Every time I post about beta readers and how wonderful and essential they are, I get more requests for how to find some.
People want quick answers. Their manuscript is ready to be critiqued NOW. And as many of us know, the best betas can be hard to find.
A solution?
I tried to find solutions to other people’s need for beta readers. I even spent quite a bit of time looking into setting up a beta reader exchange myself. But in the end it was too hard to do it in such a way that a person could reasonably find out the kinds of things I would want to know about my own beta readers before I entrust my writing to them. And I couldn’t find an effective way to protect people against nutbags and manuscript stealers.
There are some sites around that are attempting to make this work. If you’ve found a good one, please tell us about it in the comments — but please keep in mind, dear reader, that I make no representations of any kind about anything people might mention in their comments!! You absolutely must do your due diligence.
The brutal truth
This brings me to the brutal truth about beta readers, as I see it.
It takes time and effort to find good beta readers, and set up an effective and enduring relationship.
Like everything in this writing and publishing biz, it’s hard work. But the effort is worth it.
I personally use beta readers to help whip my writing into shape in specific and powerful ways. I don’t just get “I loved it/I hated it” type comments. My betas roll up their sleeves and wade into my verbal jungle with a machete, a pair of tweezers and sometimes even a bulldozer in their back pocket. (Too many metaphors?? Haha)
Each of them brings something unique to the mix, and I’ve chosen them specifically with those characteristics in mind. They show me things I couldn’t see myself, and trigger thoughts that create solutions.
I adore them.
With the things I ask of my beta readers, choosing one out of a hat would be like getting married immediately after meeting someone at speed dating. Yes, you might be embarking on a life of happiness with your soul mate. Or the outcome could be quite different…………………………. 😉
The disclaimer
Please note: I’m NOT saying sites that connect you with beta readers are no good. Some people have definitely been pleased with the results they’ve achieved that way, and gone on to form strong mutual beta-reading relationships.
All I’m saying is that entrusting your entire critiquing requirements to “quick fix” solutions could have pitfalls, and it’s not the route I have chosen myself.
So what do I do??
We’re all different. Our manuscripts are different. We’re all at different stages in our writing career. Since beta reading is usually a two-way street, we all have different things to offer another writer, and to ask of them.
I figure the best thing I can do is to show you how I’ve come by my beta team, since that might trigger ideas for what you could do in your own situation.
1. The contest
My very first beta reader for my novel was a paid professional rather than a volunteer. I won a Publishing Fellowship via Varuna, The Writers House. The prize included several meetings with a manuscript consultant who read my work at different stages.
Ideas for you: consider entering some writing competitions that have manuscript development as part of the prize. You might think you can’t win, but somebody has to win! I tried and failed several times before I won the fellowship, and did a lot of work on the manuscript between attempts (after I stopped weeping about not winning, haha).
For Australians, Varuna and the Queensland Writers Centre are two organisations that offer some excellent programs of this type.
Worldwide, many (but not all) competitions offer critique or feedback, and some offer more substantial development. Try googling “manuscript development feedback critique competition contest” and see what comes up that is near to you or at least in your country.
If you become a member of your nearest writers association, many of them send regular emails where they alert you to upcoming competitions that you could enter.
2. The incoming offer to exchange
My second beta reader made the offer to me. I was new at the beta gig, and was too shy to ask! We were both from the publishing industry, and had met on Twitter. We visited each other’s blogs for many months, left comments, and had become aware of each other’s skill set, knew something of each other’s personality, and could tell that we had some similar views about where publishing was heading and what we wanted to do about it.
She sent me an email saying: “I’d be happy to beta for you if you’ll do it for me.” She was an amazing beta reader.
Ideas for you: Use social media to get to know and like other writers, and over time you’ll get a feeling that your publishing interests might be compatible. Then if they offer to beta for you, you’ll already have a good feel for whether it might work, and whether they’re someone whose manuscripts you want to critique.
3. A request to an interested friend
I had been chatting via email with a long-time friend in the US. She asked questions about how my novel was progressing and I thought: what the heck… why not ask? She does copywriting for a living, and is a thoughtful and wise person, so I knew her insights would be valuable. She was excited to do a beta read — and did a great job too.
