Good things come in threes, right? Well, today I’m sharing three little good things in this short post because I’ve started about five other posts since I published the last one and abandoned them all for one reason or another. By the way, if you misread the title* of this post you’re going to be disappointed. 😉
*The encore appears in the title because I used this silly bit of titillation once before.
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Scrivener Update: Recently, I blogged about my first week’s experience with using Scrivener to write and organize all the files associated with a novel. I still love it. I now have projects set up for three novels. It makes me laugh to remember that I didn’t care for the program the first time I tried it. And I expect I’ll be even more pleased with it after I learn all the ins and outs.
Download the free trial, for Mac or Windows, and try it for 30 days!
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Book Covers: My books are printed by Createspace and, at the time they were published, a glossy cover was my only choice. Now, Createspace offers matte finish as an option. Since, in my opinion, glossy covers are more appropriate for non-fiction or children’s books, I switched to matte and ordered copies for myself. They arrived this past Saturday, and I’m very pleased. For the first time the colors are accurate.
I was never happy with the printed cover of The Brevity of Roses because it had a yellow tint, edging the pink letters of the title toward salmon. Apparently, that was caused by the glossy film overlay because the title appears in a true pink with the matte finish.
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Alpha, beta, critique: Actually, the correct order is critique, alpha, beta, but it sounds better in A-B-C order. I’m talking about stages of feedback on your writing. One of the reasons I joined Women’s Fiction Writers Association was to find critique partners who write what I write. My first attempt didn’t work out. Of course, since the novel I was working on at that time is now waiting in line and the one I’m currently working on is not women’s fiction, I guess that failed attempt doesn’t matter.
So, again, I’m working without in-progress critique, which means the first person who reads “Forever” will be my alpha reader. I think I have one lined up—she’s a very busy lady, so her availability probably depends on when I have an alpha-ready draft completed. After the alpha edit, I’ll call for betas. But first, I’m writing, writing, writing.
Question of the day: Do you seek A-B-C feedback on your work?
Linda Cassidy Lewis 
I have yet to try Scrivener. I don’t know why I’m hesitant. I didn’t want to use HootSuite, but in a moment of need, tried it and love it. So I have a feeling it will be the same. I just haven’t been able to bring myself to open it. lol. 🙂
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I’m sure Scrivener’s not for everyone, Angela, but the free trial is full-functioning for 30 days, so it’s worth looking at. 🙂
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So pleased Scrivener.has worked for you. I do seek A-B-C feedback on my work. It is important to have another set of eyes look at it. I get to close and don’t see the forest for the trees, as they say. Was the title of this post a hint to your next book perhaps?
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Oh, the forest for the trees. That’s my downfall, Darlene. And NO, I’m not writing erotica. 🙂
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I still have a copy of Brevity of Roses with the original cover. I think it is now a collectors item. The matt finish must be very nice. Things are always improving.
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Naturally, I’m partial to that original cover, Darlene. 🙂 But I agreed with the designer of the new cover that it wasn’t as genre-specific as it could be. And my first attempt at the cover for Illusion was horrid. Even in glossy, the redesign was better. I hope to get the next cover right the first time.
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