Comments on: Beta reading before submitting

By: Jeff Draper

Jeff Draper — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:57:07 +0000

I've had a beta reader for a few years and she's been great. I also recently joined a local writer's group here in Seattle and they are great. (Big Plus: They're all better than me.) What they do is find the stuff I can't seem to ferret out myself. They see where I drift and stop following the rules that I could likely recite off the top of my head. The help and guidance they give are well worth the time and effort. Jeff Draper´s last blog post was Physician, Heal Thyself

By: Alex Moore

Alex Moore — Thu, 14 May 2009 13:44:31 +0000

I think Stuart's point is spot on: good critique groups are invaluable. hand-holding or catty ones are poison. I'm private by nature -- and guard my time jealously -- so I have never searched out a critique group, though I do have a couple trusted blogging buddies with whom I exchange writing. Mostly, however, I rely on my hubby. Alex Moore´s last blog post was USPS Adventure: Must Read Books Arrive

By: Kameron

Kameron — Thu, 14 May 2009 06:46:13 +0000

I certainly don’t disagree with your first point. I found my college critique group invaluable. I’m not really that anti-beta reader/critique group, I’m just much more selective about it than I was before Maiden.

By: Stuart

Stuart — Wed, 13 May 2009 20:12:09 +0000

I’ve found (good) crit groups to be invaluable (and bad ones can be poisonous). My current one I’ve been with for nearly four years. They’ve helped me realize any personal writing ticks I have, confirmed where the story flows as intended (and where not), and how well my hints/clues/misdirections around the mystery work.

Also, you learn as much by critting other’s work as you learn from having your work reviewed.

For your first point, I think that applies if an editor has already bought it. Otherwise, tailoring it for one person limits your audience. It makes more sense to be true to the story and then find the editor that it is the best fit.

For the second, I think that applies more for work for hire projects, though I guess every editor is different. Also if you have an agent, that person will be another beta reader/editor.

If you change your mind about beta reading, drop me an email. Echoes will be ready for fresh eyes this summer before sending it out to agents in the fall.