Beta Readers Question

[Jason Byrne]

DUDE That's my unicorn!

Hahahaha I almost pulled out the Yoda meme... But I thought I might get in trouble, so I didn't haha

Memes are a valid and useful tool for storytelling.

Only thing I could have done worse was shake hands with a Dubliner in a bar and say "a protestant!"

 

[Karen Gray]

Aye, well... there is that isn't there.

 

[Stephen Drake]

Can't wait to see Karen Gray's response to being accused of being a Londoner....!

Note for our cousins across the pond: Glasgow also has an East End.

That will be interesting!

 

[David Steele]

I've been really bowled over by the fantastic support I've had from the Litopia crowd, but especially in relation to test reading.

So far I've had really excellent feedback. @Jason Byrne even provided recommendations that went on to change the first And last paragraphs of my book.
@Jennifer Stone gave me a boost, just when I needed it, and @Karen Gray has now been good enough to endure something else I've put together.
It makes a massive difference to know it's being read by somebody, doesn't it?

 

[Karen Gray]

I've been really bowled over by the fantastic support I've had from the Litopia crowd, but especially in relation to test reading.

So far I've had really excellent feedback. @Jason Byrne even provided recommendations that went on to change the first And last paragraphs of my book.
@Jennifer Stone gave me a boost, just when I needed it, and @Karen Gray has now been good enough to endure something else I've put together.
It makes a massive difference to know it's being read by somebody, doesn't it?

You're not wrong there! It's one thing loving your own work, of course you do, it's your own. But to have someone comment on it positively, or even council on issues you have completely overlooked, noted plot holes you missed, it's so worth while and a huge learning curve. But I feel that - at least for me - it is a real element of a peer environment in a social setting which I've been missing for way too long.

It's all well and good family and friends saying... 'yeah, it's good.'

They may laugh of get a bit teary where you hope they do, but they really don't understand the mechanics behind the work.

They don't quite understand the extreme excitement you feel when your character has a break through, or the utter heartache you feel when a character you're fond of dies, or loses everything they hold dear.

You all on the other hand, absolutely understand and getting feedback from other writers is a wonderful and massively valuable experience.

 

[Stephen Drake]

I've been really bowled over by the fantastic support I've had from the Litopia crowd, but especially in relation to test reading.

So far I've had really excellent feedback. @Jason Byrne even provided recommendations that went on to change the first And last paragraphs of my book.
@Jennifer Stone gave me a boost, just when I needed it, and @Karen Gray has now been good enough to endure something else I've put together.
It makes a massive difference to know it's being read by somebody, doesn't it?

Yes, it does!

 

[Emurelda]

If you use beta readers, how do you find them? And how do you make sure they do what they promised to?

For my first novel, I had eight beta readers. One was my hubby, two were my parents, three were friends, and two were people my husband works with who asked to read it. I gave them my manuscript back in December with a cover letter that laid out what I was looking for: honest feedback (even if it sucked as long as they told me where it sucked) and a couple questions for after they read it. And I asked for it back in the March-April area.

Of those eight, two (that's right, TWO) have gotten them back to me. Seven months later. My husband, who's a writer and understands the importance of beta readers, and a friend were the two. The other six have either said they're still working on it or they've stopped responding to my texts completely. At this point, they're reading such an outdated version of my book that it doesn't matter terribly much if they get it back to me.

But, now gun-shy from my first experience, I'm coming up on the time when I'll need beta readers for my second book. Yet I don't know how to find them. Are friends a bad idea? Do I have to pay for beta readers? Any advice?

My first beta readers are a respected selection from my professional network. From editors, consultants to teachers and marketeers and other writers. I had about 10 altogether. They give me initial stage feedback. But yeah - they are from my professional network - some are close some have helped me in the past with my other projects and some just know a good story when they read one and were curious what I was up to.

When I first sent it out it felt very raw and scary knowing people were going to look inside of me!! Weird saying that having had a cesarean! Although I did feel more like a rummaged handbag at the time - my cesarean not my book reveal!

 

[River_Writer]

I asked three people to beta read my novel. One read it in two days, one in about two weeks. I wrote out a list of questions and did a sort of interview with them on the phone, asking about certain scenes, characters, plot points, and other things I wanted to know. They both singled out the same scene as their least favorite (without knowing the other had done it), which was hard to hear, as it was one of my favorite scenes, but it confirmed the nagging feeling I had that it needed work and serious editing down. The third beta never read it. I had to just let it go, and try not to take it personally.

