Teen Beta-Reader

[Thomas K]

Well, here it is, my FIRST post. First I'd like to thank everyone in the forums for the help thus far! So here it is:

I'm working on a novel that is kind of geared toward teenage girls. The main character/protagonist is a 14-year old girl *lucky* enough to repeat 8th grade. I have not done any major edits yet, because I'd really like to have real-world opinions from girls around that age (and alas, I only have sons, no daughters...). So I am in need of a Beta-Reader. There's this high school girl that walks her little sister home from elem. school the same time my wife and I walk our youngest son from the same school. This girl fits the general 'type' that the story is written around, and I would like to be able to approach her and ask her to read what I have written and to give an opinion from her perspective, sort of test my target audience.

So what does everyone think? Would that be too creepy for her?

Thanks for any help/opinions!

Thomas K

[Tish Davidson]

If your protagonist is 14, your readers will probably be 12 year olds, not 14 year olds. Why don't you approach a middle school or junior high or even 9th or 10th grade English teacher in your local school and ask if she/he has any students who would like to read the book and give you feedback. The English teacher could give you the beta readers' e-mail addresses, and your mainl communication could be electronic. This would eliminate the "creepy adult" factor. I used teen beta readers for a non-fiction book I did that were arranged this way through a high school psychology teacher. As the mother of daughters, I would perfer the first contact to be something other than walking up to my kid on the street. Sad, but true.

[Thomas K]

Thanks very much for your insight. You provided me some avenues to persue that I hadn't thought of. Thanks!


Thomas

[bobpalindromrandom]

I know a 13 year old girl who would be more than willing to read it. If you wish to contact me you may at butterbeeredwinkie@yahoo.com I agree you should have someone 12 or 13 beta it.