Be a Better Beta

I think most seasoned writers agree: our betas are one of our most valuable assets. We count on them to polish our early drafts into something shiny and fit to be seen by the rest of the human population. But for newbies considering beta-ing for the first time, the idea of critiquing someone else’s work can be kind of scary. Are there any rules, you might ask? Well, in my opinion, yes. Yes there are. Read on below for Debra’s Rules for Being a Better Beta.

1. Ask the writer what he or she expects BEFORE you start. Because, OMG, there’s a huge difference between general feedback and line editing. I think there’s some conventional wisdom that says you should read every novel you crit at least twice, once for big picture stuff, and the second time for line edits. I’m convinced whoever said that had 500 hours in a day, all of them allocated to reading. The truth is, if you’re like me, you have beta reads lined up til kingdom come, and hai there, a WIP that needs to be written, revisions to do, etc, etc, etc. Plus there are those little hassles of daily life—work, kids, hubbies, eating—that tend to get in the way. So unless you just really have boatloads of time, I’d suggest doing one or the other, general or line, and working it out with the writer up front. Some writers don’t like line edits in the first place—as in, you touch that prose, you lose a finger.

2. Which brings us to rule number two: if the writer doesn’t want line edits, do not, I repeat, DO NOT, touch even one syllable of that sparkly prose. Wear socks on your hands while reading if you must, or duct tape them, cover your laptop keys with thumb tacks dipped in rattlesnake venom, whatever you need to do. JUST. DON’T. TWEAK.

(okay, so this is a bit extreme, but it's also one of the most creative uses of duct tape I've ever seen. Hmmm, wonder if it's legal....????)

3. Do a trial run. No, seriously. Ask to beta just the first 3 chapters to start. That way you can both a) make sure your commenting style actually helps the writer and b) have a way out if what you thought was contemporary turns into a Martians-taking-over-the-world-by-inhabiting-the-intestines-of-Golden-Retrievers plotline.

4. Make a sandwich. No, not the eating kind, silly—though, you can do that too, because beta work does take a well-fed brain—the comment kind. Personally, I’ve always found the criticism easier to take when it’s surrounded on both sides by the good stuff. Sort of like an Oreo. Only with brussel sprouts instead of cream filling.

5. Use your relationship skillz to approach the negative. You know how therapists always suggest avoiding “you” and “your” statements when addressing problems with your spouse/mother-in-law/crazy neighbor who dresses her Yorkie up as RPatz, complete with glitter and tousled fur?

Well, the same applies to critiquing. Avoid sentences starting with “you” or “your” if at all possible. For example, do NOT say:

“Your prose makes me want to gouge out my eyeballs with a dull spork.”

OR:

“You really should delete this entire manuscript and start over. On a new topic. And use a ghostwriter.”

Just like in relationships, “I” statements are often more palatable. As in:

* “In my opinion, this characterization could be stronger."

OR

“I feel like the pacing dropped off a bit here”

Also, note the use of “could” above? Could is your beta-ready friend. Could implies that it’s something the writer might think about—not that they MUST do as you say. I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty darn stubborn. I am much more likely to pull a mule if someone tells me I MUST do something to my novel, rather than suggesting I think about it.

*Okay, so I cheated a little, because really, “In my opinion, your prose makes me want to gouge my eyeballs out with a dull spork” still sounds pretty crappy. But you get my point (bad pun intended).

6. Always, always be both respectful AND honest.* In my opinion (see what I did there?) these traits are both key in a good beta. If you’re not respectful, you run the risk of having the writer discard your input, no matter how spot-on it might be. And if you’re not honest? Well, you’re not doing your job. The writer counts on YOU to tell her what’s working and what’s not. If you’re not able to do that, then you shouldn’t be beta-ing. Period.

*If you ARE honest, be prepared for the person you’re critting to hate you for at least ten full minutes, regardless of how kindly you’ve worded your comments. This is normal. If you must crit in person, ignore any tears, ranting and hand waving, or other disturbing behavior that occurs during this time frame.

7. Finally, have fun, and enjoy the experience. Beta-ing can be a great way to improve your own craft by analyzing the highs and lows in your peers’ work--and make you feel good for helping someone else out. Really, it's a win-win situation.

