Guess what Dear Readers??!! I’m writing a book! (Okay, if
you know me very well, you know I’m always writing a book, but this is
different!) This book is based on
this blog! I’ve finally wrestled all (okay some)
of the information down into a manageable format and I’m getting mighty close
to having it ready for my Beta Readers. (Note: If you’re local and you’d like
to be a Beta Reader for me, shoot me an e-mail.)
What’s a Beta Reader you ask? I didn’t know myself the first
time I stumbled across the term since the only Betas I know wind up floating
dead in my youngest son’s fish bowl a few months after we buy them. Well, a
Beta Reader is a person who agrees to read a book when an author has done all
she can do with it but before she’s taken the next step to actually publishing
it. Beta Readers must be brave and, more importantly, have time on their hands.
They read for content and flow and accuracy. They make notes and offer feedback
about the scope, format, and content of the book. Some Beta Readers (but not
all) catch grammar mistakes and typos. Basically, they tell the author what
they like and don’t like about the book. They give an opinion on what works and
what doesn’t.
There’s no pay offered (since most authors have no money),
but there is extreme gratitude offered. In my case this gratitude will come in
the form of homemade applesauce, fresh eggs (if my new girls ever start
laying), a free copy of the book when it’s published, and probably some lovely
wine and snacks during the final focus group.
I’m hoping to have my manuscript ready for Beta Readers by
September 12. That’s a completely unrealistic goal, but I’m setting it anyway.
I like a good challenge (as you’ll discover if you read my new book!). That
said, I must take a breather from this blog. But don’t despair Dear Reader
because while I may be taking a breather from creating new content, I will be
posting a chapter from the book each week. That way you can be a virtual Beta
Reader. And, if you’re so inclined, you
can offer your own edits, thoughts, etc. You can post them in the comment
section for all the world to see, or if you’d rather, you can e-mail them to me
directly. I’ll post a link to do this at the end of each chapter, along with a
few questions to get your editing juices going. Look for the first post this
Wednesday!
Want to be one of my Beta Readers? Live nearby? (this is required so that I can ply you with wine at our final focus group) Let me know and I'll send you all the juicy details!
cara.achterberg@rocketmail.com
