Beta Project, the 2018 edition

Sage

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Folks have been getting antsy and asking me when we'll have another Beta Project, and the answer is...now! Here is the thread for all the information. I will link to informational posts from this first one so you can jump to the info you are most interested in.

Links:
What is the Beta Project all about?
Eligibility and Timeline
Formatting Your Entry!
Potentially Life-Changing Formatting Tips
What's the difference between a beta and critique in this contest?
Who can crit and who can beta?


Any questions or comments?

Post 'em in this thread!

All right, read the next few posts and then go get those manuscripts polished and entries together. Or if you're ready, you can PM me your entry now.
 
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Sage

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WHAT IS THE BETA PROJECT ALL ABOUT?

The Beta Project is an attempt to pair AW members to the best beta reader for their novels. And if you don't know what a beta is, then this is the thread for you. Betas are invaluable resources for writers, pointing out the problems with characterization, plotting, descriptions, dialogue, and so. Some may be detailed and some may be more general. Usually, you'd discuss with your betas what kind of things you want them to look for, although that will not stop them from pointing out things you never even thought of as a problem.

How does the Beta Project work?

Each participant will submit a private message to me by Thursday, May 24, 2018 at 11:59 p.m. PDT (to PM me, click on my user name and select "Private Message"). This gives you 2 weeks to polish up your entries and finish up your novel if you were close to being done. You can submit unfinished manuscripts, and you can also submit short stories, non-fiction, poetry, screenplays, comic books, whatever you need a beta for. However, most of the past entries have been novels, and if only one or two others are entered this time, it may be difficult to find knowledgeable betas for you (so encourage others in your category to submit if you want to join with a non-novel). That said, one year we did have a set of short stories submitted, and it got a few requests.

Personally, I prefer finished, polished mss to beta, but you absolutely can enter with an unfinished novel, and those have gotten requests in the past. Last year we had a lot of unfinished mss. Please do make sure that you note that information in your entry. If you have any other unusual beta requests, note those please too.

On May 25, I will post the entries in the Beta Project Subforum 2. There they will be under the same protection as those excerpts posted in Share Your Work. The password is "testing." That's a great place to see examples of what the last Beta Project was like.

The entries will be anonymous. Don't worry about it if you've posted about your manuscript elsewhere on AW and know that it might be recognizable, but we're hoping that beta offers come because your hook and first 3 pages catch the reader's attention, not because everyone loves you (you don't need the BP for that :greenie )

I will assign everybody 3 entries to critique. This way everyone will get at least 3 critiques on their first 3 pages and maybe their hook and title too. Since the entries will be posted publicly, critiques may also come from people who were not assigned to you. The critiques will be anonymous as well, and will be sent to me via PM. I post them in the thread with its associated entry. That way, you can get critique experience without feeling pressured about what others might think, but the critiques will still be posted so that others can learn from them. And you'll be surprised how much you'll learn critiquing other people's work.

These mandatory critiques are just on the 750-word sample from each entry. Entrants may request to beta other entries, but it is not a requirement.

You will be given 2 weeks to critique the entries assigned to you. If you fail to PM me the critiques by 11:59 p.m. PDT, Thursday, June 7, I will withhold your critiques and beta offers. Don't make me do that. Nobody's ever failed to get me their crits, so don't be the first. The critiques can be detailed if you wish, or they could just be a few constructive points. I will post all critiques on June 8 using the same formatting used when they were submitted to me. If I get all the mandatory critiques before then, I'll post them earlier.

Everybody on AW can offer to beta or critique the entries, not just participants!

If you see one or more entries that you wish to beta, PM me with the entry number(s) you liked, and I will share your name with the author(s) so that they can choose to contact you. But, don't worry, just because you were selected to critique an entry, you do not have to beta it unless you want to.

In previous years, if someone had sent in their critiques early, I gave them the names of any beta requesters as they came in. I imagine I will continue that tradition this year. Betas may request at any time after the entries are posted.
 

Sage

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ELIGIBILITY AND TIMELINE

Eligibility

The only requirement I make for entering is that you're a member in good standing as of May 11, 2018. There is no post requirement.

Timeline

May 11: You must have joined Absolute Write by this date to participate. If you qualify, you can start sending entries.
May 24: Due date for all entries
May 25: After a sleepless night, Sage posts the entries in the Beta Project subforum 2 and sends out critique assignments
June 7: Due date for all mandatory critiques
June 8: Sage posts all critiques in the Beta Project subforum 2

More Timetable Notes

All due dates end at 11:59 p.m. PDT.

In the past there have been issues that have cropped up at the last second. Don't wait until 11:59 on the 24th to submit. I guarantee you will have problems if you do and will end up past the deadline.

When I get your entry, I'll send you a "Got it" reply. If you don't receive one, make sure to check with me BEFORE the deadline (I say if it's been >2 days, check with me). Some folks have ended up out of genre order because their entries didn't go through and they didn't realize until after I put them up. This might have affected whether they got requests, since people might not have gone to there to find those genres.