WANTED: LITERARY AGENT

Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang

And no, I'm not talking about the movie with Robert Downey Jr. I'm talking about the fireworks that go off when your fiction characters lock lips.

As a writer, we want the things we see in our heads to psychically link itself to our computer to come out perfect.

But sometimes, that just doesn't happen. How we envision character movements or dialogue or expressions just don't seem to want to be written. So...we research. We search out that inspiration for what we're lacking and turn it into our own success.

Really, this entire intro just leads to my YouTube searches via writing frustrations.

I was watching music videos for writing inspiration and one thing led to another, then BAM--I'm staring at a list of the "Top 10 Best TV/Movie Kisses." Naturally, I'm intrigued. I click the link only to be very disappointed. I click the link at the end of that link, and once again--disappointment. Every list I looked at, every video I watched--they were all the same. What bothered me about these lists were half of the ten were from one show and half were from another. And all of them were based around the "Romantic Crack" shows (the ones you can't stop watching because of all the sexy going on): One Tree Hill, The OC, Gilmore Girls, Smallville. Not saying I have a problem with these shows because I've watching bits of them myself, but where is the variety? What about those romances that burst onto the scene in desperate moments? These always inspire me to write.

So, hey! I'm making a list of my own. These are the TV/Movie smooches that inspire my romantic moments. Some of these, due to the fact that I couldn't find them on YouTube, aren't my favorites, but they are--in my opinion--memorable. Hopefully they will be a muse for you too.

5.) Kate and Sawyer - LOST

For those that love desperate kisses:

All I can say is steamy, sexy, and dirty--literally. But it doesn't matter if they were rolling around in mud, it's still fantastic. Desperation, tension, want--it's all so vivid in this scene.

4.) Lara and Terry - Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life

For those that love dark kisses:

Reason: Angelina Jolie and Gerard Butler. I think that should be "'Nuff Said" moment, but I'd like to go into further detail. Since I couldn't find the extremely steamy kissing scene all on it's own, I left a fanvid with a mix of different Lara/Terry clips. This couple has such a fun, dark, interesting chemistry, which makes their relationship all the better. Yeah the actual movie had some pretty cheesy parts, but you gotta admit: Angelina and Gerard make a sizzling couple.

3.) Jack and Elizabeth - Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

For those that love infatuated kisses:

I had to add this one on here because I love all of the events surrounding it. The kiss that wasn't actually romantic, the lure, the mischievous smile--there's no actual romance, more of infatuation. Where as the lure of the kiss could have gone one way, like shock or disbelief, they chose to keep it tense yet calm with a hint of eeriness.

2.) The Doctor and Rose - Doctor Who

For those that love heartbreaking kisses:

What's the quickest way to make a Doctor Who fangirl cry? Play this video. It makes my list because it is just so unbelievably heartbreaking/wrenching--it's almost not even fair. It's the getting-lost-in-the-moment kiss mingling with I'm-leaving-let's-make-this-last-forever moment.

And lastly is a favorite of mine.:

1.) Tristan and Yvaine - Stardust

For those that love blissful kisses:

In my opinion, this kiss is one of the best ones I've seen in a movie. Not sure what it is about it though. Maybe the blissful smile on Yvaine's face or the boyish charm on Tristan's. Maybe it's the build-up of anticipation while the viewers waited for this moment. Whatever it is, the movie has a tendency to magically pop into my DVD player when writing a romantic moment between characters.

And that's my list. Of course, if I had my way with YouTube, there would be others on here like the Mal/Saffron kiss in Firefly, Brangelina in Mr. and Mrs. Smith, The Fifth Element kiss, Rick and Evie in The Mummy, and more. But seeing as fangirls have put up a ridiculous amount of fan vids (50% of them being sibling with sibling, at which I shuddered) I took what I could get of the scenes.

Now's the fun part. What inspires YOUR writing. Is it from a book? Movie? TV show? You tell us!

WHAT JANET REID IS REALLY THINKING

TOP FIVE REASONS (THERE ARE MORE) WHY JANET AND HER AGENT-POSSE-FRIENDS TURNED YOU DOWN 

(proceed with caution. this post intended for funnies only.) 

