Beta Reader Contracts

[Empress]

Lena wrote: "I think r.l. Is the mod?"

The mod hasn't been active on GR for about 4 months. It's just under the name on the home page of the group. If any of us was a mod it would have said mod under the avatar.


Lena wrote: "Flagged"

Good. It might take some time, and they might not notify you of the change.

[R.L.]

Lena wrote: "Flagged"

Let me know if you get the reigns and need any assistance as I would be happy to help out.

[Library Lady 📚]

Thanks!

[R.L.]

In other news, I now have a post up searching for my first batch of Betas with less apprehension than I had before all the helpful replies in this thread.

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Thanks everyone :)

[Empress]

R.L. wrote: "In other news, I now have a post up searching for my first batch of Betas with less apprehension than I had before all the helpful replies in this thread.



Thanks everyone :)"

Sorry we should have opened a new topic about the "mod" issue, not highjack yours.

[R.L.]

Ellie [The Empress] wrote: "R.L. wrote: "In other news, I now have a post up searching for my first batch of Betas with less apprehension than I had before all the helpful replies in this thread.



Thanks everyone :)"

Sorry..."

No problem at all, both topics seem dealt with so a good result all around :)

[Sudhir]

I have been lucky... the betas I found here are responsive and I am very happy with them. However, the idea of a moderator is quite good. They can make a list of the top betas with their fav genres...

[Empress]

Sudhir wrote: "I have been lucky... the betas I found here are responsive and I am very happy with them. However, the idea of a moderator is quite good. They can make a list of the top betas with their fav genres..."

I was thinking there should be a separate folder for the betas, where each person can have a folder with links to topics and references from left there from authors.

Not a brilliant idea, but I have some. If Lena needs any help with moderating I could help as well. But I'm not insisting as I can't always be online. Still we should have a separate topic about suggestions and ideas for improving this page.

Just a quick question to Lena, you did explain that you want to be the mod when you flagged, right? You can also flag again in a couple of days and leave a link to the comments here where we are discussing that a mod is needed.

[Strider28]

R.L. wrote: "Hi Y'all

Just wanted to run something by you all to see what the general consensus is.

I read today that writers should always ensure that Beta readers sign a contract regarding mainly confiden..."

I have never signed a contract. And I don't write reviews for a beta read. The author usually sends me an ARC copy when the book is ready or almost ready to go live. I then read the finished book before writing a review.
I think it's smart to tell people up front that they are not expected to share your work and I believe it's a rule on Goodreads..not sure though??? but bottom line..you're asking people to spend a lot of their time to help you for free. At least any good beta reader I know will spend a good deal of time making sure they do their best to help the author in any way they can. I've never seen a post on Goodreads of an author saying that their work or their idea has been stolen. That's just been my experience if that helps you any.

[Strider28]

I would NEVER volunteer to be a beta reader for an author and then not respond to them! How awful! I consider it a privilege to be trusted by an author to read their 'baby' and to give my honest feedback!

[A.M.]

I have seen where a few other groups have the Beta reader sign a form. I am not against it either way. I might be to trusting since I am new to this. But I know since I have joined this group a few days ago I have read and respond to over 5 different authors. Down to two reads left. I am hoping to gain the experience on the ins and out of writing and get to know the people/ authors. I read a ton if different styles of book than what I write mostly.

Hopefully everyone has been happy with my editing and process so far. But I think it up to the author on how they handle the Reader. Like mentioned before I feel it should be a win win for everyone around. I read one book recently that needed some edits done that has already been published. Book two is in need of some beta as well. I went on and reviewed book one since it was already published. Maybe, that was wrong. Not sure. What's everyone's take on that process. If it's already been released?

:)

[Empress]

Laurie wrote: "I think it's smart to tell people up front that they are not expected to share your work and I believe it's a rule on Goodreads..not sure though???"

No, it is not a general rule. I do think authors should be clear and this should be arranged before the exchange.
Still a single topic here with a reminder to the authors to do that would be nice.

Maybe we can come up with some rules/suggestions together and put them up. Both for the betas and the authors.

[Khalid]

This would a great thing to accomplish for both sides of the equation. As an author, I have provided my book to about 50 people on Goodreads that promised to beta read or review the book. It's been 2 months and emails go unanswered.

There should be some sort of agreement between the authors and readers so that both sides feel more comfortable sharing the work (book and review). I know some authors that have abused beta readers and reviewers, which is not acceptable. I also know some beta readers (mine included) that haven't had the courtesy to reply to emails after receiving the book or said that they were (all of the sudden) too busy.

Please know that I would be more than willing to help with any efforts that you initiate!

[Empress]

Khalid, I agree, I think any suggestion you have might be useful for the future mod to be. Until she is a mod nothing can be done.
When she is mod she can ban people (both authors and betas/reviewers) that are misbehaving.

Since GR discourages authors contacting people I would advise you to contact the mod of the group where the reviewers haven't replied/posted-reviews. This will keep you safe from giving a bad impression and the mod will now if they are people that are abusing their own group.

[R.L.]

"Since GR discourages authors contacting people"

What's this please?

[Julie]

I wasn't aware that Goodreads discouraged authors from contacting people either. I thought that was kind of one of the main ideas behind the site...putting authors in touch with their readers. Maybe they are discouraged from responding to trash talk and/or harsh reviews??

[Kay]

Debra wrote: "Just spend $35 for an online copyright at copyright.gov, then your work is coverd in a way that can be proven in court.

