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Beta Reading and Critiquing

Beta reading/critiquing tips and advice. Sample topics: launch of Query/Blurb Exchange Club, finding beta readers, handling feedback, tips for being a better beta reader, benefits of beta reading, etc.

Editing Processes: How Do We Improve?

Pocket watch with text: When Are We Ready for Editing?

No matter our publishing path, our work always needs to go through an editing process, but when are we ready for editing? How will we know? If we start too soon, we’re likely to struggle and waste time and/or money.

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February 6, 2018

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Help! What If I Can’t Find Beta Readers?

Magnifying glass over a blank page with text: Can't Find Beta Readers?

Every writer struggles to get their thoughts on the page and make their ideas make sense to others. The typical advice for how to resolve that issue is to use beta readers, but what if we can’t find beta readers? What can we do?

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January 17, 2017

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Writing Feedback: Reaching Our Potential

Plant seedling in the sand with text: Believing in Our Potential

Whenever we send our work out into the world for feedback, we’re taking a risk. Depending on our levels of self-doubt, the feedback might roll off our back, inspire us to work harder and fix issues, or convince us that we should quit writing. How can we avoid destructive feedback and the temptation to quit?

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May 10, 2016

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Four Tips for Beta Reading Outside Our Genre

Close up of knothole in a fence with text: Beta Reading Outside Your Genre? 4 Tips to Breach the Genre Borders

During our search for beta readers, we might come across other writers willing to exchange–but they write in a different genre. Should we try a critique partnership anyway? Here are 4 tips for beta reading outside our genre.

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March 17, 2016

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Writing Diversity: How Can We Avoid Issues?

Purple eye and green hair with text: Avoiding Mistakes with Diversity

The real world is filled with diversity, and our stories should be the same way. There’s no “one right way” to portray diverse characters, but there are wrong ways to portray diversity. However, there are steps we can take to minimize—as much as possible—the potential of “getting it wrong.”

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October 22, 2015

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