I've used the same two beta readers again for shorts, and incorporated other friends for others. Sometimes I ask someone when I need a particular point of view, like a man's or someone within a specific age group. I've also been lucky to find a writer on Twitter with whom I've become good friends, and he and I beta read for each other some now.

 

[Jason Byrne]

All good points. My beta-reader that never got back to me happened to be my mother. I was all like, "well I guess I know who doesn't love me that much."
Haha, not really. But I did think that.

 

[Nicole Wilson]

All good points. My beta-reader that never got back to me happened to be my mother. I was all like, "well I guess I know who doesn't love me that much."
Haha, not really. But I did think that.

MINE, TOO. She still has my manuscript. A super old version, but it's sitting somewhere in my parents' house.

 

[Jason Byrne]

MINE, TOO. She still has my manuscript. A super old version, but it's sitting somewhere in my parents' house.

Why moms, I wonder? Weird correlation. First to encourage you, last to read your manuscript.

 

[Lex Black]

I always sought out as many beta readers as I could get in an effort to get as much feedback as possible. Some might say that's an example of too many chefs (or editors?), but I always felt that having family, close friends, passing friends, people I barely knew from work, and total strangers from various internet sites all giving feedback helped to make certain I was avoiding unconscious bias as much as possible while also gathering a broad range of opinions and personality types in feedback.

 

[Quillwitch]

Any suggestions as to where one would find decent Beta readers on the internet. I live in Mexico, so it´s practically impossible to find anyone who reads English well enough to be a beta reader.

 

[Jennifer Stone]

Any suggestions as to where one would find decent Beta readers on the internet. I live in Mexico, so it´s practically impossible to find anyone who reads English well enough to be a beta reader.

I'm sure you'll find the people here more than willing to help with a little reading for you.

 

[Nicole Wilson]

Any suggestions as to where one would find decent Beta readers on the internet. I live in Mexico, so it´s practically impossible to find anyone who reads English well enough to be a beta reader.

As Jen said, here is a good place. I've been told that Goodreads's beta reader groups are good as well, though I have yet to try them. May be worth a look.

 

[Jason Byrne]

I would love to beta-read for you, @Quillwitch. I would very interested to be exposed to new cultural perspectives and insights. I've amassed one hell of a beat-reading backlog by now, but would be interested to see what you've written, after I finish with @Karen Gray, @Jennifer Stone, and @Alistair Roberts' works.

 

[Quillwitch]

I'm sure you'll find the people here more than willing to help with a little reading for you.

Thank you! I look forward to being read and to read other people´s work here! And Jason--don´t get too excited. I may live in Mexico but I write like a Londoner. Writing about Mexico is the last thing on my mind.

 

[Jason Byrne]

Thank you! I look forward to being read and to read other people´s work here! And Jason--don´t get too excited. I may live in Mexico but I write like a Londoner. Writing about Mexico is the last thing on my mind.

Oh. Well never mind then.

In all seriousness, I often prefer the "texture" of UK literature to its trans-pond counterparts. There's a subtle difference in the fundamental thought process, I think. The same reason people go to foreign film festivals.

 

[Quillwitch]

Oh. Well never mind then.

In all seriousness, I often prefer the "texture" of UK literature to its trans-pond counterparts. There's a subtle difference in the fundamental thought process, I think. The same reason people go to foreign film festivals.

I grew up in Caifornia and was always a mega-anglophile from a very young age, so that is what´s in my brain. By the time I came back to Mexico, the damage was already done.

 

[Karen Gray]

I would love to beta-read for you, @Quillwitch. I would very interested to be exposed to new cultural perspectives and insights. I've amassed one hell of a beat-reading backlog by now, but would be interested to see what you've written, after I finish with @Karen Gray, @Jennifer Stone, and @Alistair Roberts' works.

Mwahahaha! you will never be done with mine and you know it World domination one litopian at a time Lol

Only joking. I'd actually be happy to read for you too @Quillwitch though right this second I am busy with the start of my Graphic Design HND and family stuff (I care for hubby) but i will give you an honest opinion from a slightly different angle x

 

[Quillwitch]

Thanks guys! Let me get my ideas together and I´ll let you know. I am willing to read as well. And I´ve got some time on my hands.