How to Beta-Read Using your e-Reader (on your iPhone)

In the past when I would beta-read for authors, I would print out the entire manuscript (all 275-300 pages) and take it with me in my gigantic purse, so that I could squeeze as much reading time as I could while I’m commuting to work, or while I’m waiting for an appointment, or if I’m just waiting for anything in general.

Needless to say, this was very time-consuming, bulky, and it got a bit expensive (all the paper that a manuscript takes up cost money, and they only end up getting shredded in the end—to protect the privacy of the author, of course.)

Primitive, right?

Thankfully, I recently discovered a trick that now allows me to save time, space in my purse, and a few dollars (not to mention, trees.)

The trick is, taking the author’s Word document, and transferring it in your e-Reader (if you have an iPhone.)

Much of the world’s population our technology-savvy generation may already be aware of this trick. But I thought I’d share how I did it, anyway.


Step 1:

Change the font of the document from 12 to anything between 24-28. You want the font to be really large, because when you open it in your e-Reader app on your iPhone it will appear as regular-sized font for reading. 


Step 2:

Save the document as a PDF file.


Step 3:

Email the file to yourself (send it to an account linked with your iPhone)


Step 4:

Retrieve the email with the PDF file from your phone.






Click the icon at the top right-hand corner of the screen. Then this option will pop up.





Select “Open In...” and it will give you these options:





You now have the option to open it in your Kindle or iBooks.


Step 5:

Read your document wherever, whenever!


Since I discovered this little trick I've been able to do more beta-reading for my fellow-writers, and I've also been able to finish faster, thus getting a report submitted to the author sooner. Thank goodness for technology!

Book Review: Blood Red Road - by Moira Young

   

Blood Red Road by Moira Young
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Gahhh! I loved this book!

A YA dystopian novel that's set in the desert, Blood Red Road follows the protagonist Saba on a dangerous mission to find and retrieve her beloved twin brother who was kidnapped by a strange group of men.

Gritty, grimy, rough, tough and rude, Blood Red Road takes the reader on an unforgettably wild adventure filled with kidnapping, cage fighting, a crazy and intoxicated mob, mutated monsters, an insane and eccentric tyrant, a cool group of girl rebels, and so much more that I can't describe it all without giving too much away. I WILL say that I loved this book. So. Much.

It has plenty of heart but isn't overly cheesy or dramatic. It has just the right amount of action and humor, and I really liked the main character, Saba. Moira Young has designed her to have so much heart and boldness.

The story is told through Saba's simplistic and grammatically unrefined language. Most of the words are misspelled to reflect exactly how they would sound with a thick southern accent. For example, "exactly" is spelled as "ezackly." But these misspellings didn't take anything away from the story. In fact, I thought that they contributed to the gritty effect, making the idea of a barren, raw and unrefined futuristic world more believable.

We follow Saba as she embarks on her crazy journey and along the way we get to meet some memorable characters, who are pretty well-developed and enjoyable (even the antagonists.)

Saba herself is filled with grit and inspiring conviction. Her love-interest, Jack is smart, humorous, and just so damn charming. Moira Young wrote these two and their interactions so well. I loved the Free Hawks, how they represented hope and selfless friendships. And even the loathsome villains--the Pinches, were enjoyable because they seemed so real and evoked so much detest.

Overall, this book is a sweet surprise bag, with just the right amount of heart and humor, and scenes that kept me turning the pages.

Many reviewers have mentioned that Blood Red road reminded them of Mad Max and True Grit, and I can't argue with that. These are pretty accurate comparisons. However, whether or not you liked Mad Max, or True Grit, or any other Westerns in general--it doesn't matter. If you enjoy stories with strong and mature female characters, and action-packed adventures, with a good dose of a very charming romance, you will certainly enjoy Blood Red Road.

And I HAVE to say... that Jack is my most favorite love-interest-character out of all the YA novels I've read :)

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"Once Upon A Time" - Flash Fiction Writing Contest

So the ladies at Yearning for Wonderland are hosting a Flash Fiction contest, and the theme is "Unexpected Fairytales." I was so impressed by a number of the entries that I got inspired to enter. Here's my story:

Staying


“Remember that time, when we were twelve?” He gazed into her honey-colored eyes. These were the same mysterious eyes that captured him when they were younger. Many years had passed since then. But his heart hadn’t changed.

He would have walked to the ends of the earth for her. Although he didn’t need to now, because she had been the one to cross the seas, leaving her homeland, to return to him.