Ideas for you: Sometimes there will be people in your social circle who may not be writing books, but they are readers. Look for the ones who show genuine interest in your manuscript and ask detailed questions. They’re often the people who will be savvy enough to give good feedback, and are likely to enjoy the process.
4. The offer of “help”
When I tweeted about one of my early manuscript deadlines, I got a “how can I help?” tweet from someone in the US I’d met on Twitter, and whose blog I’d been following. (Are you seeing a pattern here with the social media and blogging??) We were writing in similar genres, and understood each other’s sense of humour.
I asked for her email address, which she sent me in a private message (DM). And then we began an email conversation. I was nervous to ask her for a beta read, because I know it is a big ask — it takes a lot of time and effort to do it well. But I decided to plunge in and ask.
She’s been one of my star betas (and a friend) for a couple of years now, and I enjoy critiquing her manuscripts too.
Ideas for you: We’ve already talked about using social media and blog comments to make genuine TWO-WAY connections. Then, when someone offers to help you, you might be nervous to ask for a beta read. Most of us are nervous to ask. Recognise the opportunity and be brave! But be careful to ask in such a way that they can say no, as they may be too busy.
5. Another offer
I’d been wrestling with my opening chapters, and I mentioned this while email-chatting with one of my editing clients. She offered to read the first 20 pages and give honest feedback. This was risky for me, because some people think you can’t be a good book editor if you write drivel. 😉 However, she actually said upfront, “It won’t affect my opinion of you as an editor”! (Yes, they are quite different skills.)
I knew she was a thoughtful and intelligent writer. So I went for it. And I wasn’t sorry — her feedback broke a deadlock I’d been stuck in. Yaay!
Ideas for you: I decided not to let my worry about my professional reputation stand in the way of getting the feedback I needed. Are there times when we miss out on good feedback because of pride or insecurity??
6. A specialist
One of my characters has Type 1 diabetes — not a good combo with being lost in the wilderness. I had read books and done research into how her diabetes would affect her, but I didn’t feel it was enough. Books on diabetes and sport don’t tend to cover extended survival situations. 😉
I had encountered a UK journalist and author whose writing I Ioved, via her blog and some other websites. (And yes, I first found her blog via someone I met on Twitter!) She was a professional writer, and a passionate advocate for Type 1 diabetes research.
I really didn’t know her that well, but because she was a vocal advocate I decided to be bold and contact her via her website to ask if she would consider checking purely the diabetes elements of the plot. I knew it was a big ask, but I hoped it might be worth it to her to see one less book containing nonsense about diabetes. 😉 I also tried to make it as easy as possible for her to say no.
She said yes! And oh my, did I need that check! The diabetes storyline is now dramatically different as a result of her incredibly detailed feedback.
Ideas for you: Are there technical aspects of your book that need a specialist check? It’s worth getting it right. See who you can find who might be a specialist in that field but also a writer or connected to publishing. Often other writers are more open to helping, because they know what it’s like.
7. Another specialist
My novel Poison Bay is set in the New Zealand wilderness, and during my research expedition some years back I did interviews with police and Search and Rescue coordinators. However, the plot had changed a lot since then, meaning that there were a whole bunch of new questions I wanted to ask. Simple things like: do they use a two-way radio or mobile phones when communicating with each other in town?
I had tried a number of avenues to get this information, and nothing was working out, so I decided to see if there might be some kind of specialist police manuscript consultant in NZ. (You never know.) I googled it, and ended up stumbling upon a retired police inspector who had written a book about the history of gunboats in NZ!
I tracked him down via the website for his book. And he agreed to do the check for me!
He asked me to isolate the sections of my manuscript that related to police procedures, and gave me the most amazing feedback — not just corrections but suggestions for how to get around plot problems related to procedure, and even improving the characterisation of my police officer!
Ideas for you: Get stuff checked. And don’t be afraid to ask for help. You never know who might be happy to help you! Look for ways to make it as easy as possible for them.
8. The memoirist
I noticed that one of my favourite bloggers (yes, met her on Twitter — but you guessed that already) was getting to a crucial point in the process of her memoir. I offered to do a beta read for her, as I love the way she writes. Memoir is a genre I’ve done a fair bit of editing in, and I enjoy it.
