Tag: beta reader

Beta Reader Notes/Editor Notes for The Killer Contract Agency:

A story by jessicasamuels25 on .

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After you write a novel there comes the editing phase, and several rough drafts to go before it is polished. I have very good feedback from the people I gave The Killer Contract Agency too. It doesn’t need any major rewrites just grammar issues, and expanding parts of the story to make it longer and more filling. I figured I would write a blog post about this phase to let people see what it is like to work on a novel, novella, or short story. Everything needs to be edited before publication since you want the best possible book out there. There is no such thing as getting it perfect because you are not going to catch everything. As I go through it I check to make sure it makes sense, and to fact check the issues that don’t. I had to change the first scene from tar to mud because it made more sense for it. I have to make the hospital scene more realistic as well.  The ending needs to be longer and I have to fix the switching from past to present issue better. I need to make sure the customer stays a certain form in the story, and make sure Salina’s dad is named Steve through the entire story. I also need to put in more of Carter’s back story since he is a part of the story in a big way. You will definitely see Salina and Carter in Retribution is Mine which is the second Scarlet book. I’m halfway through it too. It might take less time for me to edit The Killer Contract Agency and then after I get the cover I’ll have it republished. I’m also working more since school is over, but I hope to have it republished by the end of summer.

Until next time,

Wolfdreamer25

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Drama and novels

A story by jessicasamuels25 on .

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It’s been weeks since I’ve blogged because I’ve had a few things throw me off besides the usual school and work stuff. I’ve been back in school, and I dropped my Fashion Writing class because I only want the classes required for my degree and it was two very different writing styles. I made the right decision since I’m learning so much about journalism. It’s harder then I thought, but I like challenges. I have a Disney trip coming up in March and there will be pictures and a blog post about it. I finished the first Scarlet book, and its only a rough draft. I’m halfway through the second and a few pages into the third. I’m waiting for the last beta reader to get done with The Killer Contract Agency rewrite. It been a long journey, but I hope to just say screw it and write it all out since that is what rewriting and beta readers are for. I even threw around some pieces of the second retail novel too. The reason why I have worked harder on the novels is because someone tried to rattle me again. Someone from my past can’t let go of me, and tried to rock the boat. I ignored it because I don’t have time to play games like these anymore. I’m getting to the point where drama is just a waste of time. I’ve moved on with someone else, and he is going to be moving in come April. I have to get to work on the house, and get it ready in between school work and writing. I love the fact that I work and go to school part time. It’s easier and just for this semester. I never realized how much drama can ruin your day till now, and it’s stupid since all it does is throw you off. I do plan on upping the writing word count more, and the more ebooks I publish the more I have a shot at writing full time. I want that to be one of my long term goals. I’ll also publish more on the blog, and even put up excerpts and maybe even playlists.

Until next time,

Wolfdreamer25

School is Over!

A story by jessicasamuels25 on .

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Yesterday I just finished my last final, and I’m happy to say its over till January 13th. Its been a long semester, and it was fun with two writing classes. Now that it is over I’ve been working and cleaning my room to organize my writing files. Yay! Time to organize my desk, pens, and notebooks! I’m waiting for the last two beta readers to finish then I can edit The Killer Contract Agency rewrites for the second to last time. I’m almost finished with the first Scarlet book, and I redid Obsession Spell and with enough feedback I can rewrite and edit it before hitting published it is a standalone about Jenna who is head of the evil ex-boyfriend division in The Killer Contract Agency! Everything is connected in some way in my worlds.

2014 is almost done and it is memorable since I got engaged and ended it in May since it was not going to work out because of the way I was treated. Add to a crazy ex that talked shit about you, and did not understand why I did not want him anymore then you can be why the summer was stressful.  I met someone else and I’ve been with him since August, and he will be moving in at the end of April. Yes, and it will be the first time I’ve lived with someone like that. I’m still working on the second retail story, and Fur and Fang of love which I have so many notes that I’ll be able to get it done in no time. I’m going to focus on writing more daily, and reading writing related books. I’m going to redo the entire layout of The Writing Dreamer since my writing in the workplace class taught me how to design my own website. My fiction writing class taught me how to critique someone’s work and what work and what does not. It made me a better critique partner. If you have any work for all the writers out there I’d be happy to read it. I love paranormal romance, urban fantasy, young adult and new adult too. Just email me at jdsamuels25(at)yahoo(dot)com and I wouldn’t mind beta reading your work.

Until next time,

Wolfdreamer25

My Beta reader experience and a busy summer

A story by jessicasamuels25 on .

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The summer is almost over, and it means VCU is right around the corner. I have been busy with work mostly, and I got done putting in the changes suggested by my proofreader for the retail novel. They are with the Betas too, and I hope to get everything done by the end of August if not beginning September. I really hope to see a paperback of my book soon. I know that when I do it will be worth it. I have been getting Beta readers to look over my ebooks, and a Beta reader is someone who looks over your manuscript before you publish. Like a proofreader who reads over your stories catching mistakes and inconsistencies like an example of mine is I had Fiona as a blonde, and then a brown later in the story which she found and I corrected it. I loved getting Beta reader feedback, and they make me think about things I have never thought of story wise. They are good at picking out story issues, and whether something needs explaining or not even grammatical errors too. An example is I have a bad habit of switching tenses. They caught that, and they caught issues I have never thought of before. I love working with them, and I have found a good solid team finally.

Until next time,

Wolfdreamer25