“Yes. Of course I remember,” she breathed. Her father, the King of her land, had taken her along on his journey. Far away from the familiar sand dunes and houses made of wheat-colored stone. To a place where fields were green, and luscious, and covered in mighty, ancient trees. This was the place where she found him--the other half of her soul. Even at that young age, she already knew.

The princess and the boy she’d loved her entire life lay together now, on the soft ground of this secret forest.  On the same spot where everything began. It was still hidden, behind bold, copper mountains, and still serene, with only the fairies and fireflies for companions.

“Let’s just run away,” she said. She had suggested this a thousand times in the past, over their secret letters.

“No,” said her beloved. “This must be done.” He untangled himself from her and looked to the heavens for a sign. The fairies and fireflies gathered around them, illuminating the branches and leaves of their fortress. “See,” he said. “These fairies bring us luck. We’ll be together for always, when tomorrow is complete.”

The next day, the three of them gathered in a wide meadow—the princess, her love, and the prince to whom she was betrothed.

The princess lowered her eyes and prayed that her beloved would triumph in this duel. A fight to the death for her hand.

But in the end she learned that fairies brought no luck. The prince left her on her knees, as she wept and her silk garments soaked up the blood that once belonged to her love. And then, the vultures came.

(Word Count = 350)

My Beta-Reading Style

Recently, I just completed a beta-reading for a wonderfully imaginative and very nice author, W. C. It was a great experience, not just because I enjoyed the manuscript, but also because I had a good rapport with the author. It is always nice when you meet someone in this literary business who is respectful, professional, and has thick skin. The purpose of beta-reading is to help improve the raw manuscript of authors. So naturally, instances will arise when the beta-reader will have to point out weaknesses in the work. Sometimes, authors don't take this too well--no matter how nicely you communicate it to them.

This particular author and I had a great exchange. This was his comment on my beta-reading notes for his work:

Thanks alot Annabelle, you're probably one of the best Beta readers I've had. You seem to know what you're talking about :) Your annotations help alot and you point out a few things I've forgotten etc. I'd love to continue if you want to? Also if you want me to Beta yours in return feel free :)
 

Thanks again.
W. C. :)

See what I mean? Respectful, appreciative, professional, thick skin. Really nice author :)

I wasn't even sure if my beta-reading style would suit him, but I'm glad that it worked out. I think that every beta-reader has their own style. What I do is read the work first, to just obtain an initial-reaction from the story, then I jot down rough notes of my first impressions. Afterwards, I go back and re-read it so I can thoroughly comb through the manuscript line-by-line, and make commentaries directly on the manuscript itself. I point out things that I feel need improvement. I also point out sections that deserve praise.

I try to give as much detail as possible, and I make copious notes so that my assessment is clear to the author. I am always honest, but encouraging in all of my beta-reads. I never dish out false praise, but I also don't see the point in being mean or brutally honest. A WIP is exactly what it is--in progress. It's not going to be absolutely gleaming or a candidate for the New York Times Bestselling List. I always tell myself that the work is in my hands because the author entrusted it to me to help them improve it. So that's what I do--I help. I do not see the point in telling someone that their work is awful, or that their writing sucks because I don't consider that to be helpful. Instead I choose to give very constructive, but still positive criticism.

Is this the best method? I don't know. Everyone has their own style. But this is the style that I'm most comfortable with. With time, and with more beta-reads I hope to improve my style, so that if and when I encounter not-so-great manuscripts, I can convey my pure and honest thoughts to the author. Fortunately, I've never come across a manuscript that was so horrible that I just wanted to rip the hair out of my scalp couldn't avoid being brutal about my honestly, (although, I know many fellow beta-readers who've felt this way.) I have been lucky enough to meet authors that have so much conviction, have strong writing skills, and passion that exudes in their writing.

What's your beta-reading style? Got any tips to share about how I could improve my style? :)

Book Review: 3rd Installment of The Hunger Games: The Mockingjay

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I believe this book only deserves 2 stars, but since it belongs to a series that I love, I've decided to add another star. Anyway, I found it really hard to get through this book. The author's description of District 13 was so bland, it seemed almost like a cheap rip-off of Zion from the third installment of the movie The Matrix, which I also found to be a failure. I found myself zoning out most of the time as I read this book, as there was very little that kept me interested. Not only that, but the way Suzanne Collins wrote this book seemed very lazy. There was no conviction, no emotional experience provided for the reader. It was as if she was TELLING us what was happening, in short, non-descriptive sentences, rather than SHOWING us what was going on, and allowing us to experience it with the protagonist. It took me soooo long to read this book, as I kept putting it down every few pages, then picking up another book that peaked my interest.