Also make sure your inbox is free for replies, whether it's beta requests, beta request responses, "got it," critique assignments, or whatever. (Speaking of which, I'm off to empty mine! :e2salute: )
 

Sage

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FORMATTING YOUR ENTRY!

Manuscript Title: Your current title or "untitled" if you prefer
Manuscript Genre: This will help match you up to readers. Also add age category here, if applicable
Manuscript Word Count: (or Current/Projected Word Count for unfinished mss)
Is your manuscript finished?: Y/N
Any trigger warnings? If you can think of anything that might trigger someone, please mention it here. This way you won't have to include it in other categories.

Hook:

150 words about your novel. It doesn't have to be a full query, and probably won't be with this word-count limit. But it's great practice for summarizing your novel in a way that will hook readers.

First 750 words:

In standard manuscript format (Courier New, 12 pt, double space), 750 words is about 3 pages. Find a spot short of that 750-word mark that makes for a good ending spot. You should submit to the Beta Project in normal AW format (Verdana with a space between paragraphs; it should look like this post when you preview it, as you should). Once upon a time, I went to entrants and worked with them to cut them down to 750 if they went over and wanted to save their excerpt's ending. This year, if you go over 750 words, I'll cut off as many of the last sentences as it takes to get to 750 in whatever word processor of mine is most generous (Word, Scrivener, or Pages), so you are warned! Do it before it gets to me if you want to save that last sentence! It's a great tightening exercise.

What do you look for in a beta?

About 100 words about what you're looking for. For example, I might say, "I'm looking for a beta who will point out those pesky plot holes I've been blind to and any characterization that doesn't work. My description can sometimes be lacking, so please tell me when I need more. And I'm nervous about the romance. Is it, well, romantic?" One year some ridiculous person I absolutely don't know submitted book 3 in a trilogy, and this is where she discussed the potential betaing situation, so this can really just be anything you think a beta needs to know about what you want and need. You might want to mention if you're looking for an alpha rather than a beta here too.

What genres do you read?

This is so on the 25th I can spend my entire day matching you up to your preferred genres so everyone gets the best critters and crittees possible for the 750-word excerpts. Your preferences will not be posted. Also include if you like other categories, such as non-fiction, poetry, short stories, etc. just in case we get some non-novel entries. Tell me if there's anything you don't want to read (like no gratuitous sex or nothing about kittens, whatever) or anything that might trigger you.
 

Sage

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POTENTIALLY LIFE-CHANGING FORMATTING TIPS

See the post above? Quote reply to it. Then erase the quote brackets and "FORMATTING YOUR ENTRY." Now erase everything that isn't in bold (or in bold brackets).

Can you see the [ B ] [/ B ] (minus the spaces) around each bolded item. If not, hit the [SUP]A[/SUP]/A button on the top lefthand corner of your reply box. When you can see the code instead of the effect, start answering the questions and pasting in your excerpt. Manually insert any formatting, like italics or centered words or whacky font or whatever, in with either the code or the buttons. You shouldn't have any [ FONT = ] code unless it is a specific part of your entry. Same with Size.

When you have finished, copy your post, and paste it into the word processor of your choosing, code and all.

After a copy is saved elsewhere, click on my username to send me a PM. Paste the whole thing into the PM box. Preview. Does it look like you wanted it to? If so, send.

Why paste it in with the code? a) That's how I save it to post later, and it ensures you don't have any extra codes that might get in the way and screw up your entry and/or crits. b) It seems to solve an issue people had with spacing while using certain effects. c) You do not have to change your font or size to match AW's standard font and size.


Other Notes on Formatting

I mention standard ms formatting, but please send your entry to me like you'd post it in SYW in Verdana. I will preserve all formatting from the PMs you send me beyond font and the format given above, which will all match. Italics, bolding, underlines, and colors (in crits) will remain as you send them. Please put extra spaces between paragraphs in your excerpt and any other field that requires paragraphs.

Preview your entry, whether you use my tips above or not. There's some copy & paste function that erased spaces between words for some entries the last two years. Make sure that's not you because you're going to have to fix it before the deadline (or it won't be posted if you don't), so fix it before you send.

Check how your word processor counts hyphens and em-dashes. Mine counts hyphenated words as one word, but the words around an em-dash as two (as is most accurate). If you put spaces around your em-dashes, my word counter will count it as a word, so don't do that.

There are 9 fields to fill out. If you don't fill one out by the deadline, I will make up an answer for you. That answer may keep you from getting betas, so fill them out correctly the first time. In the above order. With bolded font and the questions looking identical to the above post. I will have to change every field title to be identical to the other entries' so don't spend time being creative with them. Save the creativity for your pitch and excerpt :greenie
 
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Sage

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WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A BETA AND A CRITIQUE IN THIS CONTEST?

It's the most confusing part, I know.

There are 2 ways to get feedback in this contest. One is via beta request. The other is via critique.

Beta request: You read the entry, and, hot dog!, just have to read and give notes on the whole thing. I will pass your name on to the entrant privately, and they will contact you. I hope everyone gets at least one beta request, but it's not a guarantee.

