Power Packed Editing ~ Words of Wisdom from Beth K. Vogt

Improve Your Editing Process with Preferred Readers

 by Beth K. Vogt

When I reach a deadline and finish a manuscript, I do two things:

1. I hit SEND and submit my the newly-completed novel to my editor
2. I contact my Preferred Readers and let them know they’ll be getting their copies within the next few days

I’ve been working with Preferred Readers since my debut novel, Wish You Were Here, released in 2012. Back then I had one Preferred Reader. Now I have three.

What is a Preferred Reader?

My Preferred Readers are three women who read through my manuscript and then meet with me to give me feedback on my plot, my characters, as well as telling me which scenes worked for them and which didn’t. 

Why Work with Preferred Readers?

My group’s feedback is invaluable. They are my target readers: the kind of women I hope will pick up my novels, pass them on to their friends, or even to their teen daughters. Their insights let me know if I’m tapping into readers’ emotions, or if I’m confusing readers. Do they like my hero and heroine? Is my pacing working or is the story dragging? Did they like that challenging scene I wrestled with? 

How Do You Run a Preferred Readers Group?

• Limit the size of your group. Having three Preferred Readers is ideal. When we meet, we discuss each chapter, keeping to “big picture” comments. Each person has a say. Even with a small group our meetings often last six hours and include a meal – and we talk while we eat.
• Select different personalities. One of my Preferred Readers (PR) is a detail person, as well as a certified emotional intelligence (EQ) coach. Another PR is a writing buddy, and she brings that skill set to the group. My third PR is specifically a target group reader, as well as a former teacher and a homeschooling mom. The last time we met, she had her teen daughter read through the manuscript too.
• Equip your group. I print out the manuscripts, which allows my PRs to mark up the pages as they read. NOTE: If you do this at someplace like Kinkos, this can be pricy. I spent $90 for printing and hole-punching. But if you do it at home, it’s your paper and ink, which you have to replace. I also provide individual binders and include dividers to mark each chapter, which makes it easier to go back and forth during discussions. 
• Tell your Preferred Readers what kind of feedback you want. Be specific. I recommend staying with general comments and not getting bogged down with grammar, punctuation, and spelling – although they can go ahead and mark that too. Let them know you want both positive feedback and constructive criticism – no writer wants to hear only negative input. Consider starting with overall feedback about the book, like a character or a plot point, before going chapter by chapter. 
• Appreciate your Preferred Readers. I always work with them to set a convenient time to meet and discuss the manuscript. We’ve met at restaurants for a working breakfast or dinner – my treat. Last time, we met at my house because it was quieter, and I ordered Thai food from a local restaurant for lunch. I also include my PRs on my influencer list so they receive a copy of each book when it’s released.

Beth K. Vogt is a non-fiction author who said she’d never write fiction, the wife of an Air Force physician who said she’d never marry anyone in the military and a mom of four who said she’d never have kids. Vogt believes God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “never.” A 2015 RITA® Finalist and a 2015 and 2014 Carol Award finalist, her 2014 novel, Somebody Like You, was one of Publisher’s Weekly’s Best Books of 2014. She lives in Colorado with her husband, Rob, and their youngest daughter.

For more information about Beth, visit her website, become a fan on Facebook or follow her on Twitter and Pinterest.

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Iron Sharpening ~ Tamara Alexander

Iron Sharpening Iron

by Tamera Alexander

“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” 

Proverbs 27:17

Having a writing critique partner has made all the difference in my writing and in my writing journey. Deborah Raney and I have been writing critique partners for more than twelve years, ever since we met at the first American Christian Fiction Writers conference. And while not all critique partners become friends, friendship has been a natural outgrowth of our working relationship, and I’m so grateful. 

Over the course of critiquing twenty-plus manuscripts between us, we have learned a lot about what to look for in a critique partner, what works, what doesn’t, how to handle conflict and competition, and how to “agree to disagree” with grace.

Here are a few quick things we’ve gleaned through our working partnership.

Why have a critique partner?

• A critique partner (CP) offers fresh perspective. We’re often too close to our own story to read it as an unbiased reader, let alone evaluate it critically. CPs can see not only technical glitches in each other’s work but also story strengths and weaknesses, and ways to potentially deepen the layers of the story and characters.
• We bring only one opinion or viewpoint to the reading of our own work—and it’s obviously biased. A CP can view our work from a different point of view since they’ve likely had a different upbringing and life experiences.
• Since a CP isn’t as close to your story as you are, they often come up with ideas or plot directions that you never would have dreamed of.
• Two people bring two sets of strengths to the table, and can offset each other’s weaknesses.
• When one of you is down, the other is there to build up! Deb and I are tough on each other, but we’re also huge fans of each other’s work.
• It’s much easier to see “mistakes/room for growth” in someone else’s writing. Deb and I learn from critiquing each other’s manuscripts, and then apply those principles to our own writing.
• Brainstorming! With SKYPE and FaceTime, CPs can “video brainstorm” any time, day or night.

Where and how do I find a critique partner?

• Connect with someone at a writer’s conference or local writers group. And remember, you don’t have to write in the same genre. 
• One-on-one partnerships often develop naturally out of larger critique groups; so join a group with an eye to eventually working with one other writer as a CP.
• Ask a well-read non-writing friend to critique your manuscript. A non-writer who loves to read your genre can be an invaluable source for clarity and pacing of story.
• If feasible, consider paying a professional editor for a critique. Numerous well-qualified freelance editors are available and can add depth and clarity to your manuscript.
• Sign up for a paid critique at a conference you’re attending. Worth every penny!
• As you’re looking for a CP, become your own. Read books on self-editing, such as Revision & Self-Editing by James Scott Bell (Writer’s Digest Books) and Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne & Dave King (HarperCollins).

Do you have someone sharpening your writing skills? If yes, what’s something you’ve learned from that relationship? 

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Tamera Alexander is the USA Today bestselling author of numerous books, including A Lasting Impression, A Beauty So Rare, To Whisper Her Name and From a Distance. Her richly drawn characters and thought-provoking plots have earned her devoted readers worldwide, as well as multiple industry awards.

After living in Colorado for 17 years, Alexander has returned to her Southern roots. She and her husband now make their home in Nashville where they enjoy life with their two adult children who live nearby and Jack, a precocious terrier.

To keep up with Tamera Alexander, visit www.tameraalexander.com, become a fan on Facebook (tamera.alexander) or follow her on Twitter (@tameraalexander) or Pinterest (tameraauthor).

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