tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4429192322415915313.post3425165489901590422..comments2022-10-26T04:11:54.975-07:00Comments on Professional Freelance Content: Beta Testing: On Using and Being a Beta ReaderAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02525554161335481694noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4429192322415915313.post-45638267963122730432014-04-11T01:23:33.637-07:002014-04-11T01:23:33.637-07:00Hi Gamal,
Good article, although I'm sorry to...Hi Gamal,<br /><br />Good article, although I'm sorry to see that you only had four out of seven beta readers respond to you.<br /><br />I currently have twelve dedicated beta-readers who 'pre-read' everything I publish. Most of them are readers, not authors, but two are (former) editors and many have specific fields (like law enforcement, crime, firearms, medical) and they fact-check these specific areas in my books.<br /><br />I also have some 'fans' who've become beta-readers. One of them is a senior lecturer in French Literature at an English university. She is visually impaired and got into my books because one of my protagonists is blind. Another is fully blind and converts my epubs into mp3 so he can listen to them.<br /><br />I find the process immensely rewarding because I get detailed feedback on what my beta-readers think works or doesn't work. I don't change things if only one of them reacts negatively, but if several comment negatively on the same thing I will scrutinize the scene or chapter to see what I can do to improve it. I think that having my final drafts read by beta-readers also accounts for the generally positive reviews I receive, both on GoodReads and the retailer sites like Amazon, iTunes, Kobo and B&N.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4429192322415915313.post-39036511640295306482013-04-19T14:03:42.307-07:002013-04-19T14:03:42.307-07:00I will keep that in mind. My publishing plan inclu...I will keep that in mind. My publishing plan includes at least 3 novels for the next two years, so I'll be keeping them very busy. ;-)<br /><br />Thanks again.<br />GAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02525554161335481694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4429192322415915313.post-4550283793442720092013-04-19T13:29:36.322-07:002013-04-19T13:29:36.322-07:00Well, the readers in our group read books other th...Well, the readers in our group read books other than erotica ;-) Please, feel free to post for betas for any type of read - I think as long as you tell them what to expect, you will be fine. Only interested parties will respond! I ♥ Bookie Nookiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18357562915587798606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4429192322415915313.post-83931518486873292462013-04-14T20:55:50.477-07:002013-04-14T20:55:50.477-07:00Thanks Bill. I got the message from Stephen King&#...Thanks Bill. I got the message from Stephen King's book, and I'm well aware of the "ulterior motives" writer. I'll keep my eye out for him.<br /><br />Thanks again.<br />GamalAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02525554161335481694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4429192322415915313.post-73421024463672570802013-04-14T20:53:53.362-07:002013-04-14T20:53:53.362-07:00Thank you Nookie. I didn't submit Smooth Opera...Thank you Nookie. I didn't submit Smooth Operator for a beta read in Erotic Enchants because I felt it didn't have enough erotic material to justify the group's time. The novel I'm working on now has a fundamental erotic component, so I do plan to look for beta readers within the EE group in the winter.<br /><br />And I specifically got a group of seven betas together because I knew that all seven of them wouldn't finish it even if it was a masterpiece (which it probably wasn't)<br /><br />Thanks again. <br />GAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02525554161335481694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4429192322415915313.post-39817046738372601732013-04-14T18:59:52.815-07:002013-04-14T18:59:52.815-07:00OOPS... I deleted my previous post :-)
Personall...OOPS... I deleted my previous post :-)<br /><br />Personally, I have played the part of a beta reader on quite a few occasions. I am certainly not a professional editor, but I think I have a pretty good eye for missing/wrong words, plot holes and character development - I don't have to be a professional to know how a book lands on me and I am always honest, but kind with my feedback. Gamal, you are a member of one of my groups (Erotic Enchants), if you haven't already, you should reach out in the "beta" section of our group and snag some betas there. They are not always reliable - I my self have fallen through on occasion when I can't get into the book - so it's good to allow for roughly 40% NOT to pull through for you ;-)<br /><br />Good luck!I ♥ Bookie Nookiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18357562915587798606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4429192322415915313.post-53886394433001236412013-04-14T18:58:29.670-07:002013-04-14T18:58:29.670-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.I ♥ Bookie Nookiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18357562915587798606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4429192322415915313.post-23580900481700662492013-04-12T06:30:35.630-07:002013-04-12T06:30:35.630-07:00Sorry, wrote the previous comment rom my iPhone an...Sorry, wrote the previous comment rom my iPhone and didn't edit correctly. Should have been 'critique' and later on meant 'were not good enough', but I hope everyone figured it out. May be a hard commentary but I've learned from my own writing career and through teaching screenwriting that honest, fair and tough is the best advice to get, and give. Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02297326037635052769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4429192322415915313.post-5384645180649828432013-04-12T06:24:00.087-07:002013-04-12T06:24:00.087-07:00Dangerous road to travel. If you go to Stephen Kin...Dangerous road to travel. If you go to Stephen King's book On Writing, you'll see he talks about his Ideal Reader (IR), not 'beta' reader. And King's Ideal Reader is his wife Tabitha King, an experienced writer and editor who has an established and proven track record or working with her husband who knows and trusts her critqiqu. The term Beta Reader has been thrown around a lot recently and is a dangerous path to follow, just as test audiences for film can be. You may not get the right response from someone whose ulterior motives make that reader not objective, e.g. relative, jealous colleague, failed writer. Writing is a craft as much as it is an art, maybe more, so if you're looking for constructive feedback you need to know what you're getting and who's giving it to you. When half you're 'beta readers' didn't finish the book, did you stop to think that maybe because it wasn't compelling enough or revised enough to make them want to read the whole thing? Or just maybe the core story and characters were good enough to keep someone turning/swiping the pages. And what draft did you give them? Too ''writers' write one book, one draft and think they're finished. Writing is revising. And it takes a lot more than seventy five thousand words to make a writer over time. Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02297326037635052769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4429192322415915313.post-54753193769872847402013-04-08T17:09:57.458-07:002013-04-08T17:09:57.458-07:00Hi,
I agree that beta readers are an essential par...Hi,<br />I agree that beta readers are an essential part of the writing process. It allows the writer the insight of a reader before the product is finished. <br /><br />I've used the services of my writers group for my novel and have found the help extremely useful (I've given four or five chapters at a time asking for their feedback). <br /><br />The problem, I think, an author can have is that they read their own manuscript um-teen times and there come a point where fresh eyes are needed. Out of the nine that I gave away I've gotten four back, all with positive suggestions and a general 'like' for the book and characters. <br /><br />It's good to know that the book is exciting, engaging and entertaining. The fact that they want to read more and then read the book once this process is finished makes me very happy and is very encouraging.<br /><br />I also beta read the first bit of an author's new book and enjoyed doing my part to help him out. He was very happy with what I'd done, the comments and suggestions I'd made and asked me to read more, which I agreed to (of course - its a great story).<br /> <br />G, I do like the questions that you asked your beta readers. That was one mistake I made; I didn't really give specifics. I said, give me your general impression, comments, etc. Correct spelling and punctuation if you wish. But, I think a specific set of questions are a good idea.<br /><br />I'm glad I came upon this link in Goodreads.<br />PamAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08860528975416861271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4429192322415915313.post-77671019766543185422013-04-08T10:20:19.579-07:002013-04-08T10:20:19.579-07:00G,
Very interesting observations regarding Beta r...G,<br /><br />Very interesting observations regarding Beta readers. I did my first beta read a few weeks ago. It was a chore to do. I wanted to give good feedback. I think it especially important to note when the reader gets that "lost in the woods" feeling. Also called, "looks like this is going nowhere." The worst is when the reader goes down in flames - a "flamer." It's important that the beta reader is partial to the "kind" of book you write. Seems like a dumb observation, but I've seen many reviews where it's obvious that the reviewer wanted a totally different book by someone other than the author. Like, I hate YA and would never read or comment on those books.<br /><br />I think having a short list of questions is a good idea, too.<br /><br />I am looking forward to your book and would be happy to give you my two cents worth of beta if you like.<br /><br />JimJIM in MThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10780371619722374304noreply@blogger.com