Finding beta readers

marovada · 08-09-2015, 08:42 PM

I am wondering how authors on this forum find beta readers. I don't have a circle of friends who are interested in beta reading. My particular interest is therefore finding beta readers on the internet.

My guess is that authors link up with beta readers on forums (such as Goodreads or Writer's Digest). However, there appears to be a limited supply of potential beta readers on the forums I have been able to find.

I can't find a site on the internet that is essentially a 'hub' for uploading works to a community of readers. In any event I'm not sure I would trust a site like that, even if I could find one. It would depend on the level of security (for example, trusted members only).

Any comments?

My story is not quite ready for beta reading yet, but I would like to plan ahead.

Thanks in advance.

Dr. Drib · 08-10-2015, 06:13 AM

You say something like this:

Hi, I need some beta readers.

Would you be interested?

Please PM me, if you are.

Thank you.

meeera · 08-10-2015, 06:19 AM

Also, would it maybe be easier to find an online co-operative critique group than finding beta readers (who you are basically asking to work for free)? (I'm assuming you've found and discarded Wattpad as not suiting your requirements.)

theducks · 08-10-2015, 03:13 PM

You might mention the Genere your work fall into.

Dr. Drib · 08-10-2015, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

You might mention the Genere your work fall into.

Or even the genre.

marovada · 08-10-2015, 07:18 PM

Thanks for your responses.

Genre is sci-fi.

I'm not sure about the consequences of publishing on Wattpad in the sense of subsequently being able to publish elsewhere.

Cinisajoy · 08-10-2015, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marovada

Thanks for your responses.

Genre is sci-fi.

I'm not sure about the consequences of publishing on Wattpad in the sense of subsequently being able to publish elsewhere.

Why wouldn't you be able to publish elsewhere?
The only time you need to be exclusive is if you go with Kindle Direct Publishing Select.
You can publish on Amazon and everywhere else without being exclusive. You just need to make sure the select box is not checked at Kindle Direct Publishing.

marovada · 08-10-2015, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

Why wouldn't you be able to publish elsewhere?
The only time you need to be exclusive is if you go with Kindle Direct Publishing Select.
You can publish on Amazon and everywhere else without being exclusive. You just need to make sure the select box is not checked at Kindle Direct Publishing.

I'm not sure about Wattpad's terms without looking into it.

Cinisajoy · 08-10-2015, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marovada

I'm not sure about Wattpad's terms without looking into it.

I know many authors that publish at Wattpad and other places.

marovada · 08-10-2015, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

I know many authors that publish at Wattpad and other places.

Cool. I might give it a try.

mr ploppy · 08-13-2015, 09:21 AM

There's groups on Facebook who do that sort of thing. Results range from "it's great/it sucks" to free and very detailed copy editing. The best way to attract readers is to post the opening chapter, but you will need to be prepared to read other people's stuff too, you can't just take for yourself.

AnnGirdharry · 08-23-2015, 05:20 AM

hi Marovada,

Trusting your entire work to beta readers requires er, well, TRUST in them - in their opinions, in their writing experience, in their expertise to beta read a book which is, by the way, a learned skill and not just reading a book and commenting on it - it's about structure, plot, characterisation, low points, lack of tension etc.

I'd pick my beta readers carefully.
One or two quality readers is better than a bunch of people who are going to roll in a hodge podge of comments that you won't know what to do with....
....just sayin'...

I've used the YouWriteOn forum for critiques. You won't get an entire beta read there but you might find other writers who make useful comments and you can then approach them to be your beta read buddies...plus the critiques on the whole are pretty high quality IMHO.

best,
Ann Girdharry

Hitch · 08-23-2015, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marovada

Cool. I might give it a try.

I'd note that in general, Wattpad skews heavily younger-reader, by which I mean teens. It has its own category for "vampire fiction," a la Twifright, which should give you an indication. Before you post there, take a look around, see if your work will appeal to their main audience. It's easy to use, God knows, but you may not find it useful.

Oh, and nobody mentioned Critters.org. If your work I sci-fi, it's definitely a candidate for Critters, which is what they started with. Make SURE you read the Critters T&C (Terms and Conditions), but you can get superb critiquing there.

Offered FWIW.

Hitch

marovada · 08-24-2015, 03:29 AM

Thanks for all of the very helpful suggestions.

08-09-2015, 08:42 PM	#1
marovada Member Posts: 13 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Sydney, Australia Device: Macbook Pro, Android tablet, iPhone, iPad and PC	Finding beta readers I am wondering how authors on this forum find beta readers. I don't have a circle of friends who are interested in beta reading. My particular interest is therefore finding beta readers on the internet. My guess is that authors link up with beta readers on forums (such as Goodreads or Writer's Digest). However, there appears to be a limited supply of potential beta readers on the forums I have been able to find. I can't find a site on the internet that is essentially a 'hub' for uploading works to a community of readers. In any event I'm not sure I would trust a site like that, even if I could find one. It would depend on the level of security (for example, trusted members only). Any comments? My story is not quite ready for beta reading yet, but I would like to plan ahead. Thanks in advance.

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08-10-2015, 06:13 AM	#2
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 45,343 Karma: 59447733 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: KINDLE: Oasis 3, Scribe (1st), Matcha; KOBO: Libra 2, Libra Colour	You say something like this: Hi, I need some beta readers. Would you be interested? Please PM me, if you are. Thank you.

08-10-2015, 06:19 AM	#3
meeera Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,795 Karma: 68145694 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2, iPadMini4, iPad4, MBP; support other Kobo/Kindles	Also, would it maybe be easier to find an online co-operative critique group than finding beta readers (who you are basically asking to work for free)? (I'm assuming you've found and discarded Wattpad as not suiting your requirements.)

08-10-2015, 03:13 PM	#4
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 30,909 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	You might mention the Genere your work fall into.

08-10-2015, 07:18 PM	#6
marovada Member Posts: 13 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Sydney, Australia Device: Macbook Pro, Android tablet, iPhone, iPad and PC	Thanks for your responses. Genre is sci-fi. I'm not sure about the consequences of publishing on Wattpad in the sense of subsequently being able to publish elsewhere.

08-13-2015, 09:21 AM	#11
mr ploppy Feral Underclass Posts: 3,622 Karma: 26821535 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Yorkshire, tha noz Device: 2nd hand paperback	There's groups on Facebook who do that sort of thing. Results range from "it's great/it sucks" to free and very detailed copy editing. The best way to attract readers is to post the opening chapter, but you will need to be prepared to read other people's stuff too, you can't just take for yourself.

08-23-2015, 05:20 AM	#12
AnnGirdharry Enthusiast Posts: 43 Karma: 4910034 Join Date: Jul 2015 Device: ipad	hi Marovada, Trusting your entire work to beta readers requires er, well, TRUST in them - in their opinions, in their writing experience, in their expertise to beta read a book which is, by the way, a learned skill and not just reading a book and commenting on it - it's about structure, plot, characterisation, low points, lack of tension etc. I'd pick my beta readers carefully. One or two quality readers is better than a bunch of people who are going to roll in a hodge podge of comments that you won't know what to do with.... ....just sayin'... I've used the YouWriteOn forum for critiques. You won't get an entire beta read there but you might find other writers who make useful comments and you can then approach them to be your beta read buddies...plus the critiques on the whole are pretty high quality IMHO. best, Ann Girdharry

08-24-2015, 03:29 AM	#14
marovada Member Posts: 13 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Sydney, Australia Device: Macbook Pro, Android tablet, iPhone, iPad and PC	Thanks for all of the very helpful suggestions.