I revamped and renamed my book. Now What? Do I need a critque---or do I send out query letters, which I will diffinitely need help with. Your help will be be most appreciated.
Now what? (looking for beta reader)
- Thread starter Kaylee
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Before you send out queries, you should have your critique partner(s) give it a once over. THEN, when everyone says, "Wow!" send out your queries. Sending the queries too early isn't a good idea. Suppose one of the agents asks for a partial/full, you send, and the book's got holes in it. It's hell to wait, but it's worth it. Good luck!
Check out the stickies listed on the beta reader forum. You may find a beta is actually what you want you when say critique. If not, post a message in that section anyway but be specific about what you're looking for.
How can you get a critique without a beta reader?
Not everyone who's willing to beta read is looking for it to be reciprocated.
Not everyone who's willing to beta read is looking for it to be reciprocated.
You don't find a critique -you obtain one. And it's 'without' not 'with out'. And it's 'definitely' not 'diffinitely'.
Posting your first chapter in the relative Share Your Work Forum is a quick and inexpensive option for getting some initial feedback as already suggested to you more than once.
Posting your first chapter in the relative Share Your Work Forum is a quick and inexpensive option for getting some initial feedback as already suggested to you more than once.
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If you haven't already noticed it, we have a Query Letters & Synopses forum in Share Your Work (password = vista). There are some sticky threads at the top of the forum that are worth reading before you post your query for feedback.
As has been suggested, for feedback on a completed novel that you've already edited until it's the best you can make it, consider posting a request in our Beta Readers, Writing Partners, and Advisors forum. Read the stickies there too, and browse older threads to see if you can find someone with similar genre and writing tastes.
-Derek
As has been suggested, for feedback on a completed novel that you've already edited until it's the best you can make it, consider posting a request in our Beta Readers, Writing Partners, and Advisors forum. Read the stickies there too, and browse older threads to see if you can find someone with similar genre and writing tastes.
-Derek
For your own success, please take some of the above advice and find someone who will critique your work - it could shave off some rejections for problems with your work that you yourself just cannot see. Also, if possible, get someone who writes or reads frequently in your genre.
Best of luck.
Best of luck.
Sorry I didn't know critique and beta readers are the same. I thought a beta reader was actually a writing partner.
Story (I'm just full of them). I wrote a novel. I let a friend read it. She "ooed" and "ahhed" over it, and I thought, "I must be a great writer. Look how she responded." I immediately started sending queries, expecting the same response from agents. At that point, I thought my job was to sit back and wait for agents to start fighting over who'd represent me. Didn't happen.
After about 30 rejections, I found a beta on AW, someone who has since become a very dear friend. She asked to read. I sent, fully expecting her to send me a glowing report. She didn't. My heart practically stopped when I got her response. The first thing she said, "The book starts too soon." Her comments became a long litany of things I'd done wrong. At first I resisted. "Hey, this is my book, and I'll write it the way I want to." After a while, I gave in and really started listening to what she had to say. Now, a year later, I have a rather impressive agency asking for some revisions and a resubmission. I also have a second novel that's nearly finished.
If I'd had a 'real' beta instead of a dear friend read the book first, I may not have had the 44 rejections. I would have had some. That's inevitable, but I'm confident that I would certainly have had more requests for full manuscripts and/or an offer of representation by now. You'll fare better than I did if you take the advice this not-so-novice writer. First books are always a hard sell, and whoever said we don't see our own flaws is absolutely right.
Kaylee,
Critics from friends and relatives tend to be biased. I had a dozen people read my novel, then sent it to "unknown" beta readers. What an eye opener. I received good, sorry great, no incredible feedback from the beta readers. Yes, I did have to revise again, but I ended up with a novel significantly better than what I thought was a finished product.
Smiles
Bob
Critics from friends and relatives tend to be biased. I had a dozen people read my novel, then sent it to "unknown" beta readers. What an eye opener. I received good, sorry great, no incredible feedback from the beta readers. Yes, I did have to revise again, but I ended up with a novel significantly better than what I thought was a finished product.
Smiles
Bob
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