She was happy to get the offer, and offered to return the favour if my novel still needed feedback. It didn’t by then, but I told her I had a humorous dog memoir in the works, and would love her to beta on that ms in due course (I know she’s a dog lover). She said she’d love to do it!
Ideas for you: Pay it forward — offer to help others. And think ahead. My dog memoir won’t be finished for at least 6 months (who am I kidding? — it’ll probably be 6 years 😀 ). I’m already thinking of beta readers for it now.
9. The friend
One of my friends is hoping to write books, and has been very interested in the progress of my novel. I invited her to beta, but she doesn’t read mystery/thrillers. However, she said, “I’ll definitely critique your dog book!” (Another dog lover.)
Ideas for you: Think laterally and think ahead.
10. The mystery writer
I saw that another of my favourite blogging authors was nearly finished the first draft of her new mystery novel. I love mysteries, and hers are delightfully quirky. So I got in touch and asked if she’d like another beta reader.
She said yes, and offered to beta for me on Poison Bay too. I was too close to my publication deadline by then to be able to process another beta report on my novel, but I said I’d love her to beta the sequel.
Ideas for you: You know I’m going to tell you that I met this writer on Twitter, and have been chatting with her on her blog, and then by email, over the past couple of years. 😉 Get to know people. Think ahead. Offer to help. Choose projects wisely.
Beta reading for others will be more fun if you choose people whose writing or personality you already know you love. And there’s also a better chance of a good result when they beta for you — a good match!
11. My mother
Yes, I know I told you to think twice before asking your mother. 😉 But sometimes mothers can be exactly the right person. One thing my mother is great at is keeping it short. I, on the other hand, tend to waffle (who’da thunkit?) — and my ms was TOO LONG. So I asked her to go through a printout and put a red line through anything that didn’t need to be there.
She was hesitant to hurt my feelings at first, but I said, “I’d rather hear it from you now than bad reviews later.” So she got stuck into it. Brilliant!
Ideas for you: Think carefully about the people you know who might want to help you. Allow them to play to their strengths. Beta reading is a team sport — what part of the process can this person help you with?
For a simple, easy-to-read explanation of ways to use writing feedback, check out my info page for Use the Power of Feedback to Write a Better Book
To sum up
My experience can probably be condensed to:
- Get to know and like people on social media platforms and blogs. (Writers groups can be another avenue, although it’s not one I’ve used.)
- Have genuine two-way connections, rather than just approaching people out of the blue to ask for a favour. You might feel like you know them, but do they know you?
- If you do want to ask a favour from someone you don’t know well, because of their specific expertise, try to make it as easy as possible for them to give you the feedback, and also make it easy for them to say no.
- Look for people who are strong in areas you’re not good at, and also interested in your book. They might make good beta readers.
- Pay it forward — offer to beta read for others, even if they’re not going to return the favour any time soon.
- THINK AHEAD. It takes time to get to know and trust people.
What about you? How have you found beta readers? Have you had any luck with beta reader connection sites? Tell us all your tips!
Featured image via Bigstock/amyinlondon
I’m late to the party here, but great article on the role of beta readers. I’ve found some good readers for my novel drafts and some less than useful (I won’t label them “bad”) readers. Probably my most valuable readers have come about from a local, face-to-face critique group I long attended. While the group met weekly, the number of members (8 or more) made the three hours go by all too quickly, so some of us agreed to read each others work in entirety.
And one key thing to make the process as valuable as possible is to organize the effort ahead of time, I always print (or send out in email) a letter of introduction to the reader, even if they’ve read for me before. It gives a very brief synopsis of the book, a general outline of the sorts of matters and issues I want them to look for, and some generous deadline as to when I need feedback. I say “generous,” because I don’t want them to be rushed, but I also need them to know that I truly desire and need their valuable input, and because authoring and publishing is a time-driven enterprise, I must set a date.
I also include a PDF attached to the letter which is a list of specific questions I’d like them to answer. I assure them that they are free to answer as few or as many of the questions as they’d like—no pressure. And I always leave plenty of room for their general comments. When you ask specific questions, people really tend to give you very specific answers. We often “have not” because we “ask not.”
