Insecure Writer's Support Group

9/3/2013

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! Posting is the first Wednesday of every month and is hosted by the Ninja Captain, Alex.

I'm going to gripe because I'm really irked with my run of bad luck lately in regards to beta readers. Fresh eyes are always good to have, so like all writers, I ask for them. They see things I miss because I've read the story a million times. Always, I get people who say they'd love to beta. I send out the MS and nervously wait. And wait. And wait. And wait. Finally, I get up the courage to ask for progress update.

And get told they forgot about the story.

I don't begrudge people for having their own stuff to do and having a favor I ask them slip by the way. It happens to me and I'm not griping about that. No, my annoyance is more the fact how often this happens to me. I send out a story for critique and hear nothing back or the dreaded, "Crap, I forgot." when I finally ask about it. Sometimes, if my inbox stays empty, I don't ask because I don't want to be told that.

Seriously, how bad can my luck be that this happens all the time?

PS: It's also the two year anniversary of IWSG! Thanks Alex for this awesome group and here's to many more years to come.

24 Comments

Jocelyn Rish link

9/3/2013 05:29:05 pm

That does suck that it happens so often. I'm a notoriously slow reader, but I always try to update my 'victim' on my progress, so they know I didn't forget. Here's hoping you have some better beta luck around the corner. :-)

Patricia Lynne link

9/4/2013 01:25:19 am

I'm the opposite. When I beta for someone, it's the same as when I read a book, I don't stop until I hit the end. And sometimes, when the story is really good, I forget I'm supposed to be critiquing. lol

Fida link

9/3/2013 10:18:53 pm

I know that feeling and it sucks badly! Hopefully things get better either with your beta readers being in top of things or getting new ones.

9/4/2013 01:26:24 am

I'm sure it will. Luck always turns around eventually. It's just frustrating right now.

chemistKen link

9/3/2013 10:51:42 pm

I hear what you're saying. Sometimes I stretch myself too thin by agreeing to read too many stories, but I've never forgotten about one before (at least not for more than a week).

Perhaps the people who volunteered to beta read weren't into YA?

Glad you're part of the IWSG.

9/4/2013 01:27:56 am

I know some of the people read YA, and seriously, who hasn't tried to write a YA novel? LOL I swear, everyone and their mother has a YA novel in them. Anyways, I try to make it clear that I write YA, but maybe I need to figure out a new way to find help.

Briane Pagel link

9/4/2013 12:35:54 am

Glad I found your blog -- I did a random number pick and got 139, and landed on yours.

I've only just used 'beta readers' I guess, a bit, for my new manuscript. What I asked was whether anyone wanted an ARC, and the people who said they did, I sent one to, and then noted that if they found an error in it, I'd give them a $5 Amazon gift card. Only one of the five people who got an ARC actually notified me of errors (and he got his five bucks); the others might have not yet gotten around to it before I sent around an email noting the 7 other errors I'd caught.

The point is, people almost always want something free, and people almost always want to be seen as doing something good. So when you say "Hey, who wants to beta read this for free," you are going to generate a lot of people who want a free book or want to seem friendly, but who don't really want to read and comment on a book, or at least not now.

Nielsen (and other ratings companies) get around this by offering a nominal amount of money to do something. I was a local radio rating guy for a month once; they sent me the letter and the forms to fill out, and $5, and I dutifully noted what radio I listened to and when.

They do that because if they give you something -- even of nominal value -- most people will feel obligated to return the favor.

So I'd suggest, in the future, that you do that. Tell someone that when they read and comment on your book, you will give them a gift card at Amazon, or a free book, or buy them a song on ITunes or something. That way, they're getting something out of the work they're doing.

9/4/2013 01:24:30 am

Not to be rude and I'm sorry if I sound cranky, but your reply has rubbed me the wrong way. With beta readers, usually what happens is you exchange manuscripts. If I ask someone to crit my work, then there's an unspoken agreement that they can rely on me to give an honest opinion of theirs when needed. It becomes a partnership. I have two friends who started off as betas and we exchange everything we write now. No money is involved because the compensation is reading each others stories and helping out a friend.