I was also very disappointed in A LOT of things. Primarily, the fact that Katniss's character had become so weak. The girl that I met in Book 1: The Hunger Games--the girl that was strong, had confidence and conviction, she was wholly absent in this book. What remained only was a shadow of her former self. The Katniss in Mockingjay was mostly like a puppet for President Coin and those around her. It was like she was merely a victim of circumstance, she made very few decisions on her own, and she spent a lot of time feeling sorry for herself.

In Chapter 25, after Prim died, I feel like the writing got better, as it started to engage the reader's emotions again. However, the big picture was so pathetic: Katniss falling apart, becoming broken and mentally unstable.

I was disappointed also in the way it ended. Why did Gale have to leave? He'd fought for her all this time, he cared so much for her life and her safety, not just the safety of her family. He loved her. He said it in Book 2. But after Prim died, it was like he just threw in the towel and decided to leave her. I really loved the relationship between Katniss and Gale because he knew who she was. They had a solid history, therefore, a strong bond. They'd taken care of each other, and each other's families since they were young. And they had the highest regard for each other. I thought that bond was unbreakable. But then, when he left, I was just so.... bewildered. It was like everything he'd built with her meant nothing at all.

Peeta is a wonderful character, he's optimistic and considerate, and moral. But I thought that he didn't know Katniss the way Gale knew her. Peeta was only infatuated with Katniss. The fact that she chose him wasn't significant, because she really didn't have any other options, since Gale left. This leaves the impression that she just "settled" for him, and that makes their love unworthy to root for.

By the end of the book, "the girl on fire", the girl I really adored in Book 1, she no longer existed. It's as if Peeta extinguished that fire. And I know that was the angle that Suzanne Collins was going for, but she didn't portray it beautifully. There was no other way to look at Katniss in the end. She was nothing but an empty shell, which was disappointing. I love books that leave me feeling exhilarated, but this one left me feeling drained, and wanting.



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Book Fail / I’ve Given Up: Fallen by Lauren Kate

Genre: Young Adult
Rating: 1/2 out of 5 Stars

I’ve given up on reading the book Fallen by Lauren Kate. I only managed to read about 20% of the book before I threw in the towel and decided that I had better things to do with my time, and better uses for my brain cells. I originally purchased this book because I was mesmerized by the cover. Anyone would admit that the cover art is stunning. The use of color and subject is eerie and beautiful. It just drew me in. Sadly, the contents of the book are nowhere near as beautiful as its cover art. And this would serve as an excellent example to never judge a book by its cover. I really wish that I had read some of the reviews on Goodreads before I spent money on this book. But, I guess it’s a good reference material to have, to remind myself of how NOT to write.

From the moment that I read the Prologue, I was irritated and lost. Lauren Kate doesn’t write fluidly. I found myself having to re-read sentences and paragraphs just to make sense of what was happening. Also, the words that the author uses didn’t evoke any emotions in me. Still, I trudged on, and hoped that maybe the writing style would improve once the story began. Well, it didn’t take long before the disappointment descended on me again. Where do I even begin??

Okay, the characters: Although the main character, Luce Price, seems cute with her lovesick emotions, I really didn’t care for her. She is one-dimensional, indecisive, makes poor decisions, and just… weak. It helped me to imagine her as merely being a 12-year old girl. When I thought of her as being that age, I felt compassion that she really hadn’t found herself yet, nor had been able to develop any sense of self-esteem. Maybe if Lauren Kate had written her as a 12-year old, it may have been more believable for me. But as a 17-year old character that is competing with other strong 17-year old heroines like Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games, Luce Price just falls short.

My indifference for Luce was probably the most positive feeling I had towards any character. I really despised Arianne, I thought she was annoying, and I couldn’t understand why Luce would want to be friends with someone as overbearing as she. Daniel was just a total jerk (I only read the first 20% of the book, so I really didn’t know what Lauren Kate did with his character for the remainder of the book.) I get that the author may have been trying to make Daniel’s character to be a bad boy of some sort, but he just came across as a mean a-hole. Besides Daniel, who is supposedly the main love-interest for Luce, all the other characters that Luce interacts with are bland and forgettable.

Now about plot: Nothing really happens in the first 20% of the book. At least, not enough to make me keep reading. Luce was sent to a reform school, Sword and Cross, and there is nothing interesting that happens there. The author just illustrates Luce’s interactions while she gets settled into the school, but besides casual conversations, there is no action or suspense going on.

