You've written a masterpiece. It turned out better than required high school or college reading. Your "baby" is almost ready to be shared with the world. That "baby" is your fiction or nonfiction draft. You probably would prefer that no one touch it. The reality is the journey begins with a draft. Finishing up a book requires many tedious steps.
Assuming that you plan to do the right thing and hire a professional editor, in just a short time, you will see your work in print. You're excited and you should be. Finishing a first, second, third draft or other is quite an accomplishment.
Slow down though. If you plan to sell your book, consider what big businesses do before they dump a heap of money into a new product or project. They test it. A focus group consists of potential consumers of that product or service. They are screened people who are paid to give their opinions and feedback to decision makers. The data is collected and analyzed. Companies who go that extra mile usually get closer to their goal of connecting with their customers through sales. Pilot users do much of the same. Get it?
Charging back to book world full throttle,
we return to the beta reader topic. I call them test readers. To me, they are so similar to focus groups participants and pilot users. Their purpose is virtually the same. They "test" the appeal of a manuscript by offering feedback, reactions that come from the gut, and honest opinions. Some are good at giving feedback. Others are great. A few may simply read and have little to say. There are good ones, marginal beta readers, and polished book consumers who will find things that an author completely missed. All feedback is valuable because comparing it is a part of the journey. If many people say the same thing, that's a a pattern. It's up to the author if he or she will make changes to prized words, but at the end of it all, who is going to buy the product? Readers. Consumers.
People like your test/ beta readers. That's why they are golden.
Some authors also swap manuscripts to read. That's fine so long as the selected writing buddy is wiling to return the favor when your turn comes, and he or she really does want the best for you. Use good judgment to decide who is really on your side. Return genuine interest in your career to that person, too.
If you're wondering why it's relevant to use beta readers at all, if an editor's job is to edit, my premise is simple. Ask a professional editor what his or her rates are for developmental editing. Compare that to the second editing tier, or a medium edit. Pros charge a much higher rate for developmental work. They have to do more, fix more, figure out more, and maybe even whip out their pen to rewrite some of your masterpiece. Who really wants that to happen? Turning over sloppy work to an editor may also lead to a less than desired result. I've worked as a freelance content editor and ghost writer. I speak from my perspective as an author and freelancer.
How to choose beta readers requires strategy. Become familiar with two words: target audience. The subject of the manuscript is also very relevant in terms of who should be asked to read a draft.
If you pick someone to be a beta reader, make it easy for them. Ask if he or she can read the manuscript by a specified time, prepare a short list of sample questions to share, and if they live nearby, ask if they prefer a delivered hard copy over an emailed version. Some people prefer to make notes on a printed version. It's always nice to ask, especially if someone's rooting for the success of your project and wants to help. Be appreciative of any and all support. An attitude of gratitude is important to succeed in publishing, or life in general.
Anyone can be a published author these days. A book deal is not a necessity, but building a stable fan base requires quality writing and a quality presentation. Plus, you never know where your book may end up. Strive to do your best. With each project, an author should evolve and improve. If you want to become a writer, finding tools such as using beta readers can help polish your personal writing style.
Best wishes with the birth of your baby. Labor pains hurt, but nothing good comes easy.
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@AndreaBlackston
Do you need publishing or marketing help? Visit www.surgemarketinggroup.com.
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