WHAT IS A BETA READER?
The term comes from the software industry, where a "beta" version of a program is released to a group of testers, who work the bugs out. For our definition, the writer is the "alpha" reader, doing a thorough critique before releasing it to the beta readers, your fellow writers who will give you the feedback you need to hone your work to publication quality.
It's a lot faster than chapter-by-chapter critique, and is reserved for novels that are complete. You get your very own Meetup to talk about nothing but your book. How exciting is that?
WHAT ARE THE BSFW BETA-READING PROCEDURES?
Step 1 is obvious: the novel must be completed, and should have undergone at least one editorial and proofreading pass.
Step 2: You have to attend a novel group and have the first 3 chapters or 7,500-word segments critiqued. You are encouraged to incorporate that feedback before initiating the beta-reading process.
Once these steps are complete, you can reach out to an organizer for sponsorship. That organizer doesn't necessarily have to participate in the beta critique, but they do need to attend the critique meeting he/she will set up just for you. Organizers also have access to the communications tools through Meetup that you will need to make your critique session happen.
Reach out to any of the organizers to sponsor your beta reading critique.
You and your sponsor organizer will find a place for your meetup. You specify the day and time. Give people a fair amount of time to read your work. Give them the information they need to understand your work so they can decide if they're the right critiquers for your book:
Title
Word count
Genre
Sub-genre
Brief description - the equivalent of the back cover blub, 500 words or less.
Specify any questions you have for your critiquers as they read, and what type of feedback you’re after: pacing, characterization, plot, when they became engaged or what scenes failed to hold their attention, etc.
Then, as people RSVP to your meeting, you provide them with your complete manuscript. The ideal number of beta readers is up to you, but should be similar to the number needed for any good critique. We suggest between 3 and 10. If you’re not getting the numbers you need, talk to your sponsor organizer about how to get the word out, or reach out to individual members of the group whose feedback you value.
It might also be wise to send out reminders once or twice during the critique period, since it is so protracted, to remind them of the upcoming meeting. Your sponsor organizer can help you do this.
They read and you meet for your critique!
The term comes from the software industry, where a "beta" version of a program is released to a group of testers, who work the bugs out. For our definition, the writer is the "alpha" reader, doing a thorough critique before releasing it to the beta readers, your fellow writers who will give you the feedback you need to hone your work to publication quality.
It's a lot faster than chapter-by-chapter critique, and is reserved for novels that are complete. You get your very own Meetup to talk about nothing but your book. How exciting is that?
WHAT ARE THE BSFW BETA-READING PROCEDURES?
Step 1 is obvious: the novel must be completed, and should have undergone at least one editorial and proofreading pass.
Step 2: You have to attend a novel group and have the first 3 chapters or 7,500-word segments critiqued. You are encouraged to incorporate that feedback before initiating the beta-reading process.
Once these steps are complete, you can reach out to an organizer for sponsorship. That organizer doesn't necessarily have to participate in the beta critique, but they do need to attend the critique meeting he/she will set up just for you. Organizers also have access to the communications tools through Meetup that you will need to make your critique session happen.
Reach out to any of the organizers to sponsor your beta reading critique.
You and your sponsor organizer will find a place for your meetup. You specify the day and time. Give people a fair amount of time to read your work. Give them the information they need to understand your work so they can decide if they're the right critiquers for your book:
Title
Word count
Genre
Sub-genre
Brief description - the equivalent of the back cover blub, 500 words or less.
Specify any questions you have for your critiquers as they read, and what type of feedback you’re after: pacing, characterization, plot, when they became engaged or what scenes failed to hold their attention, etc.
Then, as people RSVP to your meeting, you provide them with your complete manuscript. The ideal number of beta readers is up to you, but should be similar to the number needed for any good critique. We suggest between 3 and 10. If you’re not getting the numbers you need, talk to your sponsor organizer about how to get the word out, or reach out to individual members of the group whose feedback you value.
It might also be wise to send out reminders once or twice during the critique period, since it is so protracted, to remind them of the upcoming meeting. Your sponsor organizer can help you do this.
They read and you meet for your critique!
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