I usually end the letter by telling them how much I value their critical input, and earnestly thank them for their generous commitment of time in reading my work. It never hurts to “grease the skids” by telling people how much you appreciate them!
Sounds like you have an excellent system going there, Bill. I have ended up with a lot of the same elements in my own management of beta readers for my books, after making plenty of mistakes early in the piece. I don’t generally give my readers an outline, but perhaps I should, and I’ll think about that for next time! Perhaps even including the draft blurb would help…
Only an amateur needs a “beta reader’. If you knew how to write well, you wouldn’t seek out external validation. Did Voltaire, Shakespeare or Jane Austen seek “beta readers”? A silly internet idiocy, a trap: you’ll get your fiction stolen. No, thanks!
Actually, after 20+ years in the publishing industry, I’d say that seeking the right kind of feedback and using it carefully is the hallmark of a professional. And yes, Jane Austen apparently discussed her manuscripts with her sister, although I can’t comment on Voltaire or Shakespeare. 🙂 But I 100% agree with you that we need to be careful who we ask, brief them carefully, and ensure they are trustworthy.
I used to be fortunate enough to exchange beta duties with several acquaintances whom I esteemed. However, the Real Life (kids, husbands, jobs) has overtaken all of them, and they have no more time for creative pursuits. I miss them. I have a problem (and I don’t know if others have the same problem) with barely literate acquaintances and relatives wanting to read and critique my work; I turn them down and this leads to much sulking and pouting and even cries of “you don’t love me.” I also have a problem with acquaintances and relatives who want me to ghostwrite books for them (they call it “editing,” but their writing skills are so poor that it would really be ghostwriting). For free, of course. It wears me down, saying “no” and listening to the cries of woe and the sulking and the accusations of “you don’t love me.”
Oh, that sounds awful. Yes, I’m aware of all the many ways that friends and relatives expect things for nothing. Perhaps you could try: “Thank you for the compliment of wanting me to edit your book. Unfortunately, it would be many weeks of work, and I just can’t fit it in right now. Here are some links for editors you might like to try instead.” After they’ve had a few fee quotes from quality editors, they might value you more highly. 😉
And as for the beta reading offers, it’s interesting that you’re getting so many offers. Some people struggle to get any offers at all. Could you perhaps make use of their interest in a different way than your previous beta partnerships? For example, brief them to give you only their gut reactions at a big-picture level? This article may or may not be useful: https://smallbluedog.com/why-you-shouldnt-ask-beta-readers-to-do-copy-editing.html There’s a heap of other things I could suggest, but not enough time for them all right now. I’ve got a book on the topic coming out shortly, and must get it finished!!
Great information 🙂
I’m finished writing the first draft of my first book. Actually, it’s been edited/revised twice now. I put out a call on facebook for beta readers. 5 friends stepped up, but getting the manuscript back from them in a timely manner was a challenge. After 2 months most had not even looked at it. And then rushed thru it and made sparse comments. Admittedly, these are friends, each with their own busy lives, but it was not as helpful as I was hoping for. I like many of your examples/suggestions here. Thank you.
Scribophile is not everything it’s advertised to be, pushing it’s unique capabilities for would-be writers, while in fact, as an individual that enjoys writing on any level, you will find yourself paying for less than the basic editing features one would prefer, while being forced to “Critique” the work of others to gain Karma points that allow you to “WRITE and PUBLISH” your works, and by the time you spend hours reading the works of others, you no longer have the “determination” to commit to your own writings.
I was the Scribophile Author of Elsewhere, Into, and Beyond, under the name Harold McBroom! I signed up for premium services yesterday only to wake up the next day banned, and here’s my story and why…
I joined Scribophile a week ago, and my first concerns were, will I have the writing environment that I’ve been searching for, with the tools needed to accomplish the job; I signed up, and discovered that I could only post 2 works at one time, unless I purchase the month to month plan which is $9, or the yearly plan which is $65 up front. So I purchased the $9 plan so that I could post unlimited works “at once”.
The “at once” phrase means, you can consecutively post your written works all at once, but what they don’t tell you when signing up, is that it requires “karma” points. 5 karma points to write and release your work, so the “at once” terminology they use, becomes obsolete, because you can not post your unlimited works at one time, because you will constantly have to read and “critique” the works of others, to gain these karma points.
