Happy to say that the rewrite of Mike.Sierra.Echo is complete – woo! My middle-grate scifi novel project is done. Let the balloons drop, champagne fall from the heavens – I’m a professional author and I officially get to say that now. Hooray!
Now, naturally I’m happy about this, but I know the first question on everyone’s mind is: now what? Let’s talk about the fascinating world of writing a novel and how Inkican Crew members participate. If you’re interested in being a writer, you’ll want to know how the whole process works. Let’s dive right in.
Having written (and attempted to write) novels before, the best way to explain it is ‘a marathon where you’re never sure when it ends, other runners can’t help you, the road is covered with Legos, and also you’re barefoot.’ The dizzying success of those who *have* finished the marathon inspires the rest of us to find our own way to the finish line. It’s a maddening, wondrous adventure that teaches you more about yourself than the subjects you discuss.
I write novel-length science fiction because the ideas I’m interested in are rarely understood in a short story. How would technology change society? What do you do with dysfunctional people who refuse to get better? How do you carry on after catestrophic failures? Could technology answer these questions, or make the answers harder to find? Mike.Sierra.Echo has its own answers, but in all honesty – I’m not sure if I’m done.
Why is that? Well, real simple – I’ve already been through several rounds of query letters to lit agents with no response. That indicates two possibilities A) this book isn’t catching anyone’s interest and B) this book isn’t catching anyone’s interest. I could focus on re-writing my query letter, my pitch, my log line – or I could focus on making the book the best it can be and hope that the next time I approach lit agents, MSE is ‘the right book at the right time.’
I’ll talk more about the overall process of getting published later.Although I’ve spoken about beta reading before, it’s a great time to re-visit the topic.
What Is a Beta Reader?
Per NYBookEditors – ‘A beta reader is a person who reads and provides feedback on your manuscript before publishing.’ A beta reader is the person who ‘test drives’ your story and points out anything that is good, or needs to be better. Books need beta readers like software needs beta testers. Nothing sucks worse than trying to get a book published only to hear crickets from agents, publishers and the general public.
‘Beta readers will tell you if you suck, where you suck, why you suck, and how to suck less.‘ Long story short – Mike.Sierra.Echo needs more beta reader feedback.
What Questions Do Beta Readers Answer?
Good question! Beta reader feedback can be as simple as ‘no notes – get this to an agent ASAP’ or as complex as a 10-page essay on how, where, when your novel project sucks. If you’re looking for a simple list of questions for beta readers – here they are in no particular order:
Plot and Pacing
- Does the story flow well, or are there parts where it drags?
- Are there any plot points that feel confusing or unresolved?
- Is the pacing consistent, or are there sections that feel too slow or rushed?
2. Characters
- Are the main characters compelling and believable?
- Do their actions make sense in the context of the story?
- Are there any characters that feel unnecessary or underdeveloped?
- Can you empathize with or understand the characters’ motivations?
3. World-building and Setting
- Does the world feel immersive and well-developed?
- Is there enough description to visualize the setting, or does it feel thin?
- Are there any inconsistencies in the rules of the world or the timeline?
4. Dialogue
- Does the dialogue sound natural?
- Are the characters’ voices distinct, or do they all sound the same?
- Does the dialogue move the plot forward, or does it feel like filler?
5. Writing Style and Tone
- Is the writing style engaging?
- Does the tone of the writing match the genre or mood of the story?
- Are there any repetitive phrases, awkward sentence structures, or unclear passages?
6. Themes and Messages
- Do the themes of the novel come through clearly?
- Are the themes or messages consistent, or do they get muddled?
7. Emotional Impact
- Did any scenes evoke strong emotions (e.g., laughter, sadness, fear)?
- Are there parts that feel emotionally flat or fail to connect?
8. Ending
- Does the ending feel satisfying and appropriate for the story?
- Are all the major plot threads resolved?
- Are there any unanswered questions that should be addressed?
9. Reader’s Enjoyment
- What parts of the novel did they enjoy the most and why?
- Were there any parts where their attention waned?
- Would they recommend the book to someone else?
By answering these questions, a beta reader provides valuable feedback to authors on how to improve the quality of their storytelling. Then you re-write, then you get more feedback, you see where I’m going with this?
So in the short term – I want to help improve Mike Sierra Echo. The best way for me to do that is ‘get beta reader feedback.’ I’m pursuing that and if you want to be a part of it, the first step is to join the Inkican Crew. I’ll send out more info on that later. Meantime, I have some editing and blogging to do – it’s time to tell you more about what I’ve learned about the business of writing professionally.
Write on! 🙂