Critique: On May 25, I assign 3 entries for you to give feedback on the 750 words and maybe the hook, title, genre and/or word count. I will post these crits on June 8, and they will remain anonymous, unless the critters out themselves. Every entrant must do 3 critiques. Anyone can do more. At minimum you will get three different crits on your entry. Although not as exciting as a beta request, getting feedback on your first pages is very helpful.

Other Notes on Critting and Beta Requesting

When it comes time to beta request, please tell me if you're requesting a beta swap instead. See this post (#96) on why: http://absolutewrite.com/forums/sho...Project-2015&p=9417353&viewfull=1#post9417353

Also if you're doing a critique on something you also want to beta, please make sure you note that you want to beta it. Sometimes we like things that we just can't beta because of time restraints or whatever, and it's not always clear. If it doesn't clearly state that you want to beta in your critique, I'm going to assume you don't.

Please let me know if you have a critique partner who is also entering, so that I can get you feedback from 3 fresh pairs of eyes. You've already gotten feedback from your CP. Let me know before the entry deadline, because once I start the critter puzzle, it's hard to adjust.

Any AWer can request to beta a novel! And anyone can send me a crit on any of the entries!
 

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WHO CAN CRIT AND WHO CAN BETA?

Once they are posted:

Anyone can crit any entry.

Anyone can request to beta any entry.

You don't have to have an entry in the game to play at that point.

And entrants, while you have to critique the 3 entries I assign you, you can crit or request from any of the other entries as well.

(But you don't have to. You can also just do the 3 and wait for your own crits and requests to come to you.)
 

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The most wonderful time of the year has returned! :hooray:
 

DanielSTJ

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This sounds cooler than a freezer in Antarctica!

I'm going in for this. Wish me luck, commanders! = D
 

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So far, nobody's gone over the word count limits yet, which is pretty exciting because I feel like it's usually the #1 problem. :hooray:

Sadly, so far half the entries didn't format theirs properly :e2bummed:

Oh, and if you get a "Got it" PM from me that doesn't include any further instructions, that means you can relax about word count and missing spaces (between words or paragraphs) or fields you forgot to answer or anything else that I see that's amiss. I will fix headers as needed, but anything big or regarding the hook and excerpts, I'll let you know. So a simple "Got it" means you're good. If it's gone a few days without a "Got it" or a request to fix, get in touch with me and make sure I didn't miss it.
 
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S. Eli

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This was so fun last year...and beta reading was so accessible. Hopefully I can get my crap together by the deadlines so I can participate againnnn
 

Tamlyn

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Want to do this, need betas, could probably do with getting back into giving feedback myself, but not sure which novel :S (The one I'm going over one last time, has had feedback in the past, but maybe I'm confusing things with the light edits? Or book 2, which hasn't had readers since the original feedback and probably needs them more than 1, but is book 2? Book 3 I would never inflict on anybody since it is only in the drafted stage)
 

CoffeeBeans

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The one I'm going over one last time, has had feedback in the past, but maybe I'm confusing things with the light edits? Or book 2, which hasn't had readers since the original feedback and probably needs them more than 1, but is book 2? Book 3 I would never inflict on anybody since it is only in the drafted stage)

Who says you should only enter one? :evil
 

Sage

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Folks can definitely enter with more than one entry, but for every entry, you'll be assigned three to critique.

Want to do this, need betas, could probably do with getting back into giving feedback myself, but not sure which novel :S (The one I'm going over one last time, has had feedback in the past, but maybe I'm confusing things with the light edits? Or book 2, which hasn't had readers since the original feedback and probably needs them more than 1, but is book 2? Book 3 I would never inflict on anybody since it is only in the drafted stage)

If I'm understanding you, you're talking about book 1 or 2 of a series? I entered books 2 and 3 in a trilogy in different BPs, but never book 1. In my "What do you look for" section, I pointed out that it was book 2 (it was also in my title section) and said that any readers could tackle book 1 first (for fun or as a beta) if they wished or dive straight into book 2 and include feedback from the perspective of not reading book 1 first. I got a mix of requests from that. At least one person dove right in, others read book 1 with notes, and others read it just as background.
 

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A note that any spacing between paragraphs that you set up in your word processor will not show up when you bring it to AW. The spaces between paragraphs have to be manually entered in with a hard return.

Just like we do when posting multiple paragraphs on AW. Like this.

:Sun:
 

Tamlyn

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Yep, a series. Thanks, Sage, will have to think about it. I've got a week or so to decide :)
 

Netz

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How many entries have you had so far, Sage? Do you anticipate getting a similar number of entries to previous years?

I might be entering earlier than I'd thought. I've pretty much reached the stage where I'm not making any more tweaks to it (phew!). If I can go another 24hrs and it remains unchanged, then I think I'll be good to go. :greenie
 

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Last year we had a lot more than usual because of the surprise extra week. As for how many we might expect, it's hard to tell at the beginning. A lot of people enter near the end. Last year, IIRC, we went from 20 to 51 in the last few days.
 

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Apparently I scared you all away because I received no new entries today :cry: