Getting ready for Betas

For those of you who've sent your WIP out to beta readers, how did you do it? Did you send them any instructions? Any list of questions or things to keep in mind/look for?

I didn't know what to include, so I sent the proof copy (duh!) along with a package of index cards and a small pack of sticky notes. My hope is my super savvy reader can just throw an index card into the book anywhere she has questions and use the sticky notes for anything else. Scenes she liked, things that didn't work for her, where she lost interest, etc.

I like the index card route because I only have 2 printed copies of my book and I'd like to keep them clean instead of all marked up. Call it pride, that's not too far from the truth.

If you've sent your book out to readers, do you include anything else? I'm nervous and excited at the same time and I want to make sure I get useful feedback. If you have any tips or suggestions, please share! I'd love to hear your experiences!

Thank you!

New Title: Campaigner

It's FINALLY time!!

Oh, nelly. I really did it this time. I went and signed up for Rachel Harrie's Third Writers' Platform-Building Campaign (formerly called the Crusaders).

source

I've known about this platform-building concept since the Second Crusade/Campaign, but I was A) too late to the party and B) too unsure of what it all entailed.

Actually, I'm not sure I still understand what I just signed myself up for. From what I'm reading on Rachel's blog and around the blogoshpere, the Campaign is a place for fellow writers to meet each other, share some blog love, and work together to help build the online platform and presence of fellow writers.

I'm nervous because I'm not sure how "advanced" one has to be in order to be successful. I'm still new to blogging and I'll be the first one to tell you that I fell by the blogging wayside this summer. So I'm not sure how to do this, but I'm hoping to just jump in feet first and meet other writer bloggers.

So, fellow writers. Who's with me? Anyone care to join the Campaign, meet other bloggers, and show support to your fellow authors? Then please follow the link and sign up! We can campaign together!

In Luuurve and Writing vs Storytelling

First of all, I'm in love. It's Birthday Week over here in my corner of the blogosphere and my mom sent me a Black and Decker food processor. I opened it up, pulled it out of the mega box, and have it in a place of honor on my counter. I love it, even though I'm slightly intimidated by the fact that it's bigger than either my coffee pot OR my KitchenAid mixer (which I also covet, BTW).

I feel so adult. So legit. I am finally a Woman Who Can Cook Things. Or something like that. But like I said, it's a bit scary. It has suction cups on the bottom. SUCTION CUPS, PEOPLE! Seriously.

So, um, any idea what I can do with this? The instructions tell me how to use it, but I'm not sure what to use it for. Understand? Any foodies out there who love their food processors are encouraged to chime in. I also welcome recipe suggestions. Just sayin'.

Anyway... On to the blog.

Are you a writer or storyteller?

I fancy myself a storyteller. I like to share my stories and bring my friends along for the imaginary ride. I don't worry about the plot arcs, character development, or themes. Instead, I tell stories. There are characters. They do things. They go places. It's extraordinary, if only you could see how cool it is in my head.

But I'm not as good with taking that knack for storytelling and turning it out into written (or typed) words. There are too many questions. Too often I stop and ask myself, "Okay, wait. How did that happen? What about over there in that other scene--is that realistic?" The inner critic points out inconsistencies. And she wants to know all the backstory stuff. How did the world end up like this? What's the history? How'd it happen? When did it happen? Will it happen again? Why? How? When? Repeat...

I get lost in the mechanics of writing a story, especially when it comes to the technicalities, or the finer points. But when given the freedom to weave a tale fantastic? I'm your girl.

Do you think there's a difference between the two? Are you a better storyteller or a writer?

Crafting the climax of your story

(caveat: This topic was brought up over on Nathan Bransford's forums back in July and has been in my head ever since. You can read it here.)

I struggled when working on the ending scenes to my WIP, Journey to Andryea (working title). I had all the important stuff charted out on pages of notes, like who had to be where, who had to admit what crucial piece of info, or how did the events affect the MC's journey?

After enough procrastination, I finally sat down and started pounding out the ending. I knew how I wanted it to go, but I didn't know how I wanted to do it. I admit it's still a bit rough in some places, but for now, it's at a place where I can put it down and work on something different.

Then I read a thread over on the Bransforums about how authors deal with the "end" of the final climactic scene. The thread starter pointed out that she could either start the next chapter after a passage of time, or immediately after the crucial moment, but wasn't sure which one to do. People suggested the author write out both endings and go with what felt right. What a novel (excuse the pun) concept!

If we all know that you're not supposed to start out a book in a dream sequence because it lulls your reader into a false beginning, then is it also taboo to end the climactic scene of your book with your MC falling unconscious? I thought back to JtA and realized I did exactly that.

In order to wrap up the climax and get all the key players back to their respective places on the novel chess board, I had my MC pass out/end chapter. The next chapter began two weeks later. And she awoke from a dream.

Two weeks later AND a dream!

Author fail. Knowing that the large climactic battle scene was one of a community's overall survival, two weeks seems like a large break in action before my MC returns. This was a technique I used so I could fill in the "then what" scenes with conversations.* In this situation, I needed to quickly tell the reader how things were getting back to normal while I focused more on the threats and plot lines related to the characters. A few pages later, the story ended with a clear place to pick up in the next book.

How about you? 
Does it bother you when there's a gratuitous passage of time just so the author can nicely wrap things up? Or would you rather skip the 2 weeks and pick it up later, after things are wrapped up?

* = this is also commonly used in TV shows where a year will pass. Recent examples include True Blood and Bones. If you're fans of either show, let me know if the technique worked for you. So far, I don't have any real complaints about either one.