tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post8074764103989918475..comments2023-11-02T02:40:48.410-07:00Comments on Crime Fiction Collective: Questions for Your Beta ReadersL.J. Sellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10213491074676394406noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-4670628572762498732011-08-15T22:31:01.604-07:002011-08-15T22:31:01.604-07:00Great post! Thanks!Great post! Thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-77277927781183359242011-05-03T08:45:41.001-07:002011-05-03T08:45:41.001-07:00Great post. I never ask enough questions it would ...Great post. I never ask enough questions it would seem. Thanks for this, it will help a lot!Bonnie R. Paulsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02099325696949990504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-45123563860428465302011-04-26T15:02:04.669-07:002011-04-26T15:02:04.669-07:00Not knowing the context of your situation and your...Not knowing the context of your situation and your question, Elizabeth, I would still say, yes, give your beta readers a list of questions to help focus their reading. That will prevent useless comments like "I liked it."Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-45823151924114247912011-04-26T14:58:00.028-07:002011-04-26T14:58:00.028-07:00I've actually thought of submitting my focus q...I've actually thought of submitting my focus questions to our beta-readers, but I didn't. Should I have???Elizabeth Muellerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06028099814857743134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-50321169090703307342011-04-26T14:44:04.834-07:002011-04-26T14:44:04.834-07:00Fantastic advice! I'm anxious to share this w...Fantastic advice! I'm anxious to share this with my fellow authors now as we've just been discussing beta readers and what we can expect. Perfect timing! Great post. Thank you.LINDA'S BOOK GARDENhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02380644949713158187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-18116270318036089002011-04-26T12:57:00.149-07:002011-04-26T12:57:00.149-07:00Excellent points, Judith. Thanks for enhancing the...Excellent points, Judith. Thanks for enhancing the topic! As is often the case, the comments here are adding a lot of great tips to the post! There's no better advice than the wisdom based on personal experience and mistakes.Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-1486762119458386662011-04-26T12:46:07.821-07:002011-04-26T12:46:07.821-07:00I once asked Larry Millett, who wrote a series of ...I once asked Larry Millett, who wrote a series of recently reissued Sherlock Holmes books for his top tip. "Be careful whose opinion you seek," he said.<br /><br />You and LJ touched on this, Jodie. Choose your beta readers carefully. The best will give you honest feedback, won't worry about hurting your feelings, and have read widely in the genre. They're highly opinionated and back up their critique with specific examples. I also think it pays to use different beta readers for each book. <br /><br />This was a very useful post, Jodie. Many thanks.Judith Yates Borgerhttp://www.judithyatesborger.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-39108237701914773082011-04-25T11:11:04.789-07:002011-04-25T11:11:04.789-07:00Glad to hear my list of possible questions is help...Glad to hear my list of possible questions is helpful, Drew!Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-70309091485068454642011-04-25T10:46:22.224-07:002011-04-25T10:46:22.224-07:00Great advice, Jodie. As an author who uses beta re...Great advice, Jodie. As an author who uses beta readers, I'm able to pull valuable information from this, which I can use in the future. Thanks for the post!ANDREW E. KAUFMANhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08835920472268730244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-80414923832589118562011-04-25T08:31:33.393-07:002011-04-25T08:31:33.393-07:00I submit my chapters as finished to my two crit pa...I submit my chapters as finished to my two crit partners. One is great about overall story. The other is a computer programmer by profession, and he will nit pick everything. I don't have to direct them in their reading, but they're not beta readers. They're quick to tell me what they like, don't like, and we can discuss possible solutions.<br /><br />Once in a while, I might wonder if a specific scene is working, and I will ask if they have problems with it. On the other hand, often I don't say anything at all until after I've read their comments, just to see if they noticed it.<br /><br />And, as LJ said -- ask 5 people to read a book and you'll get 5 different opinions. Finding your writing 'chops' is part of the learning curve.<br /><br />Terry<br /><a href="http://terryodell.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Terry's Place</a><br /><a href="http://www.terryodell.com" rel="nofollow">Romance with a Twist--of Mystery</a>Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-1142351679818122272011-04-25T08:29:53.241-07:002011-04-25T08:29:53.241-07:00Great post! A lot of the questions go along with t...Great post! A lot of the questions go along with the list I've been compiling, but there are others in there that are valuable as well. I'm going to be engaging a new beta reader when my story reaches its midpoint, so it's great to have the questions:)Stacyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12032538079815607797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-12765830137460632752011-04-25T08:29:17.434-07:002011-04-25T08:29:17.434-07:00Thanks, Peg.
Another approach, if you writers are...Thanks, Peg.<br /><br />Another approach, if you writers aren't ready to have people read your whole novel, and your volunteers are busy, is to just "set them up" with the basic premise, plot and main characters, then have them read specific sections that may be giving you trouble. Of course, they'll have to know the context to be of any help.Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-21832713170336832512011-04-25T08:21:00.441-07:002011-04-25T08:21:00.441-07:00Great post, Jodie. I'll be using this to compi...Great post, Jodie. I'll be using this to compile a list of my own. I'll be looking for beta readers in a month or two and it'll be good to be clear about expectations for all of us. Thanks!Peg Brantleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04906858123466177508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-86938230544394618082011-04-25T08:13:37.272-07:002011-04-25T08:13:37.272-07:00Very good point, LJ! The old "too many cooks ...Very good point, LJ! The old "too many cooks spoil the broth" principle. So true. Consider their input, but as the author, you always have the final word! That's how I feel when I'm editing for someone. I hope they'll seriously think about my comments and suggestions, but ultimately, as the author, it's their call. <br /><br />If three or four people say the same thing, like "the beginning didn't grab me," then it's time to really consider addressing that issue or perceived weakness.Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-17526999337293123072011-04-25T08:08:14.794-07:002011-04-25T08:08:14.794-07:00I rely on beta readers for feedback on all my nove...I rely on beta readers for feedback on all my novels, but I have to point out that beta readers sometimes have completely divergent opinions. The author has to have his/her own vision of the story and stick with it.L.J. Sellershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10213491074676394406noreply@blogger.com