By: Jami Gold
Almost two years ago, I posted advice for howto
find beta readers. In the time since then, many people have asked me where they
can find beta readers. I’d love to be able to offer a mega-list of resources
for finding beta readers, and maybe this post can be the first step.
As I mentioned in that older post, if someone can give honest feedback,
they can be a beta reader. Beta readers typically comment on things like
confusing sentences or plot events, where their attention wavers, and what they
think of the characters.
So we’re not
necessarily looking for writing craft experts. Instead, we’re often looking
for people we connect with, people who will follow through on promises, and
people who can read with awareness. That means we want someone who will push us
and our story to be better.
Step One: Want to Be Better
Before we look for beta readers, we have to ensure that we’re ready
to receive feedback. It won’t do any good to track down beta readers if
we’re going to ignore everything they say or if we’re going to get upset that
they didn’t love our work as is.
Beta readers are not cheerleaders. We’re wasting their
time if we can’t honestly want to hear what they have to say. (That doesn’t
mean we have to agree with everything they say. *smile*)
If we waste their time, they won’t want to work with us again. And if that
happens, we’re back at square one in looking for beta readers. So if we want
to keep beta readers, we have to value their time and at least
respect their feedback.
Where Can We Find Beta Readers?
To read the rest of the post, click here.
~*~
If
you missed my writing & marketing tweets and retweets from Tuesday and Wednesday, here they
are again:
- Ask Jami: Where to Find Beta Readers | Jami Gold, Paranormal Author http://ow.ly/sMYiw
- A 10 -Step Strategy to Writing a Family History Book - BLOG - Stories To Tell Books http://ow.ly/sMYtp
- 21 Steps to Create an Awesome LinkedIn Profile - Jeffbullas's Blog http://ow.ly/sMZsX
- Do you suffer from these personality quirks? Then you might be a #writer! Fun list from @EdieMelson http://bit.ly/1cO7edf #amwriting
- BookMarketingBuzzBlog: Why Did You Write Your Book? http://ow.ly/sMZNb
- Maggie Lyons Blog: How to Make a Book Trailer Using Animoto http://ow.ly/sN1n3
- Writer Unboxed » To the Disconsolate Writer Who Hates Her Pace http://ow.ly/sN1Wl
- 76+ Places to Submit Your Free KDP Select Promotion for Your Kindle eBook - Training Authors for Success http://ow.ly/sN3uA
- A note on historical romance sales in print | The Passive Voice | http://ow.ly/sN3Lz
- Phillip Margolin – The Storyfix Interview http://ow.ly/sN70Y Tip: write what you love rather than writing what you think will sell.
- The Other Side of the Story: Thirteen Secrets for Sizzling Dialogue http://ow.ly/sN7pT
- How to Beat the Self-Pub Stigma and Gain New Readers | Wise Ink's Blog for Indie Authors about Self-Publishing http://ow.ly/sN81v
- Instagram Platform Ripe for Marketers Shows New Research | Social Media Examiner http://ow.ly/sN881
- Anne R. Allen's Blog: Six Pieces of Bad Advice New Writers Need to Ignore http://ow.ly/sN9wP
- 4 Key Areas to Focus Your Time Upon to Grow Profitable Blogs [And How Much of Your Time to Spend On Them] http://ow.ly/sN9Dx
- Promoting your book on Twitter in less than 10 minutes a day http://ow.ly/sNa54
- What is the Value of a Twitter Follower? - HootSuite Social Media Management http://ow.ly/sNdLD
- All About The Money: Authors, Readers, and Ebook Prices | Jami Gold, Paranormal Author http://ow.ly/sO5sF
- Amazon Hack: A Quick Tip for More Reviews and Networking with Reviewers! | Author Marketing Experts, Inc. http://ow.ly/sPB7V
- Amazon Hack: An Easy Way to Make Changes to Your Book http://ow.ly/sPEoW
- Sharing with Writers and Readers: Blog Tour Tips: Reminder or New Ideas for a More Successful Tour http://ow.ly/sPEPu
- Self-publishing for Beginners: How to add an Amazon Store to your Facebook Page http://ow.ly/sPGn1
- Call-to-Action Use in Social Media http://ow.ly/sPHmQ
- Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity: 2 Literary Agents Seeking New Clients http://ow.ly/sPHOq
- Instagram: Marketing Inside The Frame - Heidi Cohen http://ow.ly/sPIph
- 6 Simple Photo Tools for Creating Social Media Visuals | Social Media Examiner http://ow.ly/sPJsB\
- Kindle Sales Rank Calculator - Ranking Your Kindle Book Sales http://ow.ly/sPMr2
- "The hard truth is this: every page needs to be your best page." http://bit.ly/1bfSOCV via @Ava_Jae
- Are clichés a death sentence to your MS? Here's why writer @Ava_Jae says not necessarily: http://bit.ly/1alrDGM
- The Book Designer — Practical Advice to Help Self-Publishers Build Better Books http://ow.ly/sPNzO
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