For anyone interested in self-publishing

[Teymour]

Dear community,

I'm an aspiring novelist living in New York, and I started documenting my weekly progress (groping, clueless) towards self-publishing my novel on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CE7P...

In case anyone here could benefit from my adventures... Also, feel free to tell me if there's anything you'd like me to talk about in the next video!

Thanks for all the insights and inspiration this community provides. Write on!

Teymour Shahabi
@teymourshahabi

[Guy]

Hi Teymour, I enjoyed your last video. Very instructive. ref your thoughts on editing- I have used beta readers from goodreads and other places. The feedback I have had has been very useful and has added considerably to the conceptual ideas in the book. I am not suggesting the basic story was altered much, it is still my story, but the feedback generated some more themes which have added to the interest in the novel.Guy

[HKelleyB]

Hi. I watched your video as well.

And, I agree with Guy. If only you and your brother have read the manuscript, perhaps you should find a few beta readers to take a look at it, before you hire an editor.

Feedback (be it positive or negative) is always a good thing!

[Teymour]

Thanks a lot, HKelleyB and Guy, for watching the video and for giving me this feedback! Looking for more beta readers is a great idea... Would you use a place like Goodreads right away, or would you turn to people you know?... I'm curious as to what you think works best.

[HKelleyB]

I believe you receive a more honest, and direct, response when you use beta readers that you do not know.

They are not worried about being 'PC' with their responses. And, you stand a better chance of getting readers who actually love the genre you write in.

Goodreads has a lot of beta readers. Some are better than others; but, any beta reader is better than no beta reader at all.

Good luck!

[K.P.]

Beta readers do help. I had some good insights by some random ones who read my near complete WIPs when I put it out there in the beta readers forum. I usually try for four (2 male 2 female ) and see what they think. I may not agree with everything but it gives me a clue what I'm stumped on and can no longer see the trees.

[Teymour]

Thanks K.P.! Have you followed up with editors after beta readers?