No, I don't ask them to sign contracts etc, if they cant be trusted , the c..."

that only works for an unchanged copy of the work. for instance, if you copyright a work, and edit it later, the edited version is not included under the copyright.

[Kay]

Debra wrote: "And I'm still looking for a couple beta more beta readers who RESPOND! Many times you send your manuscript and never hear from them again...[bookcover:A Haunted Life: The True Ghost Story of a Relu..."

i am interested in your story.

[Kay]

Pati wrote: "I regularly beta read and more for over thirty authors and have only once been asked to sign anything. When asked I explained why I believe that the contract would in the end not be legally binding..."

i understand your concern. in general, contracts do not need notarization or to be drafted by lawyers to have legal merit. the contracting parties only need to agree on the terms of the contract. where a lawyer (and i would recommend one versed in contract law) would be helpful is helping you understand your legal rights if the other party fails to comply with the contract. also, there are certain items - albeit very few - that should never be included in a contract. depending on your circumstance, it may be helpful to know what those very few things entail. hope that helps.

[Rajuda]

Paranoid or petrified? Why go after BRs, if you are so much suspicious of them?

[Kay]

it may be "meeting of the minds" more than suspicion.

[Rajuda]

Kay wrote: "it may be "meeting of the minds" more than suspicion."

Agreed, Kay. But does 'meeting of the minds' need to fulfill a 'preconceived' contractual obligation?

[Empress]

I believe there are more "official" beta reads who provide this service in exchange for payment. Or am I wrong?

[Kay]

probably not, teega. but i am not sure what you mean by 'preconceived'. may be the agreement is meant to cover the basics, like confidentiality and what each party is expected to do. to me, that sounds fair.

[Kay]

i have come across beta readers who charge for their services. however, their "official" moniker is debatable. their often limited experience in editing or language reads as "avid reader" or something similar; not sure that qualifies as "official" or not.

[Empress]

Kay wrote: "...their often limited experience in editing or language..."

I never thought that betas are supposed to edit.

[Kay]

Ellie [The Empress] wrote: "Kay wrote: "...their often limited experience in editing or language..."

I never thought that betas are supposed to edit."

some beta readers offer proofreading and copy editing, which i gather is what you mean by editing. i consider editing general feedback as well, because, like the copy editing stuff, it offers the writer ways to prepare her work for publication or public presentation.

[Lin]

And some editors offer beta reading :). There is a continuum between beta reading and developmental editing that starts with "I enjoyed it" and ends with several pages of notes and advice. One end is usually free; the other end can cost hundreds. Beta readers who charge should be at least partway along that continuum.

[Daniel]

This got morbid.
I have not signed any contracts. I have agreed what is needed and sent out the book or pdf as agreed.

Beta readers are great people giving their time for nothing, I think every writer that uses them should send gifts and make sure they stay friends. This is an immensely precious relationship to writers learning their craft.

Plagiarism will always happen in digital media, it is easy to copy paste anything. But if you cannot tell the genuine reader giving their time for nothing to someone out to steal your work you might not be good at judging character, which would seem to me to be the single skill no writer should lack.

[Camille]

I'm late to this discussion but wanted to comment. While new to beta reading, my professional life is spent in the world of photography where signing image release forms is standard practice.

As a result, I've always offered to sign Non-Disclosure agreements for the works I've beta read to assure authors that my intentions are honorable.

Also, I specifically request the genre, word count and a brief synopsis of the work so that I can communicate an accurate turn around time for the reader. And I ask if the reader has a specific deadline for turn around time so that I can tell them if that's realistic given my schedule.

[Kay]

i think we all may agree that "good judgment" sometimes escape the best of us :)

[Tokies]

there are different readers. in truth .. a beta reader is almost the last line in readers to ARC. in the publish for yourself crowed. it's more like an Alpha reader who basically tells you what they like, hate, and why. which they arent suppose to post anything about your book. if they are a good reader. a Beta reader is more up in the air the then that. since the two readers are very much treated as the same.. for some reason. by the time it gets to beta the story is more closely set in stone.


also as a good beta reader.. you should be taking notes on when your feelings changing for a character setting.. if things come across and weird. it isnt about grunt work. it's about being a good beta reader. otherwise you're doing something else.. you're getting an ARC which is a different thing.

[Tracey-anne]

Brilliant post. I am looking for Beta readers, but was nervous of putting my work out there. I feel better now ;o)

[Candace]

Debra wrote: "There is a "pre-work" thing you can do too, even if you have one chapter, then they have the date fixed in time. you don't need an isbn to copyright a manuscript, its your creation, you just do it."
The free way (or super cheap way) to do that is to mail yourself a copy of your manuscript with signature confirmation and don't open it. Keep it with all of the receipts from mailing it and the post date acts as confirmation that you created it well before anyone else did. That in addition to emails between you and your beta, should protect your rights.

[Kay]

Candace wrote: "Debra wrote: "There is a "pre-work" thing you can do too, even if you have one chapter, then they have the date fixed in time. you don't need an isbn to copyright a manuscript, its your creation, y..."

i know i am a bit late with my response (i have 21k emails in my inbox and none are spam), but what you are describing is colloquially called, "poor man's copyright", and it is NOT a recognized copyright protection under U.S. copyright law.

Below is an excerpt from the U.S. Copyright Office FAQs:

I’ve heard about a “poor man’s copyright.” What is it?

The practice of sending a copy of your own work to yourself is sometimes called “poor man’s copyright.” Copyright law does not recognize this type of protection.