Bringing Out the Betas

WHAT I’M CURRENTLY READING: A Soldier’s Devotion by Cheryl Wyatt.

WORK IN PROGRESS: COMPLETE!!

Last week I posted the deleted scene from my work in progress FORGOTTEN REINS. As for now, I’m leaving that for the title.

What you can’t see is me, doing the Snoopy dance of completing this expanded draft of the manuscript. Even though this is just one stage of the novel-writing process, I”m happy to be moving on to the next stage.

The Beta stage.

As I’ve completed the manuscript, now it’s time to pass on my project to three dear friends of mine for a preview read of my story. Thus, the beta stage.

During this stage I send off my manuscript to three separate people in three separate towns. Each reader does exactly that, they read it. No proofing. It’s like a private book club where as they get the first look at the book, complete with questions at the end.

These people help me to finalize and smooth out any rough edges and bumps the manuscript may before sending it off to an agent or editor. They give me their real opinion on the read, not the grammar. The grammar, if not in good shape at this point, is fixed in the final review.

So today, I’m sending out FORGOTTEN REINS to my betas. It’s sort of like sending one of my kids to camp. one part of me looks forward to having it back again while the other part is relieved to have it gone. In the mean time, I’ll just have to distract myself with another project.

Perhaps I’ll pull out my screen play from April’s script frenzy challenge and give it a little revision. Who knows, but first to close up my computer until monday, The kids are calling. It’s time to go play.

Heads up Betas, the manuscript is on its way!