1. YOUR QUERY LETTER IS TOO PERSONAL 
1. Don’t be a shmuck.
1. You’re not best friends.
2.  Don’t personalize the email, you crazy stalker.
3. Do you want them to get a restraining order??
1. THE POINT: no more using first names, last names, surnames, or baby names. Just CC every agent in the industry. Keep it generic. They like that kind of thing. It makes them think you’re professional.

2. YOUR BOOK IS TOO SHORT 
1. You really think you can tell a story in 50-100,000 words?
1. You obviously know nothing about the literary industry. (Have you even SEEN the 7^th Harry Potter book??) (Have you??)
2. Good books dive into details. LOTS OF DETAILS.
3. DON’T CUT WORDS. You have to savor every saturated syllable in every silky sultry letter you use to describe the 15 varying variations of the differentiated differences in the different shades of silvery symmetry in the cascading currents of the Caribbean sunset. Maybe note why each one is so unbelievably and unimaginably insignificant, and maybe throwing in a sonnet (iambic pentameter, lest we forget) wouldn’t hurt either.
1. THE POINT: your book needs to be at least 200k. Any shorter and agents will laugh at your ignorance.

3. YOUR FONT IS UNREADABLE (this is a real word) 
1. Times New Roman, guys? Seriously??
1. You need to stand out. Be unique! Creative! Show off your personality! Try something new!
2. Also: black is so BLAH. Font colors should be sharp and vibrant! The brighter the font, the easier it is to read. See?? <-----
3. Papyrus! Lucida sans Unicode! Comic sans MS! Futura! Bell Gothic bold! (Maybe make your own handwriting!)
1. THE POINT: with so many font colors and options available, why do what everyone else is doing?? Be MEMORABLE! (Fuchsia STENCIL STD is my fave.)

4. YOU NEVER SPECIFIY WHAT TYPE OF NOVEL YOU’RE WRITING 
1. This one should be obvious, guys, SERIOUSLY.
1. Is it a FICTION novel?
2. Is it a non-fiction novel?? 
3. Is it a memoir novel?
1. THE POINT: be specific. Fiction novels are VERY different from non-fiction novels/memoir novels/photography novels/biography novels/picture-book novels/etc.

5. IT DOESN’T RHYME 
1. Everyone knows that rhyming-things are more catchy, and consequently, less likely to be forgotten.
1. If your query doesn’t rhyme, you’re not doing it right. Not really.
2. It helps if you choose words that end in –end (more things rhyme with this.)
3. Random example:

My novel is made of fiction, 

my fiction is made of words.

My words are filled with diction,

my prose is made of turds (insert: genius).

The story is about a sailor,

the sailor goes on a trip.

The story is about a sailor 

and the whale who eats his ship. 

Etc. etc. 

1. THE POINT: see how much better rhyming-queries read? The query possibilities are endless!

THE FINAL POINT:

Don’t be bothered to read query guidelines and/or rules and/or restrictions and/or regulations. Guidelines are for geeks. (And you don’t want to be shoved in a locker, DO YOU??) (DO YOU????) Let your TRUE personality shine through your query letters. CALL the agents at their offices, maybe even their cell phones. (They might like the sound of your voice, because hey! Maybe your voice is sexier than your words? Work with what you’ve got!) ALSO: Drop in unannounced as much as possible, (maybe with a bouquet of long-stemmed roses??) because agents want friends just as much as you want a book deal. If you show them you really care, it’ll prove how dedicated you are to your craft, and they’ll be sure to respond more quickly. More $$$$$$$ literary pleasure for you!!

SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!?!

Send your dream agent that personalized mug full of granola bars/bleached flour/stale valentine’s day candy/personal care products/love note/your phone number!!

AGENTS ARE WAITING FOR YOU!

In conjunction with NEAT TIP! Nes-day, this post is sponsored in part by Query-YES! Copyright © 2010 Query-YES! T. H. Mafi, Inc. All rights reserved. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials on these pages are copyrighted by Query-YES! T. H. Mafi, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of these pages, either text or image may be used for any purpose other than personal use. Therefore, reproduction, modification, storage in a retrieval system or retransmission, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical or otherwise, for reasons other than personal use, is strictly prohibited without prior written permission. 

