Beta Readers by L. A. Kelley

Beta Readers

A beta reader is person who reads a manuscript for the good, bad, and the ugly, confusing or clever plot points, terrific or terrible scenes, or poorly or exceptionally written characters. It’s the way everyone reads a book, only now you’re asking someone to keep notes. A beta reader isn’t paid, but a token thanks such as a copy of the book is common. If you have cash for advice, don’t use a beta reader. Hire a professional.

 Beta readers are often family or friends, but can be fans, too. However, using someone close can be iffy. They’re afraid to hurt your feelings and may not be totally honest. If you have no one in mind, writing groups are good places to start, either online or face-to-face. They’re generally quid pro quo; someone reads your manuscript and you read theirs. This may not be something you’re comfortable with or have time for.

 If you decide on a beta reader here are a few tips for a positive working relationship.

 Agree on a time frame up front. You don’t want someone who takes six months to return comments. Once agreement is reached, give the beta reader a prompt sheet with a few questions. Are the characters actions realistic? Was there any part you didn’t understand? Any scenes drag or hold too much information? What were your favorite parts or characters and why? Your least favorite and why? Don’t give them twenty pages asking for detailed insight and a complete psychological profile of each character. Do that and they’ll head for the hills.

 Do you need a beta reader subject matter expert? You might if you’re writing a police or medical procedural or a book where the lead character is a different ethnicity. Try to find someone with specialized knowledge. The last thing you want to be accused of is stereotyping.

Accept all comments with a polite thank you, but don’t jump on the re-edit bandwagon too soon. Just because a beta reader didn’t click with a character or a scene, doesn’t mean it should be deleted or rewritten. Think carefully about the comments. Can you see their point of view? Is it valid? Any notes from the beta reader should be taken as suggestions, not gospel. The most important thing to remember is don’t take a critique personally. Comments can be ignored. After all, this is your manuscript and changes are always your discretions.

L. A. Kelley writes science fiction and fantasy adventures with humor, romance and a little sass. Her life is in constant edit mode.

Five Wonderful Insights You Need to Know About Writers

The moment I sat my butt in the chair and my fingers to the keyboard, intent on writing a novel—I knew I had a lot to learn.

Okay, honestly, I had no idea what was involved in writing a novel. You just sit down and write, right? Preferably in long stretches in a secluded cabin. 

Well, over the last ten years I’ve learned a lot about writing, but the most surprising thing I discovered was about the elusive introverts tapping away on the keyboards—the writers. (The uninterrupted time and secluded cabin continue to elude me.)

1.    Writers might horde sticky notes, pens, and chocolate (or is that just me?) but there’s no hoarding of information

·      If I ask a question on a writer’s loop- multiple answers & suggestions appear like magic

·      I’ve gained critique partners, beta readers, new ideas, email addresses-I can’t even list how much I’ve benefited from making writer friends.

2.     Writers make sacrifices for their love of the written word. Things like sleeping, a social life and occasionally…their sanity.

·      Turns out, I’m not completely insane for getting up at the crack of dawn to write- so do a ton of other writers.

·      Writers are the only people who don’t raise a brow when I confess to not watching most of the popular television shows (or much TV at all without my laptop)

3.     Writers embrace the odd and unusual- I’ve found my peeps! I’m not alone!

·      A secret obsession of office products is expected. Yes!

·      They utilize a clandestine language in their writerly discussions — WIP, PR, dayjob, TBR, RWA, TSTL…

4.     Writers can become fast friends even if they’ve never met or spoke in person

·      Some of my writer friends know me better than the people I see everyday

·      Could be because the people I see everyday get a little nervous when I share too much of what’s going on in my mind when a story is percolating.

5.     Writer’s boost each other up – sure there might be a little of the green eyed monster now and then, but for the most part there are never too many stories.

·      I’ve never heard anyone say, “I just can’t read another book. Or I have no room for another author in my TBR pile.”

Writers- what insights would you like to add?

 Non-writers (i.e.: normal folk)- How do you envision your favorite authors?  (I was pretty sure 'my authors' lived in that cabin...still waiting on the invite...)

Clarity in writing: Lessons learned from tween twins

When I’m writing, everyone in my head knows exactly what I’m talking about.  No one stops me to say, “Hey, what does that word mean?”  (Hint- that’s one good reason for critique partners and beta readers.)

Raising twin Tweens has made me more vigilant in awareness of writing with clarity as I’m frequently questioned:

“What does this word mean?”

or

“That isn’t what that word means.” 

Ie: A word that had been used frequently ‘back in the day’ may be viewed differently now by your readers. (Ie:  My Twins have informed me the word 'cool' is so not cool anymore.)

No one is ‘busy’ anymore:

Backstory:  Twin #2 rushes into the room, clutching the phone against her chest.  Her eyes wild, her expression...desperate. 

Twin: “Something’s wrong with the phone.  It keep making this weird sound.” Hands phone to me.

Me: Listens. “It’s a busy signal.”

Twin: Blank stare.

Me: “It means someone is on the line.” 

Twin: Another blank stare.

Me: “You’ll have to call her back later.”

Twin: “What?  Later? Can't you call her on your cell phone?” 

Me: “No, they only have one line.  It doesn’t matter what phone you call from.”

Twin: “But how will I reach her?”

Me: “You’ll have to wait and call back.” 

Twin: “Wait?” Look of utter despair. 

Using words and expressions that are going extinct or that are complex or unusual:

Assuming everyone knows what you’re talking about.  Don’t assume.  

There won’t be someone there to explain it in a story, and you wouldn’t want them to need it to be explained.  "Lucy, you got some splainin' to do!"

Expressions make you sound like a crazy, ranting woman

It took several times using the expression on my Twins about the perils of ‘crying wolf’ before I realized they had no idea what I was talking about.  Yet they’d never said anything, simply let me rant on about it to shrug after I left, and summing it up to another ‘crazy mother rant.’  Perhaps.  But the rant was intended to deliver a moral with it, that of not lying or no one will believe you when you are speaking the truth. 

#  You aren’t up with the times

On following the steps on an automated recording on a phone.

Twin: “It’s saying to push the pound sign, what does that mean?”

Me: Points to it on the phone.

 Twin: “You mean a hashtag?”

  The Digital Age:

“What time are we leaving?”

“Quarter till seven.”

“What?”

“Six forty-five.”

“Why didn’t you just say that?”

Rolls eyes.  

Insight: Roman numerals and the Analog clock vs Digital:  Has also rendered clocks with the time on the face depicted only with Roman Numerals, challenging or useless.  Almost everything has digital numbers on it now.

The same goes for making it too ‘modern’ and using only newfangled lingo of the young- someone else might not understand it

   

Therefore:  Write with clarity.  Know your audience and Use the simplest word that will do.  Big words don’t impress the reader, it throws them out of the story if they have to stop to get a dictionary.

What words, or expressions, do you feel are becoming extinct? 

                                                                                               ~Maureen

Is There A Difference Between Beta Readers and Critique Partners?

Veronica sez: I enjoyed V.S.'s take on the subject of beta readers and critique partners so much, I asked her to post the discussion here for her December blog topic and she kindly obliged. So here's the answer from V. S. Nelson, to the rhetorical question she posed in the title line:

You bet there is! First, I’d like to define the terms beta readers and critique partners we so often use in the writing world. Simply put, a beta reader is someone who reads an author’s unpublished work.  He or she can be an author, but this isn’t a requirement. A critique partner is another author who you expect feedback from. They both serve a valuable service to the author.

