Looking for Beta Readers

Hello all,

A little more than a month and a half ago I sent my book, "Dancing with Dragonflies" to a few friends and family members, I think there were around 10 people I sent to? Anyway, I've only heard back from two of them and I'm running out of time for peoples' opinions on it, so I will be finding three more people to send to.

This story is finished, however, it is not completely ready for publishing. I will go through another round or two of proofreading and editing, but before I do that, I would like some more feedback on it, from the readers. Why? Because I have my reservations about this book. I spent eight years (or more?) off and on writing it because I was bored with it a lot of the time and I didn't think it was going to be a good story.

Those thoughts have changed. It's now one of MY favorites, but I need to know if other readers feel the same. I think I thought it was boring before because it was taking me so long to write--it had always been a "back burner" story, you see--so I wasn't seeing it as what it really is, which is an exciting adventure.

I had originally planned on Cole, a teenage boy, to be the main character and protagonist, but somewhere along the way, another character stepped up and took that position (I did not have that planned, but sometimes our characters take over a story and make us write things we had no intentions of doing). I need to know if that's okay. I need to know if that's going to bug the readers. I just want to know if it progresses smoothly or if it's kind of a mess.

I also intentionally added some cliches to this story because I wanted it to have an old fairy-tale type feel to it. I need to know if readers will be rolling their eyes at this or if I balanced things all right.

I need several opinions about these issues, of course. I can't just take the word of one person (my editor), which is why having beta readers to give me feedback (brutal--but constructive--honesty) is so important.

I'm not going to bother leaving a link here because, to be honest, I don't think anyone reads this blog (lol), but on the off chance there is someone reading and that person is interested in being a beta reader, you'll find more info on my Facebook account (Author Sara Hogan).

September 30, 2016

Hello everyone,

HALLOWEEN IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER! Tomorrow is October, it's my FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR! Even the weather is somewhat cooperating! It's been in the low-mid 70s for several days now.

I wish I could say I'm going back to tradition and writing a Halloween short story, but ... I'm not. I did come across an unfinished story that I had intended on turning in to a book that I thought I MIGHT just finish as a short story, but that was over a week ago and I have yet to do anything with it. So I guess it's just not going to happen. Sorry. Maybe next year.

However, "DANCING WITH DRAGONFLIES" IS FINISHED! Finally, after eight years, it's finished. Well ... the first draft is finished, but that's the one that takes the longest, so it's reason to celebrate.

Once I have de-cluttered and finished my Autumn cleaning, I will begin working on edits and rewrites. I'll keep y'all posted....

July 17th

Hello world,

I took a little over a week off from writing because my BFF was down here for his yearly visit. Now that he's gone (*sniff* *sniff*) I'll get back on track ... once the house is clean. We partied hard while he was here ... well, as hard as you can party with a 3 year old. To him, it was nothing. To me, I'm thinking I probably won't be drinking or having any movie fests until 2am for a while. Ha!

It was so much fun. We went to the lake with the kiddos, he and I took my daughter to the zoo, and we went on many Pokemon hunts. I was never on the Pokemon scene, but he and my two sisters (twins--fraternal) have been into it since they were all little kids back in the late 90s. They convinced me to download the Pokemon Go app and we have been "going" all over the place. Friday night, my husband, my BFF, and I even did some bar hopping while Poke-hunting.

Last weekend (a little over a week ago), I got super drunk for the first time since having my daughter (don't worry, she was safe), played some board games with my BFF, husband, and other 2 good friends. At 2am, we searched the neighborhood for Pokemon and I had my first hangover in about four years the next morning. Last night, we did some more drinking with said friends (and one twin sister this time) and played more games. Didn't get near drunk, but had a nice buzz going most of the night.

And today, we said goodbye. It's always a sad time for me because I know I probably won't see him for a year again (although there are some other plans to hopefully have a few more random visits; I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they pan out), and this kid (kid ... he's a grown and successful man now) has been one of my closest friends for 12 years. He's helped me with so much and been there for me countless times. In short, he's an amazing person and I'm so glad he's still in my life after all these years.

Though I'm sad he went home today, it is nice to get back to our routine. I'm looking forward to having a clean house again, and FINALLY finishing "Dancing with Dragonflies." I will be taking another short break in two weeks because I'm going to visit my favorite cousin for a few days. Once I'm back, I won't have anything until a family reunion in October.