I don’t mind reading the works of others, I rather enjoy it, but I have a problem with “critiquing” their works, because I’m not a professional writer, so how can I tell them what’s wrong with their writings, when the same problems probably exist within my own works, and you do not get karma points for submitting a “comment”. After reading someone else’s story you have the option to “comment”, or “Critique”; So no karma points issued for comments.
Not only did I sign up for premium service yesterday, at $9 a month, but I woke up the very next day, that day, being today, to find that I have been banned, my account terminated, my works deleted, because the critique I offered was in fact critiquing the system that forced me to critique the works of others. Here’s an example of my critique:
Critique
“Dear John Doe, first off let me get the critique out of the way,
Critique!
…Now that we have the critique out of the way, I would like to say that I enjoyed your story, and here’s why…blah blah blah…
I can’t critique your work, John, because I’m not a professional writer, so please accept this critique as a critique of the system that forces me to critique your work, when I find nothing wrong with it! Keep up the good work, and I look forward to reading more of your stories!”
Writing is not about critiquing, it’s about being creative, and spontaneous in your thoughts, and the ability to transfer these thoughts into readable form that can be enjoyed by others!
Why should I pay Scribophile, $9 a month to be forced read and critique the works of others? Another issue is I came across a pedophile , who wrote a story in which he played the role of a child in a location serving alcohol, where Disney characters where, and the bartender was using his sexual organ to stir his mothers drink…
THIS is the type of behavior that is allowed, while I get banned, my account deleted for criticizing Scribophile’s critique system.
Sorry to hear you’ve had a disappointing experience, Harold. As I said in my comment above, I don’t use that particular website, so I have no “inside knowledge” of how they operate. People can learn from your experience, I guess. Have you thought of asking the website to reconsider?
Something that might make it easier for you in the future is that a critique is an assessment — it can be positive or negative or a bit of both. If you only notice positives in someone’s manuscript, you can just outline those.
A very cool read. Thank you for writing it!
You’re welcome, Kristina, and thanks for stopping by.
Are there really writers who don’t know who to ask for a beta read? O_O
I always thought the obvious answer is: ask your fellow writers and the writers in your community, and… yeah… I’ve always taken for granted that a writer is part of a community.
I’m getting ready for my first beta reading round ever, but I knew who I wanted to ask, people like you mentiones: fellow dieselpunk writers (inside the dieselpunk community), fellow writers I met and already exchanged crits with on workshops, friends who also write. I also asked for specialistinc help to buddies I met on workshops.
I don’t know, maybe I’m too naive, but I’ve always thought this is the only way to do it.
I mean, how can you ask a complete stranger to beta read your novel?
Lots of writers are not part of a writing community, either because of geography, or because they’re not sure how to connect online. That’s great that you have a good team of beta readers on hand and I hope you get some very useful results. 🙂
Thanks everyone. We learn this useful lesson: in blogging, in publishing, and in life, we can’t please all of the people, all of the time.
NOW, let’s get back to discussing BETA READERS. 😉 🙂
Ack, see I need my text editor. Should be “you are not retaliating…” My reading glasses would probably have helped too.
I suggest that you ditch the Twitter style of writing you use in these blogposts; it seriously undermines your credibility and suggests immaturity. Also suggesting immaturity is the way you sprinkle happy face emoticons throughout as a way to end your sentences. Grow up!
Since everyone following this thread probably appreciates and respects Blendia’s advice I’ll say what I think everyone is probably thinking. Do you know what’s far more immature than using emoticons in professional advice writing? Gratuitously insulting the writer. You don’t disagree with Belinda’s advice. You’re not taking issue with some moral position she has. You are retaliating for some insult she gave to you. You simply don’t care for the writing level she chose to employ. Your tone doesn’t fit your point, which is rather ironic given the point you were trying to make.
It was an easy comment to make: “Dear writer, I appreciate the points you made, but I find it distracting to read professional advice writing that is full of emoticons usually reserved to younger people texting. I feel we’ve ceded too much ground to the young, new styles of writing. We need to return some professionalism to the craft.”
