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Did you miss the previous installments of this writer’s series?

Installment 1
Installment 2
Installment 3

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Beta Readers

Beta readers are like angels in the complicated process of writing a good piece of fiction. They are often hard core readers and even sometimes writers themselves. Once your story is polished by the revision process the next step is to enlist the help of a few subjective pairs of eyes. Again, the role of a beta reader is to ferret out plot holes, problems with continuity, characterization or believability and they often do so free of charge. Chances are they’ll find the last few stubborn typos hidden in your story as well. For my first novel I created a Facebook group to recruit beta readers but there are also other options like writer’s groups and online resources like Figment.com and Goodreads.com.

If using Facebook or any other social media to find beta readers ask three or four times more people than you think you’ll need, this will allow you to be choosy. It’s likely that only a small percentage of the people you ask will have the time to read a novel and providing proper feedback. If you get more responses you need you can politely decline those readers who you feel won’t be ideal for your project. When you send your invite be sure to include as many details as you can including a reasonable deadline for them, novel length, genre, and exactly what you’re look for in terms of their feedback. If your perspective beta readers are also writers offer to exchange manuscripts, people tend to give better feedback if they feel they’re getting something in return.

When choosing a deadline be sure to give the readers long enough to read the story and provide detailed feedback but it’s important not to give them too long of a timeframe. Four to six weeks is adequate time for an average size novel, anything longer may encourage procrastination. Be straightforward and tell them you’re only looking for honest feedback not encouraging words. When the responses start rolling in be choosey. You’ll want to pick three to five readers for your final cut who you trust will be very honest and subjective.

All of the different perspectives you receive in their feedback will teach you a lot about your writing. Once you’ve received feedback from your beta readers and had time to digest it all it’s important to decide what feedback to use. Cast your ego aside and be as objective as possible when considering what to use and what not to use. Writing will humble you more than almost anything else I can think of. Try to remember that creating a cohesive and compelling story is your ultimate goal. After the editing, revising and beta reader steps have been completed now your manuscript ready for a professional editor!

Choosing an Editor

Choosing the right editor for your book is essential to the quality of the your book and your reputation as an author. Very few authors have the objectivity to create a book that’s ready for the market without an extra set of very well trained eyes. It’s not enough to find and editor that is good but they must be the right fit for you and your project. The Editorial Freelancer’s Association’s website (http://www.the-efa.org) is one place to begin your search. You can also call any local schools in your area that teach writing to adults to inquire about editor referrals.

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“In the end, what makes a book valuable is not the paper it’s printed on, but the thousands of hours of work by dozens of people who are dedicated to creating the best possible reading experience for you.” ― John Green

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If your budget is small then you might have to choose an editor with less credentials and experience. Don’t be overly concerned that you’ll get what you paid for in this regard, less experience doesn’t mean that an editor isn’t great at what they do. An editor who is charging less than their competition might be just starting out and trying to build their client base and reputation. Some editors charge by the hour, others charge by the word. For a 300 page novel you can expect to pay anywhere from $300 to $1,200 depending upon the editor’s reputation and experience.

Before you make a commitment to an editor request a few references of past clients and contact one or two to gauge their feedback is. It’s also wise to ask the editor to work on a chapter of your project together before you sign a contract. After working together for one chapter you should have a idea of whether or not the editor is the right fit for your story. Any reputable editor should be willing to do these two things, if not, be cautious. If you don’t think a particular editor is right for your story, keep looking. There’s no shortage of competent editors to choose from.

Thanks for reading! Did you find this writer's series helpful? Please share your feedback in the comments below.

(Gif sourced from Giphy.com)

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I am an American novelist, poet, traveler, and crypto-enthusiast. If you’ve enjoyed my work please sign up for my author newsletter at my website. Newsletter subscribers will receive exclusive updates and special offers and your information will never be sold or shared.

Eric Vance Walton - Media

www.ericvancewalton.net