Monday, May 15, 2017

Beta Reads

Debra ponders Beta reads.

Recently I did a beta read (along with some line edits) for a sister of a friend of mine. I've done beta edits for another author friend of mine as well. They are always grateful for feedback, and it's nice to know I was able to help them out.

I am not as good at receiving help. When I used to attend my local RWA meetings, I always took advantage of our critiquing sessions, bringing the first chapter of all my new stories to be read and critiqued. But after that first chapter read, I tended to loan-wolf it. Since I stopped going to meetings, I rarely enlist the help of fellow authors for critiques or beta reads before submitting a mss to my editor. I'm not really sure why that is. Do I want the story to be a surprise for everyone? Am I able to dish out advice but not take it? Or is it just that I haven't found anyone to give me some solid, usable information?

Unfortunately, I think I fall into the middle category. When I first submitted my Fourth of July story, my editor asked for some tweaks, and wondered if I'd given it to a beta first. I had to confess that I hadn't. So, I passed it along to a writer friend, who gave me some good ideas. But I was reluctant to use them. I was stuck in the mindset of 'this-is-my-story-and-I'm-going-to-tell-the-the-way-I-want-to-regardless-of-what-anyone-else-says'. Not good. Any successful writer knows it's important to listen to and take into account sound, professionally given feedback. I definitely need to be more open to this kind of thing.

Something really great (In addition to getting to read a fabulous story.) that came out of doing the recent beta read was it has me chomping on the bit to get back to my own writing. Just reading someone else's pre-published writing made me think of my own WIPs. It was interesting that some of the things I was commenting on in her writing were things that I always need to strengthen in my own. (I even found myself editing and commenting with my own editor's 'voice' in my head.) But I think that's a common thing. It's so easy to spot 'issues' in others' writing and so hard to do it in our own. Which is another reason for a beta reader.

However, getting back to my own writing is not going to happen for a few weeks at this point. The end of the school year is fast approaching (Yay!!), and my sister is getting married on Friday (Double Yay!!!!) So there are a million things to do before I can really sit down and give my writing the credit it's due. It's been a long time since I've been motivated at all, so this is encouraging.

My goal is to have my current WIP finished by the end of the summer and close to ready to submit. Or at least ready for a beta read, because I really do need to be better at getting on the receiving end of those.

So how about you? Do you use beta readers? Critique partners? How do you take your mss to that final step before you submit?

Until next time,

Happy Reading!

Debra
www.debrastjohnromance.com




11 comments:

  1. I have two critique partners and a beta reader (and also a brainstorming partner) and couldn't survive without any of them! I really value their feedback and ideas, and know they have all made me a stronger writer. Other people can see things that you miss (or get wrong) in the development of the plot and characters. Also critiquing/beta reading someone else's story can help you improve your own.

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    1. I totally agree that a 'side effect' of critiquing others make you a better writer.

      And it's so easy to miss things in our own writing that are 'glaring' in others. So interesting.

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  2. I have a critique partner, and I am in an online critique group. I could not live without either. Their feedback has been essential to my development as a writer. We trade in honesty, support and fast turnarounds.
    Plus I get to read some good stories.

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    1. I learned a ton, from my own and others' writing, during critique session at my RWA meetings.

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  3. I am happy you are feeling the urge to get back into a story, Debra.
    Keep us posted on your progress! I, for one, am ready to cheer you on. You are a great writer. I have loved every one of your stories.

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    1. You are so sweet, Ana. I do miss writing, so hopefully this motivation will last and I'll be able to accomplish something!

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  4. I have several critique partners and they are invaluable to me. I couldn't do this without them. It difficult to take, sometimes, but they make my stories better. So glad you're getting inspired again!

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    1. I think my skin just isn't thick enough sometimes. Something I REALLY need to get over if I ever want to improve my writing.

      Keep an open mind should be my new mantra.

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  5. I don't do beta readers unless it's something I'm unsure of or something I need to double check (like asking someone with a military background to double check my terminology and that I was using it right). But I do currently have 2 critique partners, and I too would be lost without them. For me, it's about pairing with someone who gets your style and doesn't want to just change it to suit their style, but actually points out potential problems (which, in my experience, is rare). I find both of mine invaluable. They challenge me, and like Jennifer mentioned, sometimes it's not what I want to hear, but the end result is always so much better than I would have done on my own. It's the same with my editors. I'd be lost without them.

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    1. Hi Joanne. That's such a good point about finding someone who doesn't want to change your writing to match their own, but rather to strengthen.

      We always used to say, "I don't mean to rewrite your story for you, but..."

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  6. I'm very grateful for the help and advice I get from a Beta reader or critique partner. I have ones I know I can trust to be honest (yet gentle!). Without them I wouldn't be looking forward to publication.

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