HOW TO FIND, SELECT AND WORK WITH BETA READERS

[Esther]

I put together a video on HOW TO FIND, SELECT & WORK WITH BETA READERS for authors looking into this. I'll be including some very useful Goodreads and Facebook groups where I found amazing betas for my novel (INCLUDING THIS GROUP), a list of questions an author should ask BETAS & more tips based on my own experience. If you find it useful, it would do me a world of good if you subscribed to my channel and shared my content. Also, look for the full article on Working With Beta Readers in the video description. Much love 🥰

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fbGh...

[Tito]

Hi Esther,

I clicked on 'subscribe', but it won't accept my comments without a name. How do I register a name?

Anyway, a lot of good advice there! I would make only one comment; that different folks might have different customs defining 'courtesy'.

I'm Australian, and we tend to be very informal. Your example of how to engage a Beta sounded to me quite formal and cold, almost arrogant. If I were sent a file with the covering email saying 'I attach my file for the purposes of a Beta-read.... I require answers to the following questions.... The deadline is....." I would feel rather insulted.

When I send to my Betas I say "Here is the file of XYZ as discussed. I'd be grateful if you could include comments on the following in your notes.... My hope is that your response might be available for a further polish by dd/mm/yy if that is possible."

Otherwise, your video and the associated one about blurbs is well worth the time to watch them.

Bob

[Esther]

Tito wrote: "Hi Esther,

I clicked on 'subscribe', but it won't accept my comments without a name. How do I register a name?

Anyway, a lot of good advice there! I would make only one comment; that different fo..."

Thanks for your input Bob. I tend to be informal with the ones I already have an established relationship with but I'd never informally approach a new beta reader. I've been a beta for a looong time now and I've dismissed candidates who simply DMd me: "will you read my stuff?" without details such as word count, genre and the whole 9 yards. But that's just me and there are plenty of ways to make a stew as I say :)

If you want to subscribe you must indeed have a Youtube account and for the comments you'll need to add a name. I've restricted the comment section in order to avoid spamming as much as possible (although that's ultimately inevitable) , so they will ask for a name.

[Tito]

Thanks for the reply, Esther.

I think perhaps we are coming from different starting points, which would explain our different perspectives. I was looking at it as a Beta, but you were talking as a writer. Problem solved!

Live long and prosper!

Bob

[Esther]

Tito wrote: "Thanks for the reply, Esther.

I think perhaps we are coming from different starting points, which would explain our different perspectives. I was looking at it as a Beta, but you were talking as a..."

Touchè! How many betas do you usually need for a project?

[Tito]

Esther wrote: "Tito wrote: "Thanks for the reply, Esther.

I think perhaps we are coming from different starting points, which would explain our different perspectives. I was looking at it as a Beta, but you were..."

Hi Esther,

I get the impression that I'm unusual here, but I tend to use only one or two betas, take on board their input and makes changes as I think are required, then put it out there again. Some betas are much better than others, but most give me at least a handful of insights.

This multi-step approach takes more calendar time than getting half-a-dozen at once, but I think it works for me to spiral in slowly, each new beta getting a better starting point that the previous cycles.

The novel going through the publishers now took one professional and four free betas, but It is on a subject close to my heart and which I understand reasonably well. I'm now working on a trilogy that has had over six already (just on the first book) and I'm still a long way from home. So the number of Betas needed varies.

[Esther]

Tito wrote: "Esther wrote: "Tito wrote: "Thanks for the reply, Esther.

I think perhaps we are coming from different starting points, which would explain our different perspectives. I was looking at it as a Bet..."

If it's a winning combo it's great. My literary buddies and myself work with 3-5 betas at most and I found it really useful. If your handful is great, one doesn't need more. Good luck with your WIP :)