Beta Reader Hook-up Exchange

[David]

You know, as an author, I've always been a little conflicted about review exchanges. They can be a quick way to get some initial reviews for new authors and books, but there is always pressure to sugar-coat reviews for fear the other author might view your work less favorably if you are too critical. How about instead let's use the goodreads writing community to help us generate feedback and polish our work before a reviewer or publisher ever sees it?

No author can be 100% objective about their own work. We're just too close to our pet projects and personal masterpieces, but there's no question that the more eyes that see a novel before it is printed, the more likely that novel is to be tightly packaged, polished, and presentable. Other people who are not as close to your work as you are are more likely to see mistakes or problems that you've missed or come up with new ideas and appreciations that you might never have thought of otherwise.

Got a new book you're about to release? Post here if you would like to hook-up with another author in a Beta Exchange. You read their work. They read yours. Exchange first impressions, creative critisism,and trouble shooting all before a purchaser or reviewer get a hold of your literary baby and savage it for the small stuff you may have missed.

Let's help each other elevate the level of our writing!

(Be critical but kind. Treat each other with respect and please, please, please don't distribute anyone else's work without their express permission.)

[S.L.]

Hi Davidm,

Great Idea! I'm currently finishing a third book in my Dystopian series, and this sounds like an excellent way to get un-biased feedback, and help other fellow writer's out.

[Stan]

The problem with this is that the same things which make it uncomfortable to cross review books also make it uncomfortable to beta review WIPs. I would like to see a beta thread that excludes writers entirely, except for posting links to their unpublished WIPs.

[Rick]

Perhaps I am confused, but I thought beta-readers traded completed manuscripts (not completed books)not for reviews, but for detailed critiques, which often include some line-editing,critique of plot and character development,and the myriad details that go into creating readable works i.e. exposition, rising action, resolution, setting, sybolism, etc. The goal is to look hard for potential problems and bring them to the writer's attention.

[Stan]

Rick wrote: "Perhaps I am confused, but I thought beta-readers traded completed manuscripts (not completed books)not for reviews, but for detailed critiques, which often include some line-editing,critique of pl..."

That is usually reserved for critique groups. Beta readers more often look for the obvious, like a character being in different places at the same time. It's not usually a trade.

[Rick]

But it's not for reviews either, correct?

[Stan]

Rick wrote: "But it's not for reviews either, correct?"

Correct.

[David]

@Rick
This is not for review, but critique at the late stages of writing. when you feel like you're ready to publish but would just like one more critical look. The level of detail will be up to the two authors involved, but I've found when two people are frank and open about each other's work, it only leads to better writing.

[Rick]

Yup, I agree. I'd rather have a totally frank critique, than a feel good rah-rah from the cheering section. Whether or not I agree with a critic's comments, I must respect them with at least a consideration of their viewpoint. As you said, "it only leads to better writing."