Beyond NaNoWriMo - Final Thoughts
Thoughts on working with beta readers and an invitation to write with me this spring!
Hello, writers!
We’ve reached the end of my NaNoWriMo series. In this final installment, I thought I’d try to wrap things up with some thoughts on working with beta readers.
As I wrote about in my previous December posts, one of the best things you can do for yourself as you are developing a story is to know where you are in the writing process.
I suspect, if you completed a NaNo novel, you are now in the pause in between your messy first draft and your first rewrite. You are rereading, assessing, and setting goals. That’s a great place to be!
Don’t rush. And resist the temptation to leap ahead. Each part of the process is important. Rewriting your manuscript could take some time. Be patient with yourself and remember the goal: To make your novel as fun for others to read as it was for you to write.
And then what?
For me, I begin to share my work with supportive and sharp-eyed beta readers between phase three and four. After I’ve done my big rewrite, it’s time for me to pause again, just as I did between the first draft and the rewrite, so that I can come back with fresh eyes. In the pause, I ask for input for others, because no matter how long I pause between drafts, in the end, I realize I might not be the most accurate assessor of my own work. I have blind spots, and I need beta readers to help me with that.
How to Find Trusted Beta Readers
So, whom should you ask for feedback?
This is a tricky one. You want the feedback to be supportive and honest. It’ll do you no good to pass it on to a grandmotherly figure who believes everything you do is perfect. It’ll also do you no good to give it to someone who will revel in the chance to criticize you.
Your ideal beta reader should be someone who:
Loves to read and reads widely
Cares about your personal wellbeing and success
Has enough the time to read and respond relatively quickly
You won’t get good story advice from someone who doesn’t read. And you won’t get thoughtful feedback from someone who doesn’t care about you (So, please, please, do not turn to random internet forums full of strangers! I beg you!). And it’s going to be very hard for you to wait for a reaction, so don’t ask your busiest friend or the one who thrives on procrastination.
If you are lucky enough to have two friends who fit the bill, that’s great. If you have three, you’re the luckiest writer I know. And if you have more than three, how nice that you get to pick and choose, but personally I think three beta readers at a time is the most you want.
It can be useful to hear from more than one person to see where there is general agreement, but, just as too many cooks spoil the soup, too much feedback leads to a story written by committee, and that’s not a good thing.
When you have identified some beta readers, you might also want to think about offering them some specific questions to respond to. Consider the goals you set for your draft, and perhaps craft two to three questions around those goals. I think this is especially important if your beta readers are not also writers. Just as students hate teachers who say, “Read and take notes,” with no further guidance, beta readers can be overwhelmed by, “Read and tell me what you think.”
Also, you won’t really be at the sentence-editing phase you. That’s the last step. So by all means, liberate your beta readers the tedious task of proofreading. You want them to enjoy the story and experience it as a reader, not as a copyeditor. Let your readers know where you are in the process so they can respond appropriately.
What if you don’t have anyone in your life who fits the bill?
Well, you’re not alone, friend. I see you. And that is where writing groups can be very helpful. Check with your local library or explore the MeetUp website for local writing groups. See if local continuing education organizations offer writing workshops and classes.
You may need to try more than one group or more than one teacher to find your people, and you want to get to know the others in the group a bit before sharing your work. Just because someone has been hired as a writing teacher, that does not mean they are the be and end all of feedback, and some teachers are better than others at managing how students respond to one another, so be choosy.
Protect your story and your vision for it. It’s your baby. Don’t hand it out willy nilly. Far better to take your time finding your writing tribe than to rush into sharing with someone whose feedback will set you back instead of move you ahead.
Continue you writing journey with me this spring!
If you’d like to work with me on your manuscript in a supportive environment this spring, check out the Monadnock Pastoral Poetry Retreat, which will be held in Greenfield, New Hampshire from April 25 to 27. While it’s called a poetry retreat, we welcome novelists and nonfiction writers as well! I have been blessed to work with fiction writers at this retreat for a number of years now, and every year it exceeds my expectations in terms of community, camaraderie, and inspiration.