What I Write

My young adult novels are dark, edgy, and realistic. Although I love paranormal and fantasy books, I prefer to create stories that could really happen (and in many cases, really are happening). For me, the echo of a story set firmly in the real world always haunts me long after I've read the final word. If you like Ellen Hopkins, Jay Asher, and Neal Shusterman, you might like my books, too.

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Beta Reading is a Must

Beta reading is important for all writers.  You need a fresh pair of eyes to catch errors, both big and small.  But beta reading is more than just quid pro quo Clarice...




...it's also about learning more about your own writing.  The little nits you catch in the writing of others (like character soup, unending description with no plot movement, or a hairy tendency to change the color of your main character's locks halfway through the novel) will suddenly become apparent in your own.

So get with a crit group and read some manuscripts during those days or weeks you are letting your fingers take a break from the keyboard.  It'll be good for everyone.

No comments:

Post a Comment

About Me

I'm a writer of contemporary teen fiction. My bookshelf is SLAMMED with young adult novels and I should be on some sort of twelve step program for my spending habits in Barnes and Noble. And, for the record, I LIKE having real books, so no Nook or Kindle for this gal.