Beta reading is a tough but necessary process on any publication journey. While staying true to your original intent, protecting your writer’s voice, and reminding your fragile writer’s ego that your work has a purpose and place, you must assess the value of every comment shared. Case in point; I have read through novel number one many times, yet I failed to notice the ubiquitous phrase “What the heck.” It appears way too many times in the novel. Worse, it is spoken by nearly every character! What a rookie mistake. Since these Wednesday blogs are about my writing journey, their purpose being to encourage other writers, I”ll fess up. I know how it happened. I’d sit in my writing closet working out scenes and dialogues, and that phrase would shoot from the tip of my tongue through my fingertips. My writing reflected my own personal voice, no matter the character. I am revising said novel again (!) and one chapter in, I have already found one “What the heck?” to be slashed from the page. When I wrote Monday’s blog about “Watch Your Language,” I didn’t necessarily mean in your written word. But yes, watch your characters’ language, every one of them. Our job as writers is to bring them to life as people of interest rather than mere names on the page. I’m so grateful to those who agree to read my work and then bravely point out such glaring errors! But really, what the heck?
Quote of the Week…
“Look within. Within is the fountain of good, and it will ever bubble up, if thou wilt ever dig.” Marcus Aurelius, 121 – 180
Come Back on Friday for a Quote…
But for now, I hope you will switch to my Substack site where subscribers are receiving three chapters of my first novel THE ART COLONY in their inbox or on the app every Friday. You will also receive my Wednesday essays about Writing, Wandering and Wondering. It’s easy, click here. Read here for the Top Ten…
Quote of the Week…
“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” Albert Einstein, 1879 – 1955
Patty Mayeux Blog 
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