It's my last year in college!
   
    I don't have any specific goals in mind, I just want to enjoy the last few months I have in school. I'm only taking three classes classes this quarter which I haven't done in five quarters (almost two years ago)! Because of this, I have more time to focus on writing projects and joining new clubs like fencing or trying out for a dance team. It's important not to be overwhelmed in any area of your life if you can help it. Coming form summer, I want to shift more focus onto my writing and finishing up projects that have sat on the back burner for years. One book in particular, Her War, looks like it will be the next completed book. Last summer I managed to create an outline for the story so writing has been breezy.

    Of course, I expect myself pay attention in class and take helpful notes for my readings so I can ace my classes again. Junior year was amazing and I ended it with almost straight A's. This quarter, I'm going to relax, do academically well while learning awesome topics, and do fun things I couldn't in earlier years. 

       Before we dive into the pros of a beta-reader, let's define this term first.

​    Bookwritingbusiness.com describes it as, "Beta readers are non-professionals who read a manuscript prior to publishing or read a pre-release of a book. If a beta reader is provided a manuscript they’re often asked to read for spelling, punctuation, and grammar errors. They may comment on parts of a story that are confusing or things that don’t make sense." In July 2017 I completed my novel, Our Father and since then I have edited it myself about four times. In the first week of September, I reached out to some people on Goodreads to become Beta-readers for Our Father. It's exciting to know someone else is going to read your story, but also nerve-racking because it special to me and I don't want them to think it sucks. We have the agreement of weekly updates so they will send me notes on the chapters they read. Right now I have two beta-readers, and two other ones that have fit me into their schedule for December. My first book, Illuminate my World was self-published with Createspace, but this time around I am going the traditional route.

       So why use beta-readers?

1. They are writers and/or readers themselves
2. They love to help
3. It is not costly (though some do charge)
4. It's an informal, more comfortable setting
5. Readily available

      Having fresh, willing eyes to read through your manuscript allows you to go back and fill any plot holes, add more description, or remove scenes that aren't necessary before sending off to publishing.

       I am also a Beta-reader for another writer, so that experience is very interesting. I try to say as much as I can so I can help the writer. Being honest even if it sounds a little harsh (but I try not to be harsh) is necessary. This is an important project for the writer, so taking it seriously is a must.

        I will give an update next month some of my betas get back to me.
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*​Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash

Today is September 1st!

        Last month (aka yesterday :D) I laid out goals for each week. Some were for editing, writing for my books, setting up appointments, an assignment, etc. It helped me keep track of the things I needed to get done. It also held me accountable for completing each task by the end of the week. With my weekly goals, I had daily tasks from Sunday to Saturday except for the first week, because I started on August 1st, a Wednesday. Each week I also worked on a specific book of mine, and read books I had been harboring for months!.

       August 1st to August 4th:  This week the book I was read was Wraith by Phaedra Weldon. I edited my completed story Our Father. It's about a young woman named Robyn being stalked by her childhood best friend who ends up kidnapping and taking Robyn to her estranged father. I finalized a dance choreography that was inspired by another dance video. I wrote a blog post for the next week, submitted to literary magazines, did an outline for my assignment, and memorized two bible verses.

          August 19th to August 25th: I wasn't done reading the book from last week so it rolled into this week. I did another round of editing for Our Father which went by quicker. This week's story was Her War. It's set during the future during a third world war. No one know what it's really about. A group of people trying to figure out what the war is about band together to search for a photojournalist who was also looking for a reason for the war before he disappeared. This story was fun and easier to write for because last summer I created a complete outline. It's not detailed, just important scenes that need to happen. I hung up two posters on my wall, submitted to another literary magazine, went to my dentist appointment, walked around downtown taking pictures and wrote at a coffee shop. 

           August 26th to August 31st: Last week of August! No reading this week, still trying to get over The Sound of Butterflies before diving into another novel. I made another outline for 16 years ago​, the story I wrote for Nanowrimo. This one is about a man who believes his sister that died 16 years has reincarnated into 16 year old Christy due to some resemblances in appearance and personality. I also worked on my posters, this blog post, and found a couple books on reincarnation at the library.