Phrased this way, without the “grow up”, Belinda would probably have replied with some insightful analysis. Given her reputation and my own experience in reading this blog, I bet that she has thought about this. She could probably provide us with some analysis on why she has chosen to write in this style on her blog, complete with some reference points that might prove helpful to the rest of us. If I go through her archives I might find a post on point.
You brought up a good point, and the Internets are a wonderful place to have a discussion. But you drowned your point in your insult. The Internets are full of people talking at each other rather than debating the relevant issues. Little Blue Dog publishing is one of the latter places, and we, her readers, like it that way, emoticons and all.
Love the article, emoticons and all.
A writing conference offers another opportunity to meet a potential beta. After striking up a conversation with someone at lunch and finding myself next to that same person at dinner, I made it a little more official and we began to meet at break and meal times. That was years ago, and we’ve successfully read for each other since.
That’s an excellent way to meet new betas, Deb. I have a further possible beta reader myself that I met that way… a specialist on police matters. I didn’t include him in the list because we haven’t actually done any beta exchanges as yet.
Wow. On Belinda – and her dedicated readers’ – behalf, I will simply say, “Thank you for sharing.” 🙂
How did I miss this great post when it popped into my inbox? Well, I was busy launching my own book on, er, diabetes! 😉 That happened last week, for World Diabetes Day, and I’m only just catching up with my inbox. So now I must thank you for your kind comments about my writing, and tell you that it was a pleasure to beta read “Poison Bay” for you, and I was glad to do it not only because I want to make sure the right messages get out about living with diabetes, but also because it’s a really good read, and it would be such a shame if it were spoiled for any diabetic readers by inaccuracies or misconceptions about the disease.
I completely agree with you that beta readers and the writer’s best friend, and I can never understand why more authors don’t use them. I’d also emphasise that it’s important to get a real mix of readers – some who know you, some who don’t, some who read a lot in your genre, maybe one who doesn’t – and not to rely on just one writing buddy. I’ve recently had my new collection of Christmas short stories beta read by seven people, and had seven completely different responses, some of them totally contradictory e.g. “totally uplifting” vs “rather depressing”.
The hardest part once you’ve found great betas is then to decide which of their comments to take on board. If they’re too contradictory, you’ll end up with unsatisfactory compromises and a book that reads as if it’s written by committee – never a good idea!
Really looking forward to reading the finished book, Belinda. It’s been a privilege to be involved!
Debbie, anything not actually on fire is pretty much getting ignored in my inbox right now, due to Pre-Publication Panic, so I entirely understand. 😉
Congrats on the new edition of your book! Other blog readers can find it here: Coming to Terms with Type 1 Diabetes http://authordebbieyoung.com/non-fiction/type-1-diabetes/
I think the reason a lot of writers don’t use beta readers to their full potential (or at all) is that they think a beta reader is a spellchecker. I keep trying to get the message out there. I’m a big believer in beta readers, both in theory and in practice — I walk the talk! 😉
And I have an upcoming blog post planned for how to respond to all those conflicting comments. Stay tuned.
And thank YOU for your generous feedback on my novel. It was pure gold. I’m sure there’ll still be mistakes in how I’ve represented the diabetes storyline, but it is a million times better than it was, thanks to you.
Brilliant advice as usual. Wondering if you have any insight on beta for shorter works, articles and long reads. New media moves quickly. Sometimes I don’t have time for someone else to do a text edit (before I send to my actual editors. I want the extra layer.) Your tricks in the other post will help with that, but any thoughts when there is a need for speed?
Ah Leslie… the need for speed. I don’t have a solution, unfortunately, other than to find someone who wants to partner with you. One of my beta readers mentioned above also betas for me on some of my shorter stuff, like my promo ebooks and special web pages. She’s got a great eye for that kind of stuff, and she’ll give it a quick once-over and get it back to me fast. Perhaps setting up a similar relationship with a beta reader could be an answer for you. But of course, it takes time to establish that kind of relationship. If you want to be fast, you’ve got to go slow first. 😉
Others may know of sites set up to help with exactly your problem, and if so I hope they’ll leave a comment about it!
