Okay guys, here it is: The Great Beta Reader Challenge. I’m challenging everyone on this board who wants a beta reader to find one by the end of the month. Interested in being a beta reader? This is your place, too! (And, yeah, I'm bad at creative titles.)
But first, what exactly is a beta reader? Well, the exact relationship is to be determined by the author and the reader, but here are some helpful starting points:
Beta readers are the “second readers” of a manuscript, the first reader being the author. They’ll read your work and give you feedback, usually based on prompts you’ve provided. Some will read for characterization, story and plot holes. They’ll suggest where your descriptions aren’t working, when your dialogue is rocky and, hopefully, the good points in your manuscript, too. Most beta readers won’t provide line-by-line editing, so be prepared to take care of most grammatical areas yourself. However, everything an author and beta discuss is up to them, so make sure you arrange a common understanding of each others’ needs before you begin.
For those of you submitting unfinished manuscripts or works in progress, your beta reader may also serve to keep you on track and motivated. Again, just make sure you discuss the relationship.
Now for the specifics:
If you’re interested in taking the challenge, submit a PM to katiemac by Wednesday, January 17th at 11:59 PM, Eastern time. Both finished and unfinished manuscripts are welcome. You may also submit short stories, poetry, screenplays or anything else you’d like – this challenge is not meant to limit anyone. Non-fiction is also welcome!
Your PM should include FOUR components:
1. The genre and word count of your manuscript. You should also note whether or not the work is complete. If it’s incomplete, you may include the current word count/expected finished word count. Including a title is your decision.
2. No more than the first 750 words in your manuscript. If you’re already using manuscript format, the first 750 words equal the first three pages. I chose this count so readers will have an impression of your writing style and voice. The amount is realistic to what an agent or editor might read, but without being too long. You don’t have to send all of the 750 words, but that is the maximum.
3. A hook, 150 words maximum, for your work. If betas don’t know what your book is about, they won’t want to read it. I know a few people already mentioned they’re nervous about submitting a hook, but really it will serve as an incentive and put your first three pages in context. Here’s a good example of a hook aruna posted yesterday, featured in Publisher’s Weekly:
Note the bolded sentence. If you need more examples, check out Miss Snark’s website. She just posted over 600 of them. Don’t worry, though, I’m not asking to limit yourselves to one sentence. Like I said above, you have 150 words max.
Also, don’t worry about making this hook like one you’d send to an agent or editor. Just give readers a sense of story.
4. A description of what you’d like in a beta reader, 100 words max. This is important! I’m giving you 100 words, but you probably won’t need that many. You just need a quick blurb to describe your relationship expectations. It’ll be helpful for the readers to know if you want someone to whip out the red pen constantly, or to sit back and answer your questions about plot.
Example:
“I’d love someone to read my whole manuscript. Specifically, I’m having trouble with my world-building and it’s affecting my characters – they’re falling flat. I’d love a reader who can point out clichés in my writing and tell me if my characters are likeable. I know I’m not the best at grammar, so it would also be helpful if someone can point out my common errors.”
So, here’s what HAPPENS NEXT:
After January 17th, I’ll post the PMs I receive ANONYMOUSLY and leave it open until January 31st. While it’d be great to have beta readers pair up among themselves, the challenge entries will be open to be read by the whole board – widening your potential betas. Don't worry, even though it's anonymous interested betas will still be able to contact you.
So, why anonymous? Each entrant will be asked to critique no more than 5 of the other entries. Not their manuscripts (that's a lot!) but their hooks and first 750 words. I'll let each entrant know whose work they’ll be critiquing. If we have enough entries to break it down by genre, I’ll do that so you’re all critiquing in your element.
Now, don’t panic – critique doesn’t mean a line-by-line edit. Because we can’t guarantee everyone will receive a beta reader, we will guarantee that everyone who participates receives some kind of feedback. Nothing tremendously lengthy – two or three CONSTRUCTIVE points, about a paragraph or less, each. You’ll have two weeks to return the critiques back to me in PM. Like the entries, these will all be conducted anonymously and I’ll PM the critiques back to the original author.
If you guys have any questions or comments, ask here. Interested betas, feel free to sign up in this thread. Entrants, you can sign up in this thread, too – but it’s only a solid confirmation if I receive your work by the 17th.
