Just a friendly reminder that if you signed up for my second round of beta readers and you're still interested in taking part, I need you to respond to my email so I know that you received it, read it, and are still willing. If you did not receive it for some reason, please let me know, and I will resend. Ty!
I would think that one person mentioning the police cleaning up isn't that important to change but if it bothers you or someone else mentions it, just add a line in where someone mentions that police don't do the clean up. You got this, Jackie! Don't give up on your dream!
If the passion for writing comes naturally to you then don't put too much weight on the day to day judgments of a powerful few. Rein in your expectations if need be... but never doubt yourself. Keep honing your craft, perhaps seek out mentors with whom you click if possible, and above all have fun and keep chipping away. You will arrive at your dreams.
I really do feel you on the idea of how much it'll hurt to have the next query go around not work out. I've done it twice before (first time was a 0% request rate and second was 33% that included an R&R) and knowing that just because betas really like this one, just because I feel even better about this one, etc. doesn't guarantee anything is scary (that “It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That is not a weakness; that is life.” Star Trek quote is something I think about constantly in relation to this lol). I try to remember that no matter what I have to write the next book regardless (lmao doesn't stop it from being scary or prevent any possible hurt ahead, but it does give me a little 'there's a way to move forward either way'). Rooting for you and I'm glad this beta round went well! And TIL lol like I also had no idea police didn't clean up crime scenes until you said that. I ran to Google and omg how horrific for any victim's families to then do all the cleaning (or pay which has to be expensive) after. Ooh I def think more people should know to give Publisher's Marketplace a try (if they can afford it). I did one month of it as well and it really helped me narrow down my list to see more of what I hoped for in a business partner.
It's definitely very hard and rejection is always going to make you feel the feels, but you gotta keep going. Everything is very subjective and timing is also important, so rejection does not necessarily mean your work is not good or valuable. At the same time, sometimes when you log into RUclips, all you see are the "OMG I got a literary agent!" stories, and so it can feel very much like you're alone, or at least that's how it sometimes feels to me. I didn't want to pay for Publisher's Marketplace last time ($25 for one month is soooo pricey!) but I think it will be a valuable tool. We'll see!
Think about it like this: if Project Dagger sells first, you have already got your second book ready to go. And if your next book sells first, you have two books ready to follow it. Don’t give up. You are too young and too delightful to lose hope. 💕
Don’t know if this helps, but you might consider having one of the police leave a card of a cleaning service. If you don’t show that happening, a character could see it later. 🤷♀️
I'm very close to starting a big round of edits for one of my manuscripts, so I appreciate your walkthrough of your process. I'm not a huge mystery reader, but I somehow still knew (I think from TV shows or books??) that thee were companies that cleaned crime scenes. That's such an interesting conversation about how to handle something that might be factually true but still might make readers doubt or check out on your story! Would it be possible to add in some sort of dialogue or internal thought indicating that they would need to hire a company, as the police don't clean the scene?
Also I appreciate you sharing about the querying process and all the emotions that go with it. I have never gotten to the querying stage yet, but those fears and worries are so real. I am so glad that you have gotten such positive feedback from your surveys!!
In regards to your question about the blood. It would help if you had your two investigators mention that the police don't clean up the crime as most people might think. Then, they say they know this because they are mystery writers. Then, they say they don't notice any blood or signs of stains anywhere. To let the reader know this information. It's interesting you mention that whether or not it's fact or not the readers assuming things is most important. I had a beta reader question my mention of shoe sizes being a clue as wrong because it seemed that a women's size 8.5 wouldn't be the same size as a men's size 10 even though I checked this information online and had a character say so in the story without going to detail about it. So if it's important and you think the reader might misinterpreted something, state it as a fact so they know it's fact is my suggestion. Also don't get your hopes up the story was good and you will get published. Plan B could always be to self pub a book or two to get some attention then try to query again to show you got a fan base to help get tradional pubs attention in the future if you need to. But regardless you got this!
Thanks for the support and advice! That is interesting about the shoe sizes. I don't think anyone said anything out of pocket this time, but sometimes when you're getting feedback on your work, someone will give you criticism that is just...not based in fact lol. Example: with my last manuscript, some random person on the Internet told me that my main character shouldn't mention the time, because: "People in the past did not have easy access to watches." Umm...every Regency gentleman had a pocket watch? It was a fashion staple? 😂
@jackiereadsandwrites I get that. I had a beta reader give me the most random advice one time. It was odd because it felt like he read the manuscript. After all, he referred to certain scenes in the book, but then he would say things that didn't align with the story. And the whole time, it had a very condescending vibe. It was very unhelpful and did not align with what every other beta reader had said about the story. So if you get one person giving lots of odd feedback that doesn't resonate with what others feedback say, I would take their comments with a grain of salt. Like for example the comment about the time. People are strange. Lol Good luck!
Just a friendly reminder that if you signed up for my second round of beta readers and you're still interested in taking part, I need you to respond to my email so I know that you received it, read it, and are still willing. If you did not receive it for some reason, please let me know, and I will resend. Ty!