Sound advice. I’ve recently started using Choosy Bookworm and their ‘Read and Review’ system, which is free. [I’ll post the reviews on my new website when it’s up and running.] This allows me to read for free and exposes me to a wide variety of styles, genres and talents.
Sometimes it is immediately obvious that the book, is really a draft, in which case I would contact the writer directly via email with my ‘critique’ = some general pointers and praise.
This is an enlightening experience.
Otherwise, I hope to give positive and constructive feedback to both the writer and potential readers.
I’m hoping that in the future [if/when] I’m ready they may feel able to reciprocate.
I hadn’t heard of Choosy Bookworm, Maddy, so thanks for bringing that to my attention. It seems to be for reviews of published books rather than beta reads as such, although in contacting the authors of not-ready books with your feedback, you are providing a kind of beta feedback. It’s very kind of you to send it to them personally rather than post it publicly!
Bookworm seems to be an alternative to sites like NetGalley, but I see that while it’s free for readers it’s not free for authors – $50 or $125 depending which package you buy.
It would be great if some indie authors could let us know how they have found the service, and some comparison in results between Choosy Bookworm and NetGalley.
Many thanks for bringing it to my attention, Maddy. 🙂
Hey Belinda,
Great article on the Beta Reader. Like many of the commenters, I too have experienced the HARD SEARCH for those precious gems that can take a lack-luster piece of work and help you turn it into something priceless for which you can be proud of.
The Beta’s for my first book are stemming from a writer’s group/bootcamp that I participated in earlier this year. Was able to network and connect with other like-minded authors who were willing to Beta my MS.
I also managed to pick up a couple Beta’s from Goodreads which has a specific group/forum on their site dedicated to bringing readers and writers together.
However, I have recently been introduced to a phenomenal resource I did not know existed until connecting with another author on Twitter. The site she told me about was Scribophile. http://www.scribophile.com/dashboard/ This site is for authors to network and post their novels, chapter by chapter, and have them critiqued by other authors. It allows you to join under a free membership for limited use, and the full annual membership is only about $65. It is so, so worth it. Getting each of your chapters critiqued by other authors is invaluable. And helping those authors in return, by submitting your own critique is rewarding in and of itself.
Anyway, just thought you or your readers might be interested if they haven’t already checked it out. It might not be for everyone, but I have found it very useful indeed.
Thanks,
-Michael
Thanks Michael, it’s good to know you’ve found some valuable betas in those different arenas.
I went to the Scribophile website to have a look. I like that it says “We’re a RESPECTFUL online writing group” in the very first line on the page… they’re obviously aware of one of the big problems that has occurred with some of these groups. I’m glad you’re finding value in the feedback you’re getting via that forum. I see that Writers Digest mentioned them in 2009, so they’ve been around a while, and they do have some positive reviews.
Another one for people to check out and make their own decision. Thanks for your comment. 🙂
Wow, Belinda! This is the perfect post about betas – yes, good betas can be hard to find, and when you do they are your mss’s BEST defense against bad reviews 🙂 Well done! Since I am one of your betas (and you are one of mine) I feel so fortunate, so grateful, to have found you.
Thanks Molly, both for your comment, and for being a favourite beta buddy (and friend!) for the past 2 years — all from that first generous offer of yours to help me. Giving and receiving betas to/from you is valuable and enjoyable. And I think that’s another great thing about good beta relationships — we learn and grow in both the giving and receiving. 🙂
Great tips on an interesting subject. The novel I wrote last November for NaNoWriMo I asked an old friend to read it over. She has some schooling and education in writing and is a poet herself.
I like to always pay it forward. I have written more reviews than actually being a beta. I am guessing there is a distinct difference between the two?
Thanks for writing and sharing this.
Yes, a review is generally focused on telling others about the book so they can decide whether they’d like it or not. A beta report is private and for the author alone. Mine often run to 5 or 10 pages, with discussion of what’s good and why it’s working, followed by the opportunities to improve it, and suggestions for how that might be done.
But smart writers do also learn from their reviews, and I’ve known authors to modify an existing book when a theme was appearing in the reviews.
