Lin’s Comments (group member since May 06, 2013)

Lin’s comments from the Beta Reader Group group.

Have you looked into the difference between alpha readers and beta readers? Alphas are involved at a much earlier stage and provide developmental feedback, while betas help with fine tuning. Some people are willing to alpha read, others prefer beta. Personally I enjoy both, but alpha takes longer to do.

You're welcome to, but I make a small charge for my reads and I'm booked a month or two ahead, so best to book your slot early. I usually add names to my list and then call for the file when I get to that point.

Another editor who beta reads here. I agree, the process helps both writer and reader. And in my case several beta reads have turned into editing/proof reading or other work.

Hi Craig

I'm a uk-based beta reader/editor. My beta service is paid and needs to be booked as there's a waiting list, but I do also offer other services at reasonable rates should you be interested. You can see details at www.coinlea.co.uk. Please do contact me if you would like to know more.

Lin

An interesting blog post I found about editing fiction. http://playle-editorial-services.com/...

Erin - I had exactly that recently. I checked with the author and she hadn't received the file. So it's always worth sending at least one follow up. When she did get the file she was grateful for the feedback.

I would suggest that it's not just the language but the culture behind it that could be an issue. For one small example, I believe that in the US they learn to drive as part of school lessons, and most people only drive automatics.

Ideally, the attitudes of the people and the place the story is set in should be fundamental parts of the story, and it must be very difficult to really do that properly if you're not familiar with these things.

And Philip - as a language student, I can tell you that there are many varieties of English, from UK English to US English to Australian, NZ and anywhere else English - each country adapts the language to their own need and culture. Even in the UK we have different forms of the language - formal, informal etc. So claiming it as our very own is a little difficult - especially since the language itself is formed from so many different originating languages :)

There's nothing stopping you, obviously, but I suggest you at least use local beta readers - it's incredibly hard to write a story set in a real place you're unfamiliar with and have it sound authentic, and readers can get very upset. Betas looking out specifically for localisation issues would be essential. That's one service I offer for writers setting their stories in the UK.

I'm on the outline side. The characters can still take over, but generally I'll know what the waypoints are before I start writing.

I quite enjoy doing the alpha reads, but they are hard work and I do charge for them (the same charge as beta at the moment, but that may change in the near future). It requires a different sort of reading style, with comments on point of view, psychic distance, plot structure etc... rather than just giving feedback on the read itself. I find alpha reads take twice as long as betas, but they're probably a little more rewarding.

Sometimes it comes back to the alpha/beta read distinction. I can read one and it's definitely an alpha read, and the next is clearly beta. Interestingly, the beta read is twice as fast to do. The comment types tend to be different too, often being more picky.

If the issue is grammar/spelling/punctuation, that makes it difficult to read, I thoroughly agree. However, I'd still persevere with the read if I could as I read for plot etc. in a beta read and not writing style. I would simply feed back about those issues in the general report. After all, that's why we have editors, to sort out the surface problems (among other things, of course!).

If there are major plot/structure issues, that's when I would probably focus mainly on the first few pages, really picking them apart and trying to figure out why they don't work - what am I not being given, that would help me understand? Why don't I feel interested? That way, even if I don't manage to finish there's lots of (hopefully useful) feedback on the opening (but as I say, that's very rare). I might sometimes skip-read, but that would be accompanied by a note to say so, and why I'm doing it (do we need all this background information now? This description is slowing the pace down. I'm finding it hard to take all this in at once...) and the same for any passages I have to reread (having to go back over this as it's hard to take in. Not really sure what this means. This means more now on rereading than it did when I read at the start).

I also work with non-fiction books, so if there are issues with readability I'll start looking at structure and arguments contained, and how the structure might be improved to make the message clearer.

The only thing I wouldn't do is return a book to an author with no explanation or feedback whatsoever. That's not helpful to either side.

Very rarely have I had a real problem - as long as I can then explain clearly what the problem is, I don't see an issue. And of course if it's a paid beta I will charge discount or waive the fee, depending on the problem and how much feedback I've been able to give.

Agreed, that's what I do, half first, half later.

Have you tried a sample edit? He should be willing to edit the first thousand or so words or similar so that you can see his style and he can see how it goes. It's always worth trying a couple of sample edits, whatever the experience of the editor.
Other than that, yes, editors starting out will often offer really low prices in exchange for testimonials and the experience they gain.

Hi Jodi
I have experience in that genre (editing one right now, in fact) but as an editor/proofreader I do charge for beta reads. You're welcome to look at my website and consider whether I could help. If yours is short, then we might be able to work something out.
Www.coinlea.co.uk
Best of luck with your work, anyway!

I totally understand, Jonathan, but just don't be under the illusion that you'll hand it over to the trad publisher and that will be it! You'll still be expected to do a lot of the promotion, and I'm not sure just how much extra you get from the trad publisher these days, considering you probably get lower royalties from sales and less control over the process.

Still, I eagerly await hearing of your experiences and reading your novel - best of luck!

I must admit, I hear more these days of authors who've gone the self-pub way than those with contracts. anyone got experiences/advice to share?

I would suggest looking up Linda Gillard as an example of a writer who has chosen to self publish after being published via a publishing house. She has interesting opinions about the control or lack thereof and has written several articles on the topic.

Elle Casey is a successful author who self publishes and is also a prolific writer.

I've heard horror stories of writers who have been offered a contract and struggled, as they had to edit book one, write book two and plan book three at the same time under tremendous pressures.

I've also heard stories of writers who rewrite and edit extensively following advice and then have their work rejected anyway.

Then again, I'm sure there are many success stories too with traditional publishing. Just remember that either you are asking someone else to invest in your book or you are investing your own money. Self publishing means you take the risks and pay the costs (editing, proof reading, cover design etc) yourself but you take more of the income.

Editors can look at both content and presentation, depending on the need and the agreement with the author. Beta readers should be concentrating on the read itself, but may point out weaknesses in the writing, particularly persistent, annoying ones. Basically, editors/proofreaders can do all that's needed, and work professionally, which means they charge for their time. Beta readers tend to be working for fun, in their spare time, and can vary widely in ability.

This is why some prefer a paid reader, who should come with testimonials and/or qualifications, because they can be more certain of receiving useful feedback. Others will pay a large sum of money to have their work thoroughly evaluated, which is a highly skilled, very time-consuming job, and is therefore charged as such. Others still have built up a team of betas they can rely on.

It's copyright anyway. As long as you can prove your version existed first - and you can because of the email you send with the file - then you should be okay. Issues are extremely rare, but you do hear very occasionally about someone changing names or small details and publishing as their own. Of course, you only hear about them because of how rare they are.