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Where do you find Beta Readers?
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message 51:
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Lily
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Apr 24, 2014 07:54AM
Good article! I would add that sometimes, though not always, the pitched novel idea seems like it doesn't need any help, thus resulting in less beta readers taking an interest. In a way, it can sometimes be a compliment.
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Lily wrote: "Good article! I would add that sometimes, though not always, the pitched novel idea seems like it doesn't need any help, thus resulting in less beta readers taking an interest. In a way, it can som..."That's what I'll tell myself if I can't find any Beta Readers...even if it is a delusion (in my case!)
It did happen to me once, so it's not impossible. I was having trouble with a story so I posted in a critique group, then got quite frustrated because almost not one was offering critiques. I got stuck in a vicious cycle until I took a big step back and realized the problem was my own lack of confidence. And that's not something anyone can do for me. It was a hard learned lesson, so I'm passing it on :)
Nice thought, Lily. No readers? Means your novel is perfect! :)
My advice is to find someone who is also looking for beta readers - not just friends, but acquaintances and colleagues you might have. Committing to a beta read can be very time consuming, especially to someone who doesn't know you, but if there is someone who is looking to get feedback as well, and they even have a minor personal connection to you, that can be a good hook.
I tweeted your article, Michael. I thought it was very good! In answer to your previous question - I guess I hadn't found this group three months ago! Drat...
Amy wrote: "I tweeted your article, Michael. I thought it was very good! In answer to your previous question - I guess I hadn't found this group three months ago! Drat..."
I know the feeling...
Thanks for resharing the article, Amy! At least we are members of this group now!
Is there a Fringe Fiction beta reader exchange?I have a good system set up right now with Sisters in Crime (even though my mysteries seldom involve crime) but for those who are having trouble getting beta readers-- we seem like dedicated and reliable group here.
Amber, there doesn't appear to be a dedicated forum for this, but maybe that's something that @Courtney can create?Mark Philips recently posted for a beta here. Maybe this is something that other authors would participate in.
Amber wrote: but for those who are having trouble getting beta readers-- we seem like dedicated and reliable group here. That's a good idea!
Mod
I've found all my critique partners and beta readers through membership in Sisters in Crime, a mystery writers' organization. It has many other benefits as well, but this has been one of the most valuable ones. I would expect that similar organizations for writers in others genres provide the same opportunity. I've shared a few critiques in the horror genre with writers I met on Goodreads--published writers whose work I'd already read and reviewed and they wanted to do some critique swaps with me-- but it's not my primary genre so I haven't invested in a professional membership.
I've had a few issues not only finding, but keeping beta readers it seems. At one point, I had three. One went off to write her own book (yay for her!), one had some mental health issues (health always comes before reading) and one seems to have become, how shall I put this...distracted.So I simply took stock of all their feedback, which I had kept, and started educating myself on what they stressed were my weak points.
A year later, I feel my skills are stronger, but it seems now that finding beta readers for anything other than romance is nigh on impossible.
Maybe that's just my experience, but a listing of folks that are willing to beta read 'unconventional' works sure would be handy.
Mod
Carolyn wrote: "I've had a few issues not only finding, but keeping beta readers it seems. At one point, I had three. One went off to write her own book (yay for her!), one had some mental health issues (health al..."What's your genre? Is there a professional group for that genre you could join that organizes ms swaps and critique groups?
I write across genres. Some speculative fiction, some literary, some political mystery, some lesfic, some sci-fi...I'm all over the place.C
Amber wrote: "Carolyn wrote: "I've had a few issues not only finding, but keeping beta readers it seems. At one point, I had three. One went off to write her own book (yay for her!), one had some mental health i..."
It's tough for me as well. I don't usually try to recruit many (five at the outside) and, as stated before, having people you trust is better than randoms, I think.
I've struggled and been let down trying to find beta readers. I tried friends who I 'trusted' to give honest feedback and both let me down and then I tried with other authors, (I beta read for them) and also got let down (sigh). But will try the site mentioned earlier here.
Mod
Has anyone used upwork.com for this or something similar? This is a freelancing site, and I know it was mentioned earlier in the thread that one doesn't pay beta readers, but the other day I was exploring the site and there were numerous editing jobs available. What struck me, though, was that many of them seemed rather informal; they were posted not by companies but individuals who had written an indie novel or something similar and wanted people to read it. Some were looking for editing but some seemed to want more content-oriented feedback; that's basically beta reading, isn't it?
I don't mind beta reading but would only take this on if the subject appealed to me, either in genre or originality, because making notes about a full length first draft of a novel is a serious commitment in time and I hesitate unless I know the writer or the writer knows what they're doing to the page. I think authors would have more luck recruiting beta readers if they initially asked them to check a sample chapter, for errors and style notes. That would seem less onerous.
I find them through members if a professional group. I'm in Sisters in Crime and belong to several of their subgroups. Whatever your genre, there should be an organization along these lines with online groups. I became a beta reader for a fellow member whose series I love. It's hard to critique books in a genre one doesn't read. I had a couple of great critique partners for years, but their lives got too busy, and I had to recruit new people for my last book. Only one of my original team is still with me. It's great when you can find someone who is honest, insightful, tactful, attentive, and prompt. The chapter idea might be a good test run.
Scribophile.com is another critiquing and beta reading site you can use. I put my recently self-published erotic novelette up there in parts for initial feedback after my own editing, then asked a few of my editor/reader/writer friends for feedback.After that I employed a professional editor who did both copy editing and structural editing and all that was for a 13,000 word document.
Good betas can be hard to come by, but once you find one, stick to them. As other indies I follow online (e.g. Lindsay Buroker) have advised a good beta is worth their weight in gold. They often are open to reading multiple works if they enjoy your writing too. So it's definitely worth the time and investment to find the right beta for you rather than the first one that comes along.