My PM box is open – the challenge starts now!
But first, what exactly is a beta reader? Well, the exact relationship is to be determined by the author and the reader, but here are some helpful starting points:
Beta readers are the “second readers” of a manuscript, the first reader being the author. They’ll read your work and give you feedback, usually based on prompts you’ve provided. Some will read for characterization, story and plot holes. They’ll suggest where your descriptions aren’t working, when your dialogue is rocky and, hopefully, the good points in your manuscript, too. Most beta readers won’t provide line-by-line editing, so be prepared to take care of most grammatical areas yourself. However, everything an author and beta discuss is up to them, so make sure you arrange a common understanding of each others’ needs before you begin.
For those of you submitting unfinished manuscripts or works in progress, your beta reader may also serve to keep you on track and motivated. Again, just make sure you discuss the relationship.
Now for the specifics:
If you’re interested in taking the challenge, submit a PM to katiemac by Wednesday, January 17th at 11:59 PM, Eastern time. Both finished and unfinished manuscripts are welcome. You may also submit short stories, poetry, screenplays or anything else you’d like – this challenge is not meant to limit anyone. Non-fiction is also welcome!
Your PM should include FOUR components:
1. The genre and word count of your manuscript. You should also note whether or not the work is complete. If it’s incomplete, you may include the current word count/expected finished word count. Including a title is your decision.
2. No more than the first 750 words in your manuscript. If you’re already using manuscript format, the first 750 words equal the first three pages. I chose this count so readers will have an impression of your writing style and voice. The amount is realistic to what an agent or editor might read, but without being too long. You don’t have to send all of the 750 words, but that is the maximum.
3. A hook, 150 words maximum, for your work. If betas don’t know what your book is about, they won’t want to read it. I know a few people already mentioned they’re nervous about submitting a hook, but really it will serve as an incentive and put your first three pages in context. Here’s a good example of a hook aruna posted yesterday, featured in Publisher’s Weekly:
Note the bolded sentence. If you need more examples, check out Miss Snark’s website. She just posted over 600 of them. Don’t worry, though, I’m not asking to limit yourselves to one sentence. Like I said above, you have 150 words max.
Also, don’t worry about making this hook like one you’d send to an agent or editor. Just give readers a sense of story.
4. A description of what you’d like in a beta reader, 100 words max. This is important! I’m giving you 100 words, but you probably won’t need that many. You just need a quick blurb to describe your relationship expectations. It’ll be helpful for the readers to know if you want someone to whip out the red pen constantly, or to sit back and answer your questions about plot.
Example:
“I’d love someone to read my whole manuscript. Specifically, I’m having trouble with my world-building and it’s affecting my characters – they’re falling flat. I’d love a reader who can point out clichés in my writing and tell me if my characters are likeable. I know I’m not the best at grammar, so it would also be helpful if someone can point out my common errors.”
So, here’s what HAPPENS NEXT:
After January 17th, I’ll post the PMs I receive ANONYMOUSLY and leave it open until January 31st. While it’d be great to have beta readers pair up among themselves, the challenge entries will be open to be read by the whole board – widening your potential betas. Don't worry, even though it's anonymous interested betas will still be able to contact you.
So, why anonymous? Each entrant will be asked to critique no more than 5 of the other entries. Not their manuscripts (that's a lot!) but their hooks and first 750 words. I'll let each entrant know whose work they’ll be critiquing. If we have enough entries to break it down by genre, I’ll do that so you’re all critiquing in your element.
Now, don’t panic – critique doesn’t mean a line-by-line edit. Because we can’t guarantee everyone will receive a beta reader, we will guarantee that everyone who participates receives some kind of feedback. Nothing tremendously lengthy – two or three CONSTRUCTIVE points, about a paragraph or less, each. You’ll have two weeks to return the critiques back to me in PM. Like the entries, these will all be conducted anonymously and I’ll PM the critiques back to the original author.
If you guys have any questions or comments, ask here. Interested betas, feel free to sign up in this thread. Entrants, you can sign up in this thread, too – but it’s only a solid confirmation if I receive your work by the 17th.
My PM box is open – the challenge starts now!
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