OUT OF OUR ELEMENT with Dan Malossi and Lauren Roedy Vaughn

The Players:

LRV = Lauren Roedy Vaughn

DM = Dan Malossi

DM: While there’s not much funny about gratitude on the surface, there is sometimes great shame! 

Why? Because I’ve thanked some of our beta readers on socials at various points, but we’ve never written about it on a proper blog, wherein we can dig into what beta readers really mean for writers.

Today, without writerly shame, we want to show gratitude for friends who say things like…

• “Hey, how’s the new novel coming?  What’s it about?” (although this is always somewhat painful for whatever reason)

• (After beta-reading part one of said novel): “I don’t think this character would do that in this situation (cue anger and desperate defense of writing choices before almost always realizing they’re right)

• “You have anything new I could read?”

This kind of interest is really important to writers. That generosity inspires us to keep  going. So, to Heather W, Lisa D, Danielle R, Kathryn O, Nicole B, Denise B, Kathleen D, Carrie R, Matt K, Seth D, Paige C, Lori Z, Diane R, Lauren Q…

…we salute you—in no particular order.

You mean the world to us.

Collaboration is one of the most beautiful aspects of writing. Betas and critique partners are the lifeblood of the collaborative process and the meaning it brings to us—and our audiences. 

As a piece of writing comes to life, it needs others to grow and thrive. 

Thank you to our “others.”