We've all had it -- the dream we're hoping to fulfill.
That sits.
And sits.
And sits.
Years go by while we walk by and shine that little dream and imagine it breaking free.
My little dream is finding its wings, one day at a time, inch by painful inch. Today, that means I'm about a week away from finishing the rewrite of IMMORTAL the book. (First penned in 2004.)
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| (Not a true representation of the cover) |
Which means I'm looking for potential beta readers (in about 2 weeks to a month).
What is a beta reader?
When a book is fully drafted, the author puts it in front of other eyes. The first reader is:
The Alpha Reader -- a trusted reader who helps iron out major plot/character issues.
Followed by:
Beta readers -- a small group who shares their reading experience with the author, often helping iron out minor inconsistencies or weaknesses in the writing.
The working blurb:
Rage. Isolation. Thirst…
For 300 years, an immortal cursed to live on blood has traversed the earth—hunted by a single family sworn to destroy him.
England 1792.
When the present-day hunter, Phineas, injures him, Lucas vanishes into the night. Weakened and desperate, he stumbles into his neighbor’s ball and meets Justine. His silent heart beats for the first time in centuries. If he is capable of love, is he capable of redemption? And will Justine’s uncle, Phineas, end him before he can discover?
Welcome to our IWSG buddies! Huge thanks to our hosts, Victoria Marie Lees, Sarah Foster, Natalie Aguirre, and C. Lee McKenzie!
June 3 question - Do most of your story ideas come from one place (the news, dreams, etc.) or do they hit from all over the place?
But.
We grow, right? These days, story ideas/components come from everywhere, but my subconscious usually forms them as I write without conscious effort. It's helpful that way.
What about you? Where do you get ideas? Have you ever beta read for someone? Do you like getting in on the ground floor and giving your ideas?
That's cool you are almost done with the rewrite. How far that story has come!
ReplyDeleteYou're not kidding! And now how much I have to cull it back after full exploring every aspect...
DeleteCongrats on almost finishing your rewrite. I can't remember my dreams, so I can't get ideas from them like you.
ReplyDeleteYeah, insomnia put a damper on that for a long time. I only remember them if I write them as soon as I wake.
DeleteAll my ideas come from dreams.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the rewrite. Aren't those fun?
*high five* Birds of a feather, eh?
DeleteI do like a rewrite more than a first draft. =)
That is amazing. I have never written a story from dreams. I am one of those people who never gets dreams. I read the plot of the book---WOW. Right now, I'm beta reading a book and it's my first time... All the best on the book!
ReplyDeleteI'm wishing you the best with your first forey into beta reading! It's a joy and a struggle. =)
DeleteI love how you get ideas. That is fascinating. I am jealous.
ReplyDeleteHaha! It also requires good and regular sleep -- which is near impossible to achieve.
DeleteDon't you love when a backburner book finally comes to fruition! Immortal sounds fantastic.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Melissa. Yes, it's a beautiful day when we get to unearth one of these waiting beauties.
DeleteI am an amazing Beta reader as I worked on almost all of bigger YA, dystopian and fantasy titles from previous 20 years, but I am extremely cruel and will make you cry LOL Plus I do not, sadly, have time as I am translating a new dystopian hit which has like 700 pages! It is terribly written, by the way, you can see they did not have me as a Beta reader/murderer LOL
ReplyDeleteYou wouldn't make me cry. I've had to suffer through my husband's beta reading. LOL. I think there comes a point as an author where you see feedback differently -- as an incentive to improve rather than a personal attack. If we can't get to that place, we have no right to be in the business. AND I'd rather hear something in the beta phase than the published-review phase.
DeleteWishing you sanity on that beheamoth!
Congrats on being so close to almost finishing that rewrite! Well done! :)
ReplyDeleteAll these congrats feel premature. Maybe I should come back and read them in a week. Haha!
DeleteThat's awesome that you are almost finished rewriting Immortal. I didn't know it was also a book.
ReplyDeleteBecause writerly minds can never leave an idea alone, eh? Easiest book I ever wrote -- since it was so well outlined. LOL.
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