Today I finished up a beta read, so I thought it would be a good time to summarize my tips for how to be a good beta reader. I’ve done several beta reads, which doesn’t make me an expert by any means. I do things a little differently every time, based on what I’ve learned. …
Tag: writing habits
How to Climb out of a Writing Productivity Rut
If you're feeling stuck and having trouble reaching your writing goals, this post might be for you. As a new mom and writer with a full-time job, I've been struggling "to get it all done," but this week, I made some serious headway. Disruptions to routine For most of February, especially the latter half, I …
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All This Has Happened Before…
… and all this will happen again. This is one of many iconic Battlestar Galactica quotes, but it's very relevant to today's topic: retellings. There's this idea out there that there's only really one story. Or three. Or five. Or something like that -- I haven't really been paying attention. Sure, there's structure to a …
Five signs you’re ready to join a writing critique group
I love my writing group. If you’re looking for a support group or a write-in (where you meet people in a café or library and write next to each other in theoretical silence), you can join those anytime. They exist to get you to the point where you have something ready for critique. In May …
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The Writing Process: The Near-Final Read Through
Since Drew Hayes' blog inspired me to start doing my own blog, I think it's fitting that I write about a quote from him. [Note: I swear I read other authors, too, I've just been reading his stuff lately (via audiobook). Even though this seems like a shameless plug for him, I promise he has …
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Blogging, aka I do what I want
"You need to write a blog if you want to become successful." "Blogs are over. Unless you're somebody, no one will read it, so don't bother." A year ago, I toyed with the idea of starting a blog. I came across a lot of conflicting advice and got stuck trying to figure out my "angle." …
Nanowrimo like a loser: What I learned
By the official guidelines, I lost nanowrimo big time. I don't have an accurate final count, but it's about 36,000 words. Still, based on my own goals and expectations at the beginning of November, I won. You can read more about that in my last post. I finished the first draft of my novel, the …
Erica Rue 