Beta-Readers

Some authors use beta readers to read their work just before their story goes to print (or in this day and age, uploaded to a site like Amazon), while others, like myself; prefer to utilize two different types of beta readers. I call them pre and post. My pre-post-beta-reader reads my work prior to it being edited. I primarily use my pre-post-beta-readers to make sure I have a story long before I spend endless hours editing something that might end up in the trash. I use their advice to enhance story lines, character developments and numerous other things.

Once I have evaluated their advice I put it to good use by beginning my rewrites. When I am satisfied with my changes, I send the manuscript back out to them for another quick look. If no more suggestions are made, my work is then sent to my critique partners and then to my first (copy) editor.They, of course, makes a variety of suggestions and corrections, sends the work back to me for another round of rewrites.

When I have completed the rewrites (yes again) it goes back to my copy editor for a hard look. Confident the work is in primo shape; I send it to my line editor and am ready to share it with my post-beta-reader. I have them complete a form, much like a judge would use in a writing contest. The form allows me to see if there is anything else that might need to be tweaked before I consider it ready for publication.

I have, of course, promised a signed copy of the finalized version not available to the public for their services, other wise known as an ARC (Advanced Released Copy.) 

Critique Partners

As I previously mentioned, a critique partner is another author/writer who evaluates your work and in return you evaluate her/his during the writing process. Critique groups consist of 2 or more writers and can be as large as 20 or so members with the average being around 4 or 5. Typically, critique groups meet bi-weekly or monthly depending on the needs of the group. These groups evaluate or critique sections or chapters as the novel is being developed or written. 

A Good Critique Partner or group is not a fan club. You are not there to praise another’s work, but to help each other with the writing process. Do not expect praises from your critique partners. Be thrilled if you get them, and know you are on the right track, but be warned if you get them too often, you might have a fan, not a real CP. Something I learned a long time ago, other authors are the hardest to please, as they should be.

A Great Critique Partner is worth their weight in gold as they spend hours reading over and critiquing your work with a fine tooth comb -- sometimes nit picking the tiniest things you missed… all in all, they help develop your manuscript into a piece of art. 

Acquiring Beta-Readers

            First rule of thumb is not to ask a close relative, like your mother or husband, to read your story. They are too close to you to give you an unbiased opinion. You want someone who, above anything else, is HONEST and DIRECT. Hearing, “I couldn’t get into your story, or your hero lacks something.” is not what you want hear--but if it is the truth you need to hear it before you spend hours upon hours writing and rewriting a 400 page novel.

This is why I request my pre-post-beta readers to read the unedited version. CONTENT, FLOW, and CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT are essential to every great novel no matter what genre’ you are writing in. 

I’d like to give you ideas on who might make a really great beta-reader and give you some ideas where to find those beta readers.

(1)   Find someone who is well versed and reads you genre.

(2)   If you write from both male and female POVs; find someone of the opposite sex. These individuals can help you greatly with everything from romantic scenes to bloody battles.

(3)   If you are writing military romance or suspense; find a soldier, cop or someone who has expertise in that field.

Finding beta-readers is easier than you might expect. All one has to do is mention they are an author and they seem to come out of the wood work. But be careful and make sure you both understand the rules before you hand over your work to someone you really don’t know that well.

A beta reader who is tempted to share your work with every one of their friends is not for you. Remind them, you have selected them—and them only.

Another thing I will remind you of is having too many people read your work will give you too many outside ideas. Don’t ask everyone you know or meet. Trying to please the twenty people who read your book and commented on it will eventually drive you to creating some major mistakes. Remember you can’t please everyone and please, above all else stay true to your muse.

Joining a Critique Group

            The easiest place to find a critique group is through your local writing association. If you’re not a member of one, try visiting a local chapter of RWA (Romance Writers of American) or Sister’s in Crime. Newspapers often list local meetings. Check your bookstore bulletin board for locations for writing groups. Find someone or a group that fits your needs. As I mentioned they vary in size and what they are willing or not willing to do. If you join one and it works out for you, great! If not, find another.