I guess this is my "I need a hug and a stiff drink" comment

[Melissa]

Why do beta readers offer to read a book, and then not even contact you after you've sent out the book? I understand that people have a life, and things come up, but if you don't have time to read for someone, why accept to do it? If you have something come up, and the author contacts you, why not just tell them something has come up and I can't read for you?
Why is there such a lack of communication? Am I making too much of this?

[Sandy]

No, you're not. I have a bunch who've not responded - even to let me know they received the document. I have one who vanished partway through. Unfortunately, it happens.

[Dakota]

Well, it could go both ways. I actually just had someone email me stating a very valid reason for her lack of contact. Things do happen. But sometimes they don't and people decide, for whatever reason they cannot or will not complete the task. Can go either way

[Annette]

Melissa wrote: "Why do beta readers offer to read a book, and then not even contact you after you've sent out the book? I understand that people have a life, and things come up, but if you don't have time to read ..."

Happens a lot, but after a while you will find your reliable betas. That's why I pay more often than not. The paid ones tend to offer better feedback as well. I have had some great free betas, so just make sure the book is copyrighted and jump on the free ones when they become available if that's the route you want to take. This is a process!

[J.]

I'm with Annette here. Used a paid beta myself and the feedback was solid and honest (but not painfully so, may I add!)

I've had the opposite end of the spectrum where I've beta read for someone, sent detailed feedback and heard nothing - not even a thanks! Works both ways it seems.

[Roughseasinthemed]

I tend to only take on short free betas, eg first one or two chapters or a very short story. That way it doesn't conflict with paid work that may come in, and I can get back to the author fairly quickly and I know I'm not overcommitting myself/going to disappoint them (well, the feedback might, but at least they get it).

[Lin]

Don't be afraid to send a chase-up message if you don't hear anything. I heard back from someone this week asking what had happened, but I had sent her the report two days previously! Because she asked, I was able to resend and all was well, but somehow the message got lost.

[Bob]

At the moment I am collecting advance reviews for my coming book, and it's a similar situation. About 35 people have accepted the book so far. I have 14 reviews to hand. Six of these responded after an email reminder, which I word like this:
"Dear X,
You agreed to read my book Hit and Run, and I sent you a copy on the 2nd Oct, 2016.
If you didn’t like it, or don't have the time to read it, that’s fine but please let me know. If it just slipped by, I would be very grateful for a review.
:)
Bob

This works well. Some don't even reply to it, which may mean something negative, or that their system has blacklisted my email, or they have some drastic change in their lives and are not checking emails.

[Nat]

If someone offers to beta your book and you send it out and they have no response to you... than they suck. They could always be busy, but they should let you know. I offered to beta and then had four people take up the offer and I had to turn down two because I just didn't have time.

But the point was I contacted them and let them know I couldn't do it. I didn't leave them hanging.

So, they suck and it's too bad you got stuck with a sucky one. I guess just try to get another one. And you are not making too much of it. That kind of disrespect is disheartening.

[Melissa]

It's not just one. And I've followed up. Should I try again?

[Melissa]

Lin wrote: "Don't be afraid to send a chase-up message if you don't hear anything. I heard back from someone this week asking what had happened, but I had sent her the report two days previously! Because she a..."

Can I borrow this? Thank you!