SERIOUSLY. We'll hunt you down. We're not even joking a little bit.   

Query-YES! is the only way to guarantee SUCCESS! 

www.query-yes!dotcom

Read our INTERVIEW with YA Agent Taylor Martindale and Enter to WIN a Manuscript Critique

THE OLD WINNERS:

Before we do anything else today, we need to announce the winners to GotYA's innaugural fake bio contest!

Third place added prize ($15 gift card): Laura McMeeking
Second place ( $15 gift card and a copy of Beautiful Creatures): Heather Dougherty
First place ($75 gift card): Margay

YAY WINNERS!! Please, email me at houndrat at yahoo dot com so I can send you your goodies!

THE INTERVIEW:

Now, before we get to our next contest, I'm incredibly excited to share my Interview with Taylor Martindale! For those of you who don’t know, Taylor is an AWESOME new agent with the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency. If you’re looking for an agent who communicates regularly, is super enthusiastic, hands-on with editorial, will totally have coffee and dinner with you if you live nearby, and, most importantly, won’t think you’re a nutter if you email her with your neuroses on a weekly basis—then you should SO query her. (Neurotic writer? Where? Where? Wait a second…who put that mirror there? Very funny!) In fact, she’s so full of awesomesauce, you can’t even hate on her for being so adorable:

Read the interview, then read below to find out how you can WIN the manuscript critique in a contest judged by AW’s own resident badass, HANNAH MOSKOWITZ!

And now, for our TAYLOR MARTINDALE INTERVIEW!!!!

When did you first realize you wanted to be a literary agent?

First of all, I want to thank you for interviewing me! I’m so excited to be making an appearance on this fabulous blog, and for the opportunity to speak to such a great community of writers. Loving the new GotYA site, too ! :)

I’ve always known I wanted to work in publishing. Even as a little girl, I just couldn’t imagine a career that didn’t involve books. I was lucky that I knew so young what I wanted my future to look like, and it helped me structure my academic goals and extracurricular activities to that end. The funny thing was that I had always pictured myself as an editor. The first time I thought seriously about agenting, however, was during a publishing seminar put on by my college. The career center would invite authors and a range of publishing professionals to speak about their experiences and the industry itself. Something they stressed was figuring out where your passions would lead you in publishing, and that there were so many careers from which to choose.

It was then that agenting really popped up on my radar. I loved the idea that I could be a part of authors’ first steps into publishing, helping build their careers; that I could be so involved in the development stage of their work; that I could be their advocates in the industry. I love working with authors and the early drafts of their “babies.” I find being a part of that creative process inspiring.

What steps did you take to make that goal a reality?

I was blessed with some awesome opportunities as I got into publishing. During school, I worked at Bliss Literary Agency, with Jenoyne Adams, for a year as an intern and then as the Submissions Coordinator. Like I mentioned above, I also went to as many seminars, talks, etc. about publishing that I could find. Then, after school, I chased the best combo for job-searching graduates: informational interviews and more internships. Being a native Southern California girl, I was determined to find the publishing niche out here. The incredible Kate Gale of Red Hen Press took a chance on me—after my random email that somehow made it to her—giving me both an informational interview and Elise Capron’s information at SDLA. Elise was also kind enough to meet me for an informational interview, and an internship spot opened up a week later. I’ve been there ever since, and am so thrilled to be a part of the SDLA team.

What kind of material are you especially interested in right now?

O wow, I am interested in so much! Where do I start? Before I dive into all the genres I’m looking for, I have to say that what I am particularly looking for are characters. Engaging, deep characters whose voices light up the page and stick in your head even when you’re not reading. Those characters who make the plot captivating because of who they are, not what is going on around them. The relationships that make you laugh and cry and long to touch some part of the world around you…

That being said, I’m interested in a wide range of genres. I’m particularly looking for YA titles: contemporary, urban fantasy, literary fiction, historical fiction, etc. I would also love to find commercial fiction, women’s fiction, and multi-cultural fiction. I’m not currently working with non-fiction, but am definitely keeping my eye out for that project that inspires me—cultural studies or literary criticism, possibly.

