Got Beta Readers?

04/16/2012

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Got Beta Readers?
I have a dear friend who is getting ready to publish her first novel, and I am one of her Beta Readers.

I have been a Beta Tester for a Beta Launch or Beta Version, but a Beta Reader for a novel? What a novel idea - I love it!

If you are ready to self publish, right before you hire an editor, you might seriously want to consider finding some Beta Readers of your manuscript to ensure the best possible success of your hard work.  Before you simply go ask Aunt Martha to read your book, and give her your pile of college-ruled, lined paper filled with your one-of-a-kind, handwritten brilliance, here are some things that might make the experience actually worth your (and your Beta Readers') time:
  • Choose your Beta Readers carefully - Unless the aforementioned Aunt Martha is a professional copy editor, and can do double duty as editor and Beta Reader, you might want to find five to seven other people who love to read and/or write the type of book you have written.  If your audience is primarily one gender, your Beta Readers should be also.  Remember, you are asking these people to provide constructive feedback on your baby - make sure you feel their comments will possibly improve your book.
  • Provide a format that is both easy and functional for your Beta Readers - I received an Adobe Acrobat version of Clare's book, which allowed me to add my comments by using sticky notes and the like.  Joanna Penn, on the other hand, printed a version of her first novel and provided it to her Beta Readers for hand written notes.  Whichever you choose, think of the ease of use for your Beta Readers, and be prepared to read your book many times with many comments.
  • Give clear instructions and a deadline for your Beta Readers - You are looking for usable feedback, so provide usable instructions. Ask your readers to read as if they themselves bought the book.  Have them look for plot/timeline confusion, character concerns, "speed bumps" that make the reader stop and question, factual errors, tone or voice confusion - any comments repeated by two or more Beta Readers tell you that a rewrite of that section is probably wise.
  • Be prepared and have a plan for another red pen markup of your perfect baby - Many of us writer-types wed ourselves to passages, dialogue or scenes, and if those are questioned, we fight for our darling tidbits.  If only one person questions one of your wedded verses, maybe they just didn't get it, but if two or more people question it...kill it!  Which is more important...the success of your novel, or that one brilliant verse?
It is common practice for serious self publishing novelists to ask for feedback before the final stage of publication.  Joanna Penn, Self Published Author of two Best-Selling thriller novels and voice of The Creative Penn says Beta Readers are essential to successful publishing.  Find Beta Readers and use them wisely; you will be happy you did.

Have you used Beta Readers prior to self publishing? How would you characterize the experience - Successful? Painful?  Please share ~

~Mary Kathryn Johnson
Author ~ Entrepreneur ~ Mom

@SayBumpandTweet
MommyLoves to Chat!
Everything MommyLoves
Say Bump and Take a Left
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Chapter Writing & Great Parties: Arrive Late & Leave Early

12/15/2011

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Picture
Last week, while editing  a client's book ,  I realized how  starting and ending a chapter is similar to attending a great party.

Let's imagine you're inviting your readers to a gathering.  If  you ask them to arrive too early, they’re standing around with little to do and few people to interact with. Similarly with your books, if you bring your reader into the scene too early, they may be bored with overly described scenery, or back-story related to how the characters got to this point. "Yawn." If  you do this, your readers, like your guests are nervously looking at their watches, wondering how much longer before the party or the story really gets going.

Instead, pick your scene up in the middle of the action. Think of those high energy festivities you attend that are bursting at the seams,  just as you’re arriving. The music is blaring, people are dancing, or chatting, as you listen in on some conversations that have already started. Maybe you simply absorb them, maybe you decide to join in, but, rarely are you there for all the polite pleasantries and official introductions. You can create this same mood with your books by starting your chapters in the middle of a conversation or some action that has already begun. Sure the reader will be a little lost at first, but that confusion is what's compelling them to read on. Of course, you have to be sure those inevitable questions get answered; it just doesn't have to happen at the beginning of the scene.

It’s the same thing when it’s time to end the chapter, or leave the party. Do you overstay your welcome, waiting for the last person to head home and the lights get turned out as your host(s) head to bed? It may sound silly to reference a party, but by ending your chapters with your characters ending the day only gives your readers the same cue to close the book and head to bed, themselves. Instead, you want to compel them to read just a couple extra pages and find out what happens, next. So, by ending your scenes and chapters early, you'll leave the reader wanting more.

Any advice to share? What tricks do you use to keep the momentum flowing? How do you create page turning scenes? We'd love to hear your thoughts.



Andrea Bandle
Writer/Editor, Co-Founder
@HelpMeSelfPub
editor@helpmeselfpublish.com
916-600-0836

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