I would think that one person mentioning the police cleaning up isn't that important to change but if it bothers you or someone else mentions it, just add a line in where someone mentions that police don't do the clean up. You got this, Jackie! Don't give up on your dream!
@@readknitwithcheryl thanks, Cheryl!
I like handwriting sometimes too. I clears my head.
If the passion for writing comes naturally to you then don't put too much weight on the day to day judgments of a powerful few. Rein in your expectations if need be... but never doubt yourself. Keep honing your craft, perhaps seek out mentors with whom you click if possible, and above all have fun and keep chipping away. You will arrive at your dreams.
I really do feel you on the idea of how much it'll hurt to have the next query go around not work out. I've done it twice before (first time was a 0% request rate and second was 33% that included an R&R) and knowing that just because betas really like this one, just because I feel even better about this one, etc. doesn't guarantee anything is scary (that “It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That is not a weakness; that is life.” Star Trek quote is something I think about constantly in relation to this lol). I try to remember that no matter what I have to write the next book regardless (lmao doesn't stop it from being scary or prevent any possible hurt ahead, but it does give me a little 'there's a way to move forward either way'). Rooting for you and I'm glad this beta round went well!
And TIL lol like I also had no idea police didn't clean up crime scenes until you said that. I ran to Google and omg how horrific for any victim's families to then do all the cleaning (or pay which has to be expensive) after. Ooh I def think more people should know to give Publisher's Marketplace a try (if they can afford it). I did one month of it as well and it really helped me narrow down my list to see more of what I hoped for in a business partner.
It's definitely very hard and rejection is always going to make you feel the feels, but you gotta keep going. Everything is very subjective and timing is also important, so rejection does not necessarily mean your work is not good or valuable. At the same time, sometimes when you log into RUclips, all you see are the "OMG I got a literary agent!" stories, and so it can feel very much like you're alone, or at least that's how it sometimes feels to me.
I didn't want to pay for Publisher's Marketplace last time ($25 for one month is soooo pricey!) but I think it will be a valuable tool. We'll see!
Think about it like this: if Project Dagger sells first, you have already got your second book ready to go. And if your next book sells first, you have two books ready to follow it. Don’t give up. You are too young and too delightful to lose hope. 💕
@@constancecampbell4610 Thanks, Constance!
Don’t know if this helps, but you might consider having one of the police leave a card of a cleaning service. If you don’t show that happening, a character could see it later. 🤷♀️
I'm very close to starting a big round of edits for one of my manuscripts, so I appreciate your walkthrough of your process. I'm not a huge mystery reader, but I somehow still knew (I think from TV shows or books??) that thee were companies that cleaned crime scenes. That's such an interesting conversation about how to handle something that might be factually true but still might make readers doubt or check out on your story! Would it be possible to add in some sort of dialogue or internal thought indicating that they would need to hire a company, as the police don't clean the scene?
Also I appreciate you sharing about the querying process and all the emotions that go with it. I have never gotten to the querying stage yet, but those fears and worries are so real. I am so glad that you have gotten such positive feedback from your surveys!!
@@BonnieNicoleWrites Thanks, Bonnie! I’m glad this was helpful
In regards to your question about the blood. It would help if you had your two investigators mention that the police don't clean up the crime as most people might think. Then, they say they know this because they are mystery writers. Then, they say they don't notice any blood or signs of stains anywhere. To let the reader know this information. It's interesting you mention that whether or not it's fact or not the readers assuming things is most important. I had a beta reader question my mention of shoe sizes being a clue as wrong because it seemed that a women's size 8.5 wouldn't be the same size as a men's size 10 even though I checked this information online and had a character say so in the story without going to detail about it. So if it's important and you think the reader might misinterpreted something, state it as a fact so they know it's fact is my suggestion. Also don't get your hopes up the story was good and you will get published. Plan B could always be to self pub a book or two to get some attention then try to query again to show you got a fan base to help get tradional pubs attention in the future if you need to. But regardless you got this!
Thanks for the support and advice! That is interesting about the shoe sizes. I don't think anyone said anything out of pocket this time, but sometimes when you're getting feedback on your work, someone will give you criticism that is just...not based in fact lol. Example: with my last manuscript, some random person on the Internet told me that my main character shouldn't mention the time, because: "People in the past did not have easy access to watches." Umm...every Regency gentleman had a pocket watch? It was a fashion staple? 😂
@jackiereadsandwrites I get that. I had a beta reader give me the most random advice one time. It was odd because it felt like he read the manuscript. After all, he referred to certain scenes in the book, but then he would say things that didn't align with the story. And the whole time, it had a very condescending vibe. It was very unhelpful and did not align with what every other beta reader had said about the story. So if you get one person giving lots of odd feedback that doesn't resonate with what others feedback say, I would take their comments with a grain of salt. Like for example the comment about the time. People are strange. Lol Good luck!
I would make it factually accurate…and not have the police do it, but I’m a nerd, so…