Finally, the writing style: I don’t know, it’s just not for me. I read for the escape and emotional experience. And reading this book doesn’t feel like an escape for me, it feels more like hard work. I also gained zero emotional experience from it. So, I decided that it wasn’t worth continuing to read this book. Needless to say, I will no longer be reading any more of Lauren Kate’s novels, nor any of P.C. Cast’s recommendations. I feel I was misled by P. C. Cast’s praises for the book, and I will not be made a fool twice, lol. Again, great cover art though :)

Disclaimer: The above review was merely an expression of my own personal experience upon reading this book. I acknowledge that I did not even read the entire book, and therefore my review may be dismissable, yet as an avid reader who considers my time to be valuable, I had to explain why I chose not to further invest my time reading this book.

Book Love: The Hunger Games

... May the odds be ever in your favor...

I just cannot emphasize enough just how much I adore this book. I read it over a couple of months ago, so I'll try my best to jog my memory about all the things I loved about it. I'm not going to go into the basic summary of this book, as you can probably find that in Amazon, or Wikipedia. I'll just discuss my review of it.

First and foremost, I love the writing. Suzanne Collins writes so fluidly and eloquently, her words just grabbed hold of me and never let me go... taking me on a journey through a fascinating futuristic world, where soul resides in the heart of poverty, love is found in the human connections, and adventure exists at every turn of the page.

From beginning to end, The Hunger Games satisfied me. I fell in love with the characters, the scenarios, the edge-of-your-seat suspense. I also loved all the creativity that this book is peppered with, from the descriptions of the characters' outfits to the elements and items in the game. Hands down, Book One of The Hunger Games did not disappoint. (And I cannot wait for the movie to come out in March!!)


Now... I wish I could say the same about the following two books in the Hunger Games Series-- Catching Fire and Mockingjay.

Let's go in order. First, Catching Fire:



After reading such a phenomenal first book, I really had high hopes for this one. Unfortunately, it came short. Really short. Please forgive the spoilers in the next few paragraphs... but I really did not like the characters in this one. I mean, Wiress? Beetee? Johanna Mason? What the heck was the author trying to do with them? They were forgettable at best, and annoying at worst. Finnick O'Dair was somewhat interesting, but I thought his relationship with his mentor Mags was so bizarre. That's the thing, the relationships and interactions of the characters in this Second Book was just very bland, boring, irritating at times, and corny.

There were some lovely scenes that acted as the book's saving grace... Spoiler Alerts: They're scenes with Katniss and Gale. But the book ended so abruptly, annoyingly, and just... unrealistically. Oh, and don't even get me started on the design of the arena for Book Two. So lame!! Nonetheless, the daily long subway rides to and from my job helped me to finish this book. But it wasn't easy, to say the least.


Now... onto Book Three: Mockingjay.





I'll be honest, I'm not even finished reading this one yet. I'm halfway through. But I feel compelled to write a commentary on it, just because... well, just because it's sooo difficult to get through this one. The writing has improved from Catching Fire. It seems that Suzanne Collins got lazy on the second book, but decided to pick up slack on this one. The writing is sharp as the first book, but the scenes are peppered with corniness. I can't even count the numerous times I rolled my eyes while I was reading the first half. At one point, I got so annoyed with all the corny stuff that I debated whether or not I would actually even waste my time finishing this book, and decided to cheat by reading the plot on Wikipedia. I know, bad me!

But that's the thing, readers would only invest their time in an author's work if it's satisfying. We read because we are touched by the author's creation, and taken on a satisfying emotional experience that keeps us interested. If I don't feel good about reading a book, my inclination to finish it seriously diminishes. And that's what's happening right now. I'm really trying to hold on to Mockingjay... but, Spoiler Alert: how can I take this book seriously, when it invokes so many questions that remain unanswered? Like, why is President Snow so threatened by Katniss? She's only eighteen, for goodness sakes! And having her as the Mockingjay mascot is kinda silly. She doesn't do much, except for parade around in the outfit that Cinna designed for her, visit the wounded, make ridiculous propaganda videos, and... that's it. It's a little silly to me. Also, I am becoming weary of her indecisiveness about Peeta and Gale. Sheeesh... pick a guy already!

Anyway, I've said too much. I should probably continue reading the book... except, I started on something new: Fallen, by Lauren Kate. So far, so good. I'll be sure to write up a review on it when I'm done.