I'm hoping DwD will be finished before that reunion. Fingers crossed.

Well, time to clean up after the week and a half long party :-).

Take care, friends,
Sara

It's Happening

I've been writing a little (almost) every day, consistently, for about two weeks now. The book I've been working on for the last eight years is finally nearing its first draft completion. My daughter--for the most part--allows me to write without being bothered for at least an hour most days.

Admittedly, that's not a lot; but it's a lot more than I was doing (spending MAYBE two hours one random weekend here and there).

I see it lasting ... because we also found out a few weeks ago that having a second child is "highly unlikely" due to male factor infertility. I'm coming to terms with it, trying to accept that we'll be a one child household (at least until we have the money to adopt ... years in the future). The only "bright side" I've found is that this means I won't be starting over with a newborn and losing time to write. Next year my daughter starts school so that means even more time to myself.

I have several projects in mind--after I'm finished with the current book of course (it has waited long enough). Those projects include the following genres:

--Drama/erotica
--Comedy/horror
--Fantasy

I think the drama/erotica one will be next in line as it will be the easiest to write.

I'll be updating soon. Hopefully with some sample chapters of new work.


Take care,
Sara

Is It Really Possible to Write Part-Time Again?

Today I tested something out.

I sat my daughter down next to me at the table with some coloring books and the laptop with toddler games on it. We had a movie playing in the living room. And wouldn't you know it? I was able to write a small chapter in my newest book.

I have not written regularly in at least three years. Always before I would have to wait until she was in bed because she would try and touch as many buttons on the keyboard as she could. By the time she went to bed, I was either too tired to write or had too much to do (cleaning, exercising, etc.).

It was a small chapter, only about five pages. But it got done. My plan is to write this new book a little at a time and post each chapter as it is finished on my website. It may take a while, but I'm going to do it. My new goal: at least one page per day, even if it's just a blog entry. Eventually, I'll work up to a word count.

I want to have a book published by the end of this year. I want it to be a book I've been working on since 2008. It's called "Dancing with Dragonflies." It's quite different from the other books I've published, as this one is aimed toward to young adults. There is no adult content. So when you see that title, know that I've put a lot of thought into it. A lot of patience. It's been eight years in the making so far.

The book I've started is a new erotica story that's been brewing in my mind for several months now. It won't be anything special, just a little fun. That's the one that will be posted on my website. Please bookmark the link so you can check it frequently.

I'm also on an iMac computer, which is very new to me, so I'm learning how to do everything again as far as layout and formatting. So please be patient.

Here is attempt ... oh, I don't know, 10 (?) to get back into writing. Hope it pans out this time.

Whoa. Long Time No Post

I completely forgot this blog existed, I'm not gonna lie. I wanted to get back into blogging because I have a lot of pent up anger but I'm too much of a pussy to confront the people that anger me and, whilst doing a search and trying to decide what site would be best to vent my irritations, I came across this. Weird.

Anyway. Becoming a mother in May 2013 filled any gaps of free time I had. I've starting writing again, but it's still slow. I'm currently working on three projects: a 7 year old young adult/kid fantasy novel (and no, it's not about a 7 year old--that's how long I've been working on it ... yeesh), a modern day erotica for housewives (no judging), and a fantasy tragic romance.

If anyone's reading this, I just thought I'd update you ... after all it's been 3 years ... almost 4 since I posted here; you earned it ;-).

I have a Facebook page (Author Sara Hogan) that I post to a few times a month. Go and add me or give the page a like.

Peace.

Fun Fact for the Day:

I suck at writing book summaries.

Oh, and I'm back! Trying to get everything back to a routine, but man it is it freakin' hard. It seems like no matter how hard I work or what I do, NOTHING gets accomplished. What is this tomfoolery?! Bah, I'll get the hang of it one day. I need to go through all this CRAP in the house and get rid of some stuff so I can get the place back in order. It's hard trying to figure out what to keep and throw away when you know you're going to have a permanent house within the year.

There's just not enough time in the day. I need my husband to go back to night shift so I can get more things done, writing included.

Someone come clean my house and do my laundry so I can write more, damn it! Ha ha.

Well, peace out.