It’s wonderful that you are paying it forward. Keep on doing that! 🙂
Good article, with lots of tips and pointers. Thank you
Just to let you know that you have a type error under TO Sum Up, where a ‘t’ should be an ‘f’: ofter
5.Pay it forward — ofter to beta read for others,
Thanks Matthew, well spotted! 🙂
Hi Belinda,
such great advice from you, as always! The right beta reader is a writer’s best friend and so I agree absolutely that it is worth taking some time and effort to find the right one/s. I have had a few. A couple were kind and thoughtful but not very helpful in that they said they liked the book/s and had no comment to make (and they needed commenting on!). I suspect they thought I would upset by any criticism. So, a communication problem my end – I should have been clearer about what I wanted. Another person “proofread” the manuscript which was kind but not what was asked as it wasn’t the finished script and it changed considerably so her time spent “proofreading” was sort of wasted. Again, my fault for not being clear. So, knowing what we want from a beta reader is important and that, for me, has come with trial and error. But knowing who will be helpful at it and who will not is also vital, and, as you rightly say, knowing who wil be helpful etc can only come from having a friendship/relationship of some kind with said beta reader. So, at the risk of repeating myself, I agree with you and what great suggestions on how to do that.
Yours, the mystery friend 🙂
Hee hee, hello mystery friend. (I didn’t name names, so no one would get a bunch of emails asking them for betas!)
Totally agree with you on the necessity of briefing adequately, and also that it is a process of trial and error. I’ve learned so much over the past few years, as a beta reader myself, as a writer receiving beta reports, and hearing the success and horror stories of others on the same topic. I keep adjusting and refining the process I use.
When we get it right, beta readers are superheroes! 🙂
Thanks Belinda so much to learn about writing and publishing love the blog
Thanks Kate, glad it’s useful. 🙂
I’ve had some wonderful beta readers through swapping on critique groups, and one great one on Goodreads, But the worst I had was also from Goodreads. I provided a good twelve hours of reading and analysis, as well as lots of handholding on finding a good and cheap editor, and I got my report back in return. ‘It’s great,’ it said – literally. No amount of detailed questionnairing will get round anyone that devious.
I had another who bailed out when I was well advanced with hers, on the more understandable grounds that she found mine difficult. Initial chapter swapping was called for there: I won’t make the error of sending a whole MS a second time.
Interesting experiences, David. I’m like you in that I provide a lot of thought and analysis when I do a beta report.
One thing that I do find positive about beta reading within an existing friendship/relationship is that I don’t so much feel that sense of measuring their effort against mine. We tend to help each other in lots of ways, and if they don’t have much time to provide detail on this round or this project, they will help me later with something else.
Thanks for stopping by.
One sense in which I’d definitely agree, Belinda, in the not absolutely requiring a quid pro quo is that you can’t help learning while you beta read, so you always get something back, and of course the question’s less pressing where a relationship is already established. Still, it’s worth being circumspect with those you don’t know, especially at those moments when a worthwhile response is high on your agenda.
Exactly, David. And I doubt I was clear — I didn’t intend any criticism of your reaction in the “measuring effort” comment, as I would definitely wish to get value in return if I had made an agreement with a stranger to do exactly that.
I find that my betas often do quick checks for me on other things, such as promo ebooks I’m writing etc, when either they are not able to do my full manuscript, or I’m running behind and don’t have a manuscript for them to check! 😉
Great post, Belinda! Like you once were, I am hesitant to ask someone to beta read for me. I think the writing community, however, can be very supportive and am more likely to head down the ‘quid pro quo’ path. For new authors, I think the hardest thing is demonstrating that you have something to offer the author with whom you’ll be swapping manuscripts. I’m dealing with this quandry myself at the moment and am embarking on a two-fold solution: 1) Write a blog that comments on the writing process (in turn demonstrating my understanding of, and interest in, story structure and mechanics), and 2) Review books I have read on sites like Bookmarks, Leafmarks and Goodreads to give other authors a sense of my review and critique style.
Mikhaeyla, it sounds like you are on the right track. Those are both excellent ways to demonstrate the value you can offer. I still feel nervous approaching a potential new beta reader, but it definitely does get easier with practice! Best wishes for your writing and beta reading endeavours. 🙂
Great post Belinda, thank you.
You are welcome, Alicia. 🙂