Overall, though, I’m looking to fall in love with a project, whether it matches my stated interests or not. A lot of publishing is highly subjective, so I’m looking for the authors and books that fit me, and vice versa. I keep my eyes open for them.

I know you were reading slush long before you started at the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency. If you could tell writers to concentrate on one thing to get pulled from the pile, what would it be?

I’ve found that the best thing an author can do is not get swept up in the bells and whistles of querying. The most important part of your query is simple: your writing. Before you submit, ask yourself if your query letter and sample pages really show off your strength as a writer. Don’t worry about putting your submission in a bright pink envelope with confetti (so hard to clean up!). Focus on being strong, not fancy or flashy. Believe me, it shows!

A few quick tips:

1. Have a solid title and show it off. Titles in a query are like book covers in the bookstore; they catch your eye and make you read the summary. Don’t bury your title in the postscript of your query. Place it where it makes sense for your letter, and have it act as the extra punch to your already awesome pitch. If it’s an email query, put your book’s title and genre in the subject line (per that agency’s guidelines, of course). It stands out from the hundreds simply labeled “Query.”

2. Don’t start off with a rhetorical question. They will never be answered the way you hoped when you wrote it! It only ends up sounding cliché and vague.

3. Do your research before you submit. Show that agent you know a little bit about who they are and what they are interested in representing. Mention where you found them, the more specific the better.

4. When you are querying, know that everything is a process and we’re all in this together. If you’re rejected, don’t be intimidated. Pay attention to the feedback you get and use it to make your project and your writing stronger. A positive, collaborative outlook will get you far.

Now, for the really crucial stuff. Tell us the three songs that currently get the most play on your iPod.

Oh, dear. “Beast of Burden” by Lee DeWyze. Yep, the “American Idol” contestant. He’s my favorite and I’m not ashamed to have already bought a few songs, haha. “Turn It Off” by Paramore. It’s from their newest album, which I only just got (I know, pathetic), and I love it. Hayley Williams is so awesome! Finally, “In Your Atmosphere” by John Mayer, because it gets to me every time.

Salty foods or sweet?

Salty, no contest. It’s bad. I’m currently battling a huge craving for French fries, and resisting is taking Herculean effort. No, seriously. Herculean.

(Deb’s note: Hmmmm, I will definitely have to talk to her about this. It’s common knowledge that sugar kicks salt’s un-sweet tushy all over the grocery store.)

Which YA book have you read recently that you really wish you’d represented?

I was extremely impressed with Maggie Stiefvater’s SHIVER. I loved what she did with a theme that’s feeling tired and overdone these days, and with the characters who drove the story throughout.

I know working in that ocean-view office must be rough, but if you HAD to choose a different career, what could you see yourself doing?

Haha, I know, I drew the short straw on that one, huh?

If I were to choose a different career, I think I would like to teach literature and literary theory at the college level. Those classes and those professors were hugely formative and influential for me and changed the way I thought about literature. Teaching new ways to think about and write about literature seems like an incredible thing to do each day.

I have to say, though, that I’m already in the profession I was born to pursue, and I’m not going anywhere. Helping authors take their work from a new manuscript to a finished book… What better job is there?




And there you have it! THANK YOU Taylor, for both the interview and the very generous donation of a manuscript critique! If you want to query Taylor (trust me—you do!) her submission guidelines are as follows.

Send a query letter, synopsis, and the first 50 pages to:

Taylor Martindale
Sandra Dijkstra Literary AgencyPMB 515
1155 Camino del Mar, PMB 515
Del Mar, CA 92014

E-query by referral only.

And now…

THE NEW CONTEST!

The Prize: A 30-page manuscript critique by Taylor


The Judge: Hannah Moskowitz, author of Break (wait, you haven't read BREAK? What are you waiting for?) and the upcoming Invincible Summer, will be judging (which is kind of perfect, since Taylor and Hannah have worked together before).

The Rules: Since both Taylor and Hannah are all about voice, we thought it only apropos the contest be about voice, too. Enter up to 200 words of your manuscript that best highlights your character’s unique voice in the comments section. Hannah will read all the entries and chose one winner, based on which entry's voice grabs her the most and makes her want to read more.


The Deadline: You have until Friday, 11:59 EST to enter.



Go! Enter! Win!