I need all the feedback I can get. Beta Readers are a great source of feedback, except they’re hard to find and half of the ones I do find don’t give me actionable feedback.
A comment like; I don’t understand this paragraph (or sentence, or page), is worth it’s weight in gold. I know what I wanted the reader to get out of that paragraph and I failed to communicate. Writers are communicators and in that paragraph I blew it. I can fix the paragraph if someone points out something wrong.
Comments like; I didn’t like it, are useless. With no specifics I have no idea of what to fix or if the reader doesn’t like that type of story.
I’m on a constant search for Beta Readers, and I’m desperate. At ConDor convention in San Diego I talked to an author and we got around to discussing Beta Readers. She said she get them from the Romance Writers of America. She doesn’t write romance, but does belong to the group.
I’m desperate, I’m thinking of joining the Romance Writers of America to get Beta Readers. I’m not a romance writer, I’m a recovering engineer. Think Dilbert, not a romantic bone in my body. I’m a failed comedy writer (but that’s another story). Would I read romance stories to get Beta Readers. Yes, hey I’m desperate.
I have subscribed to authors patreon pages and pay them so I can have access to the Beta Reader section of their group. Some of the writers in the patreon page Beta Reader section need way more help that I do. And I’m leery of trying to give them help. I have tried to help so many writers only to have them disappear on me. I wasn’t hurtful or mean. I gave them advice I use, things I do, but if I’m talking to a writer that has published seven books and sold about that many I suggested trying something a little different. Never did hear anything from her again. Seven books, I wish I could write that much, fast, consistently. Still I would rather write one book and sell seven copies than seven books and sell one copy each.
Am I nuts for joining the Romance Writers of America just to get Beta Readers? Am I so un-social that I’m shooting my self in the foot all the time? Write me and tell me your opinion and advice at professor at professorvoltage dot com.
Stay strong, write on.
Professor Hyram Voltage