broad range of titles.  Some are digital only which means if you’ve always dreamed of having your book on library and bookshop shelves, this isn’t going to happen.  Like everything else, I suggest you do your research before sending your manuscript to any small press.  Some have very limited distribution channels and some only do print copies on demand.  Some have hidden costs associated with their services and should be treated with care.  You will also likely have to drive the bulk of marketing and publicity yourself as most small presses have limited resources for this.

How you publish is not a decision to take lightly, so take your time and do your research.  And don't get discouraged by rejections.  They are just part of the process and while they sting, they won't kill you.  After a while you will be able to brush them off like any other annoyance, as crazy as that might sound to you now.  I can say that because I've had close to 300 rejections in my writing career, and expect more each and every time I send a new manuscript out into the world.

And I'm still breathing!

Feel free to get in touch if you have any follow-up questions.

X O'Abby