tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1962109490336177665.post39835861996936123..comments2023-08-28T03:11:38.347-07:00Comments on The Scribblers Cove: Wise readers, where do you find them?Rebecca J. Carlsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13266492065285468391noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1962109490336177665.post-6323300200629948742010-11-17T16:33:42.138-08:002010-11-17T16:33:42.138-08:00I was so lucky to have a friend who had been an ed...I was so lucky to have a friend who had been an editing intern in college, and who actually volunteered to edit a manuscript for me.<br /><br />That manuscript will never be published, but her efforts taught me invaluable lessons. If my grammar and punctuation skills are impressive, it's all thanks to her.Rebecca J. Carlsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13266492065285468391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1962109490336177665.post-40908257814765765192010-11-17T15:08:27.979-08:002010-11-17T15:08:27.979-08:00Yeah, my editor was annoyed with how long my ackno...Yeah, my editor was annoyed with how long my acknowledgments were, but hey, these people all needed to be thanked. It was amazing to get all their names in one place and see how many there were!Emily Mahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11058371468029680332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1962109490336177665.post-85132440017264542062010-11-17T13:12:54.786-08:002010-11-17T13:12:54.786-08:00I got insanely lucky and found three wise readers ...I got insanely lucky and found three wise readers in one fell swoop when I joined a local writing club. They are incredibly supportive, give excellent advice and let me have a go at their work too. If I ever get published they will have a big spot in my acknowledgments and more free copies than they would know what to do with =)Sierra Gardnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16364930724666386832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1962109490336177665.post-52033582822551057652010-11-16T15:00:40.991-08:002010-11-16T15:00:40.991-08:00I love my readers! I feel like they are one of my ...I love my readers! I feel like they are one of my writing organs. We all have them: hearts, lungs, brains, livers, stomachs. Each have a differnt function and you just can't do without even one of them. Readers bring the story to life and filter out the bad stuff. They also act as a warning system for me, blaring loudly when something is off.<br /><br />I find them at conferences and at writers groups. Some of them were instant fits, others grew on me. I had one who seemed to object to everything I wrote. Everything. He questioned every character, every line of dialog, you name it. The funny thing is, I loved it and missed his input greatly when he moved on.Hermana Mawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15743516008894676257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1962109490336177665.post-40561555589494993762010-11-15T16:46:37.835-08:002010-11-15T16:46:37.835-08:00Loved this post, Emily!
I've got some of my f...Loved this post, Emily!<br /><br />I've got some of my favorite test readers right here at Scribblers Cove. There's Elizabeth, who taught me the importance of describing emotions, and Sue who gave me the courage to go forward by pronouncing the manuscript "ready to shop around." Chersti, Amber, and Leisha have all critiqued my work in workshop settings, and I'm eternally indebted to Rachel for warning me when my boy pov character was "thinking like a girl." THANK YOU EVERYONE!<br /><br />I'm always on the look-out for more test readers, and whether they're willing to do a line by line critique or just want to read and talk about their general impressions, I say every pair of eyes counts! <br /><br />It took me a while to learn how to best use feedback from test readers. That could be another post!Rebecca J. Carlsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13266492065285468391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1962109490336177665.post-80687784888491813922010-11-15T15:01:44.634-08:002010-11-15T15:01:44.634-08:00Yeah, it's always a WiP, I think. People move ...Yeah, it's always a WiP, I think. People move on in life and don't have time, or are busy when you've got a deadline looming. That's why it's always interesting to hear where other people have found theirs - the ones they have so far, at least!Emily Mahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11058371468029680332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1962109490336177665.post-17317878061253834562010-11-15T14:30:30.579-08:002010-11-15T14:30:30.579-08:00Emily, hooray for wise readers!
I do have friends...Emily, hooray for wise readers!<br /><br />I do have friends that are bluntly honest with my work. They tell me through their veiwpoint as readers. There's one who is very savvy with the human mind and he will do the best critique as a beta reader because of it (believable MC, behavioral reactions, so on). I've also picked up friends by beta-reading their work and/or critiquing their MSs.<br /><br />For me, finding my stable of wise readers is still a WiP. I'm so happy that you've found yours. <br /><br />Feed them well. <br />;)Elizabeth Muellerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06028099814857743134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1962109490336177665.post-17657572663478399582010-11-15T10:20:20.810-08:002010-11-15T10:20:20.810-08:00I have a great couple of first go-over readers but...I have a great couple of first go-over readers but am still working on the rest. I have someone I just met online going over something of mine now and she's AWESOME! Hopefully she won't get bored of me because she is the exact voice of reason I need for a completed project.Jolene Perryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04630744737142051232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1962109490336177665.post-66046613040588276262010-11-15T10:13:31.226-08:002010-11-15T10:13:31.226-08:00Emily, that's a great question, and boy are th...Emily, that's a great question, and boy are they hard to come by.<br /><br />My wonderful group of wise readers has been years in the making. We've had an ongoing writers group since 1999 and many people have come and gone. But personality and writing feedback-wise, four of us really clicked and formed our own group. Now we meet once a week, power through each other's manuscripts, cheer each other on and do final read-throughs. None of us are afraid to be candid and honest. They're priceless! Thanks gals!Jonene Ficklinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13414949303542133724noreply@blogger.com