Hello again, everyone!
I’m excited to say that I have completed the first draft of The Terrible Twos of Freelancing! It’s sitting just below 30, 000 words, which is a little higher than I was shooting for.
It’s got an introduction with some background information on me (and why you should care) and then there are 15 perception re-frames that introduce you to the problem, the solution, and how to put it to work.
I’ve also created 15 correlating worksheets that readers can access for free. They can print and use them as many times as they want.
Some highlights
Last time I talked about my hilarious trend of food references throughout the writing, which is my favourite part of the book so far. I also came across another trend that is technically a mistake. My keyboard has, for some reason, decided to replace every “can be” with “canoe”. I have no idea why, guys. This keyboard has a life of its own sometimes. Thank goodness for Ctrl+F!
Now for the hard part
Since I’ve officially finished drafting and can no longer hide within the words, I have to start editing. I’ve mostly finished the structural/developmental editing and now I’m getting into the clarity/copy editing. Next is the emotional editing! It’s an intense but really validating experience that gets me up-close-and-personal with my manuscript. So far I’ve learned:
I’m a total dork
Commas are annoying
My first draft is crappy, but not as crappy as I thought
Once I get through the main edits and polishes, it’ll be time to have some fresh eyes on the book. Which is where you all can come in!
Beta reading 101
I’m hunting for some beta readers that would be interested in reading the manuscript in its work-in-progress stage (WIP). Beta readers read the kinda-sorta edited version of the book and answer a list of questions that I’ll provide along with the manuscript. The goal is as simple as reading through the manuscript and answering the questions. It’s like homework for Lit class, but better. There are a few things to note, if you think you might be interested:
There is no editing needed to the manuscript (all you have to do is read).
Make sure that you’re comfortable answering the questions provided, which are designed to help me see what IS and ISN’T working.
There is a fast turnaround time — about 1 week.
Fast reading is okay, you don’t have to read literally every word. Just most of ‘em.
This is a WIP so there will be oodles of typos and grammatical errors. They will be fixed before publication!
For those still interested, take a look at the working list of questions below:
At what points in the manuscript were you most engaged?
Were there any points where you felt confused or disengaged?
If you had to add one chapter, what would it be about?
If you had to take away one chapter, which one would it be?
Is this book missing anything that you were expecting before starting it?
This book contains activities and worksheets. Would you prefer them to be:
In the book directly (literally on the pages)
Available via a link that is included in the book
Eh, not my thing
If this sounds like too much work, no worries. Before too long I’ll be looking for advanced readers! These people will read an edited and refined version of the manuscript and can be my very first reviewers when it gets published officially! Want to be a beta reader AND an advanced reader? No worries, you can do that, too.
Questions? Concerns? Complaints? Please let me know. And to those who think they are interested in being a beta reader, reach out to me directly at kelterssbw@gmail.com so that I can set you up to get started! I’m taking a maximum of 10 beta readers, so please don’t wait too long!
Until next time :)
I would've liked to read the original draft with all the "canoes" it it. LOL. And commas might be annoying, but they are important. I'm looking forward to being a beta reader and an advance reader. And, you're not a dork. :)