BETA READERS and BIRTHDAYS

In which this day is basically the best and most terrifying ever. (you probably already guessed why from the title)

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY?? I'm sixteen now. Not sure how I feel about that... I wouldn't mind delaying being sixteen for another year. :P I can get my license, get married with parental consent (HA. No. Amusing, though. xD), and apply for a basic job. LIFE RESPONSIBILITIES ARE JUST BEING PLUMMETED MY WAY AHH.

I'll probably celebrate today by eating pizza, sleeping in, editing, lazing around in pajamas, reading, playing Uno with the family, and watching an animated kids movie. Cause that's how I like to do things.

And for the SECOND awesome and terrifying/exciting thing...

I'M ASKING FOR BETA READERS?? *screams forever*

This is what the remainder of the post will be about. *nod* It was very exciting to realize that my birthday was on a Saturday (my posting day), AND for it to be when I needed beta readers. So now I can use this as a birthday present for all of you! xD

SO. Two weeks ago when I rambled on about my novel. I shared the beginning excerpt as well as another snippet. Before you consider signing up, please go and read that to know if my writing style suits you and such. You can find that post here.

Okay. So if you're still interested in reading this novel of mine, I'm looking for some lovely beta readers to help me know where I can improve and make this novel better.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Genre: Fantasy // Christian Fiction // YA

Word Count: 89k, currently, but since I'm still editing the ending it could be anywhere from 85k-95k when I send it up. No more or less than that.                                                                                            

About: 

Gita has always lived in a land of blurry surroundings and nonexistent melodies. 

Until she gets trapped in a sandstorm. The first doesn’t change—her eyesight is just as bad as it used to be. But while she fumbled in the swirling sand and the suffocating darkness, she heard a mysterious song string its way through the air and to her ears.

Immediately Gita knows that something is up with the singing amidst the silence. She begins to explore the curious noise—asking questions and doing research. But views on this song are varied. The Mistress she serves bans it. The messenger boy she meets follows it.

Bound by her loyalty to her Mistress and curiosity fueling the relationship with the messenger boy, Gita is forced to make a decision: whether to suffer the Mistress’s wrath and become an outcast to the Land, or to betray a new friend.

- 

ABOUT BETA-ING / QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE:

Q: So... what will I do? 

A: You'll be reading through my novel and giving me constructive criticism/suggestions. (and things you especially liked that I shouldn't change.)

Q: But HOW will I do it?

A: There are several ways in doing this. I'm completely flexible and want to make this easiest for you since you're doing me a HUGE favor. (Though I hope you enjoy doing it anyways. :P) Three ways you can read/make comments.

// Word Document: Easy enough, right? You can use track changes if you want to comment on things and send it back to me(comments are always great), otherwise just keep it blank. 

// PDF: I don't use PDFs very often? But I can make this a thing if you want it.

// Group Google Doc: Right now I'm betaing for a lovely person, and she has everyone making comments in a joint Google Doc. It's super fun that way to interact with the other readers, agree on what needs to be changed, and make it more of a group activity. But if that's not your thing, that's totally fine. :P

And at the end I'll have a list of questions (probably no more than ten) asking about any confusing parts, characters, plot, blah, blah, blah. 

Q: Will I get pizza in exchange for beta reading?

A: Unfortunately, no. I'll give you virtual pizza. ;)

Q: What if I start reading it and don't want to continue?

A: Then... stop reading! :P If there's a specific reason it doesn't click with you (too slow... characters... or something), please email me, but if it's just not your type of book, I totally understand. By signing up that doesn't mean you have to sacrifice your left pinky if you don't finish. ;)

And if you finish it and just really don't like it, I'll have a google form with questions so you can answer them truthfully and anonymously and we can keep being friends. *wink* :P

Anyways, let's just hope that doesn't happen.

Q: When will you send it?

A: Before April 1st! Probably not much before then, but I'll do my best to edit like crazy. :P

Q: How long do I have to sign up?

A: I'll leave the sign up open until I send it out. So try to sign up within a week or so?

Q: So there's a sequel. What's the deal with that? 

A: The deal with the sequel is that it's completely unedited and you'll probably cringe and scream if you were to even try reading a page of it. You're just signing up to read Song of the Desert, but if you enjoy it and want to be a beta reader for The Sand Dragon's Song... I won't keep you from it. I'm gonna need beta readers for the next book eventually. :P

Q: Is there a deadline?

A: I would really, really like to receive feedback by May 1st. Since I'm going to a couple writer's conferences in the summer, I want to start on editing (again) right away in case I want to show it to some people.

-

I think that's all the questions I foresaw? If you have any others, just comment or email me and I'll try to get back to you asap. (Unless I'm out partying for my birthday. (says the writer who just wants to curl up and read all day))

This sounds all complicated but I like to be organized with everything and I love to know what's going on when I beta read someone's book so sorry if all the information overwhelms you. xD Really I just want some feedback on the novel. :P

SO HERE. The sign up's below, and if that doesn't work, here's a link to the Google Form.

Now 'xcuse me while I go shriek. Multiple times. Maybe I won't stop shrieking. Sorry, mom. Shrieking sixteen instead of sweet sixteen? Eh? No? Okay. I'll stop rambling now.

*ducks out*

- Katie Grace

I don't even know how to end this post so I'll just hand out brownies, cake, cookies, or whatever your favorite kind of dessert is. *nod* We'll eat them together and celebrate, kay? :P