Part of the beauty of the writing community is how willing we are to help each other out. For free.

MB link

9/4/2013 01:48:52 am

If they're reading your work, aren't they, in essence getting a free book? To pay them off feels like bribery to me and I want honest opinions from people and to promise them something monetary in return would make me feel like those folks who were paying people for 5 star reviews.

I have a couple loyal beta folks and each time I try to reach out and find some new folks. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I explain the premise of the book and the genre and the only thing I do promise them is that if they get back to me with comments, they will be thanked in the acknowledgements at the end of the book. People seem to be happy with that.

If I'm getting someone to beta read for me, I'm hoping it's someone who loves to read and would want to be involved in the process, getting a sneak peek of a book before everyone else. If they're just doing it for a gift card or whatever, then I would rather pick someone else more interested in reading my work, know what I mean?

But hey, if it works for you, so be it, but I hope you're getting honest feedback in return.

9/4/2013 01:55:46 am

Well said. I agree with what you said about people just doing it for the gift card or cash. Are they really giving their honest opinion? Or worrying if they don't say all nice things or sugar coat everything I won't pony up the cash?

Alex J. Cavanaugh link

9/4/2013 01:11:22 am

I'm sorry! Wow, if I tell someone I'm going to do something, I do it. I can't imagine blowing off someone's manuscript.
Don't give up. There are good beta readers and critique partners out there.

9/4/2013 01:28:35 am

Yesh, and I will find them. <.< >.>
;)

Crystal Collier link

9/4/2013 01:20:13 am

You know, I've been blessed with some really great betas. I guess the key there was a serial series that I put up on my blog 5 years back. I got a loyal little group, and now have a pool to pick from when in need of betas. I think the key is finding people you interact with regularly so that they remember they're sitting on your manuscript every time you chat. I also give time limits. ALWAYS. I ask for betas who can get through the manuscript in 2 weeks or 1 month. If people can't commit to that, I won't send it.

9/4/2013 01:32:22 am

For Being Human, I had some amazing betas that I exchanged work with. The sad thing was, I lost touch with a few of them. Two I still talk to and we exchange our work and critique it.

I did set a deadline last time I asked for betas and some people that volunteered were people I talked to regularly. _-_

Jai link

9/4/2013 01:40:58 am

Wow that is terrible.
Hope you find better betas soon.

9/4/2013 02:03:31 am

It is disheartening. I have a few reliable betas, but sometimes their daily lives prevent them from being able to read for me.

Emma Adams

9/4/2013 04:15:57 am

It's really off-putting when that happens! It's worse when a reader abandons it halfway, because it feels like my book wasn't good enough to hold their attention!

9/5/2013 05:11:25 am

I haven't heard any cases of readers abandoning my books half way through. Not sure if I'd want to know or remain blissfully ignorant.

M.J. Fifield link

9/4/2013 05:05:56 am

I've had this problem a lot in the past, too. And it sucks, it really, really sucks. I'm sorry that it's happened to you.

When I agree to read for someone, it becomes a priority because I know how hard it is to ask someone to read/critique your work and then wait and wait and wait and...well, you get it.

9/5/2013 05:12:13 am

Yeah. I tend to feel bad if I don't start beta reading a story the day I get it. I know how hard it is to wait.

John Wiswell link

9/5/2013 02:38:17 am

It's deeply unfortunate if your betas forget about your work all the time. That's unprofessional and unacceptable. However, it will always happen some of the time. Even two dear friends who beta read my last novel postponed it two months because of big stuff that emerged in their lives. In those cases, it's hard not to take it personally, but we have to be as considerate as possible and think practically about whether to work with those people again.

9/5/2013 05:09:53 am

That's why I said I don't begrudge people when life gets in the way. I've had that happen as well. That doesn't bug me at all.

Cherie Reich link

9/5/2013 06:46:20 am

Aww! I know what you mean. It can be hard enough to find someone to look at the earlier stages of your work, and then when you do find them, it's worse to find out that they don't have time or have forgotten. I feel lucky that I do have a few dependable beta readers/critique partners, but it's hard to find new ones that work out.