Mia Garay
LightNews LightNews
miagaray.bsky.social
Mia Garay
@miagaray.bsky.social
130 followers 88 following 210 posts
Beta reader by day and aspiring novelist by night
https://linktr.ee/miagaray
Posts Replies Media Videos
Pinned
miagaray.bsky.social
Mia Garay @miagaray.bsky.social · Sep 21
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.
miagaray.bsky.social
Are you a thriller writer or just want to learn more about how to write one?

I highly recommend this podcast:

#booksky #writing #writingadvice #writingtips #podcast #thriller #writingpodcast

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
Thriller 101
Books Podcast · Updated Weekly · A podcast for readers and writers of thriller, mystery, suspense, and crime fiction.
podcasts.apple.com
November 21, 2025 at 7:59 PM
miagaray.bsky.social
What is an ARC reader and how do they help?

#booksky #writing #writingcommunity #arcreader #arcreaders #betareader #authorlife #publishing #booklaunch

open.substack.com/pub/miagaray...
How ARC Readers Support Your Release
A look at what they do and what you can expect
open.substack.com
November 21, 2025 at 12:37 PM
miagaray.bsky.social
What is an ARC reader and how do they help?

#booksky #writing #writingcommunity #arcreader #arcreaders #betareader #authorlife #publishing #booklaunch

open.substack.com/pub/miagaray...
How ARC Readers Support Your Release
A look at what they do and what you can expect
open.substack.com
November 19, 2025 at 7:47 PM
miagaray.bsky.social
Readers want to know what other readers think.

This is why putting together an ARC team is worth the effort when you publish your book.

#booksky #writingcommunity #arcreader #arcreaders #writingadvice #writingtips #booklaunch #bookrelease #publishing
November 18, 2025 at 8:03 PM
miagaray.bsky.social
I’m feeling stuck.

A writer friend recommended that I go back to the basics and only use pen and paper instead of my computer.

Do you have any other advice that could help?

#writingcommunity #authorlife #writingadvice #writingtips #booksky
November 17, 2025 at 8:21 PM
miagaray.bsky.social
Grumpy Teen (my daughter) called me a boomer again.

Not for anything I did, just because it brings her joy.

#AuthorLife #writingcommunity #parenting #grumpyteen #honestyhurts
November 17, 2025 at 12:47 AM
miagaray.bsky.social
“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
October 11, 2025 at 2:00 AM
miagaray.bsky.social
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
October 8, 2025 at 4:03 PM
miagaray.bsky.social
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
October 8, 2025 at 10:01 AM
miagaray.bsky.social
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
October 7, 2025 at 11:01 PM
miagaray.bsky.social
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
October 7, 2025 at 5:02 PM
miagaray.bsky.social
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
October 7, 2025 at 9:58 AM
miagaray.bsky.social
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
October 7, 2025 at 1:30 AM
miagaray.bsky.social
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
October 6, 2025 at 1:30 PM
miagaray.bsky.social
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
October 6, 2025 at 2:00 AM
miagaray.bsky.social
Beta reading is not about fixing.

It’s about noticing.

#booksky #writersky #writingcommunity #betareader #betareading #writingadvice #writingtips #writing
October 5, 2025 at 6:01 PM
miagaray.bsky.social
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.
October 5, 2025 at 4:45 AM
miagaray.bsky.social
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
October 5, 2025 at 3:01 AM
miagaray.bsky.social
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
October 4, 2025 at 4:09 PM
miagaray.bsky.social
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
October 4, 2025 at 8:52 AM
miagaray.bsky.social
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
October 4, 2025 at 2:00 AM
miagaray.bsky.social
My mom narrates movies out loud.

Unedited drafts narrate too much on the page.

Both are irritating.

#booksky #writersky #writingcommunity #writingadvice #writingtips
October 3, 2025 at 5:36 PM
miagaray.bsky.social
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
October 3, 2025 at 3:22 AM
miagaray.bsky.social
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
October 2, 2025 at 1:21 AM
miagaray.bsky.social
Those filler words get me every time!

My most used are “really” and “very”.

What are yours?
October 1, 2025 at 7:27 PM