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Mia Garay

@miagaray.bsky.social

120 followers 88 following 200 posts

Beta reader by day and aspiring novelist by night https://linktr.ee/miagaray

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Mia Garay @miagaray.bsky.social · 20d

First time I’ve ever agreed with a fortune cookie.

#WritingCommunity #AuthorLife #AmWriting #FortuneCookie #Booksky

A fortune cookie slip on a green marbled surface. The message reads, “You are a lover of words, someday you should write a book.” Below it are the lucky numbers: 10, 13, 18, 31, 35, 36.

Mia Garay @miagaray.bsky.social · 3h

“Did you like the main character?” tells you nothing.

“Who surprised you?” tells you everything.

#booksky #writersky #writingcommunity #books #betareader #betareading #writingadvice #writingtips #authorlife #writing #substack

miagaray.substack.com/p/20-charact...

20 Character Questions Worth Asking

Because the right question can change how you see your characters.

miagaray.substack.com

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Mia Garay @miagaray.bsky.social · 2d

I’ve read a lot of manuscripts.

I’ve also seen the same beta reader questions over and over.

Here are 20 not-so-common character questions for your beta readers.

#booksky #writingcommunity #betareader #betareading #writingadvice #writingtips #substack

20 Character Questions Worth Asking

Because the right question can change how you see your characters.

miagaray.substack.com

Mia Garay @miagaray.bsky.social · 2d

These are so cool!!!

Mia Garay @miagaray.bsky.social · 2d

I’m glad you found it useful! Let me know if you think of any that you think should be added to the list.

Mia Garay @miagaray.bsky.social · 2d

A quick yes or no won’t fix your draft.

But a thoughtful answer might.

Make sure you are asking the right questions.

miagaray.substack.com/p/worldbuild...

#booksky #writersky #writingcommunity #betareader #betareading #writingadvice #writingtips #authorlife #writing #editing #substack

Worldbuilding Questions That Get Better Feedback

And make your beta reader want to answer them

miagaray.substack.com

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Mia Garay @miagaray.bsky.social · 3d

Beta Readers:

Honesty does not give you permission to be mean.

Always remember there’s a REAL person reading your comments.

#booksky #writersky #writingcommunity #betareader #betareading #writingadvice #writingtips #authorlife #amwriting #writing

Mia Garay @miagaray.bsky.social · 3d

Beta Readers:

Have you ever been asked to sign an NDA?

(I’m curious how common this is.)

#booksky #writersky #writingcommunity #betareader #betareading #writingadvice #writingtips #writing #editors

Mia Garay @miagaray.bsky.social · 3d

Do you use any of those?

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Mia Garay @miagaray.bsky.social · 3d

I’m curious, which do you prefer: Substack, Medium, or Wattpad? Why?

Am I missing any others?

#writingcommunity #writing #substack #medium #wattpad #blogging #newsletter #authorlife #booksky #amwriting #5amwriterclub

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Mia Garay @miagaray.bsky.social · 4d

Don’t confuse feedback with instruction.

Beta readers give the first.

Editors give the second.

#booksky #writersky #writingcommunity #betareader #betareading #writingadvice #writingtips #writing #editing #editors

Mia Garay @miagaray.bsky.social · 4d

If you skip beta readers, you end up paying editors to tell you things a reader could have told you for free.

#booksky #writersky #writingcommunity #betareader #betareading #writingadvice #writingtips #writing #editors

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Mia Garay @miagaray.bsky.social · 4d

I get just as frustrated when authors ask me how to fix their manuscripts or get upset when I didn’t include an editorial letter.
I just patiently explain my role as a beta reader and then recommend to hire an editor.

Mia Garay @miagaray.bsky.social · 5d

Why pay an editor when a beta reader could have caught that first?

#booksky #writersky #writingcommunity #betareader #betareading #writingadvice #writingtips #editing #editors

Beta Readers vs. Editors

Why knowing the difference could save you money

miagaray.substack.com

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Mia Garay @miagaray.bsky.social · 5d

Beta reading is not about fixing.

It’s about noticing.

#booksky #writersky #writingcommunity #betareader #betareading #writingadvice #writingtips #writing

Mia Garay @miagaray.bsky.social · 6d

Mr Bean is a comedic genius.

He always starts with a simple goal, makes a mess of it, then somehow makes it worse.

It shouldn’t work, but it always does.

As a new writer, I’m taking notes…

#booksky #writing #writingcommunity #mrbean #writersky #writingtips #writingadvice #fiction #writinggoals

A man in a brown tweed jacket, white shirt, and red tie smirks knowingly at the camera. He has dark hair neatly combed and is standing outdoors with blurred water in the background, giving a mischievous, humorous expression.

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Mia Garay @miagaray.bsky.social · 6d

When your teenager swears you’ve ruined everything…

Remind them that every good story starts with an inciting incident.

#booksky #writersky #writingcommunity #writingadvice #writingtips #authorlife #writing #parentingadvice

Mia Garay @miagaray.bsky.social · 6d

My daughter thinks getting her phone taken away is a punishment.

I like to think of it as a plot twist.

#booksky #writersky #writingcommunity #parenting

Mia Garay @miagaray.bsky.social · 6d

I just did a scary thing…

I sent out a pitch to be a guest at an author network event where I’d give a mini class on beta reading.

I’m desperately hoping they say yes.

Wish me luck!!!

#betareader #betareading #writingcommunity #authorlife #collaboration #booksky #writersky #freewebinar #writer

Mia Garay @miagaray.bsky.social · 7d

My daughter told my mom, “Let’s work on keeping our thoughts inside our heads.”

I’ve been using it as writing advice ever since.

#booksky #writersky #writingcommunity #writingadvice #writingtips #writing

Mia Garay @miagaray.bsky.social · 7d

Yay!

Mia Garay @miagaray.bsky.social · 7d

My mom narrates movies out loud.

Unedited drafts narrate too much on the page.

Both are irritating.

#booksky #writersky #writingcommunity #writingadvice #writingtips

Mia Garay @miagaray.bsky.social · 8d

Family TV night turned into the best writing lesson I’ve had in months.

#booksky #writersky #writingcommunity #writingadvice #writingtips #5amwritersclub #writing

Let’s Work on Keeping Our Thoughts Inside Our Heads

What family TV night taught me about writing

miagaray.substack.com

Mia Garay @miagaray.bsky.social · 9d

I’ve been more productive this week than I have in a long time.

Finished two beta reads, one ARC read, and outlined three more scenes for my novel.

I’m off to a great start!

#booksky #betareader #betareading #writingcommunity #amwriting #amreading #ARCreader #writinggoals #authorlife

Mia Garay @miagaray.bsky.social · 9d

Good luck with the edits! ❤️

Mia Garay @miagaray.bsky.social · 9d

Those filler words get me every time!

My most used are “really” and “very”.

What are yours?

ChapterBuzz Discovery Network @chapterbuzz.bsky.social · 9d

Quick writing tip:

Want an easy way to trim down your manuscript? Go through and eliminate the word "that."

Example: She thought that it was a good idea.

"That" isn't needed here, and you can probably find many more!

#writing #amwriting #books #selfpub