The Search for Beta Readers

I periodically share updates here about a suspense novel I wrote a few years ago, inspired by my work podcasting. In early 2024 I hired a developmental editor to help me go over the manuscript. I began sending queries out to literary agents that spring after incorporating her suggestions. After the first few rejections, I had writer friends I trust help me tackle my query letter, and almost immediately I began receiving manuscript requests. I’ve written a few other novels before in the young adult genre and had never received a request, only rejections. I was elated. 

Two agents that requested the full manuscript both got back to me within a few months and turned down representation. They both had different reasons—I believe part of the problem is the book is written in an experimental format. A large part of the novel tells the story through podcast transcripts, and one agent said she wasn’t sure how to handle that. I don’t believe that was the only thing holding her back from working with me though, because I’ve since read several books that tell the story in a similar format. 

Two agents requested partial manuscripts, and I never heard back from them. And a few months ago, I queried a small publishing press, and they requested a full manuscript. I haven’t received a yes or no yet. 

But I can tell there is something missing in the writing or the format of the book that is keeping agents from offering me a firm “Yes, let’s do this!” I don’t want to send out any more queries until I figure out what the issues are. I was discussing my dilemma with my writing accountability group and they suggested beta readers. Now, I admit I only had a few readers look at the manuscript before handing it over to an editor, and not all of them read the book in its entirety. I think they are right. With a few exceptions. One of my friends from church suggested I give the manuscript to their book club, and they could act as a “focus group” for me. I was horrified and said that wasn’t quite what I was looking to do and she understood. 

I’ve been doing a bit of research on the best way to find beta readers. I’ve decided to put a call out to my own network first, and say I’m looking for 3-4 beta readers who can commit to reading the manuscript and answering a set list of questions (I like the ones I found on this blog post). In return, I can offer to read something for them (essays, short stories, manuscript, etc.) or offer up a gift card so they can purchase a book on their wish list. If possible, I’d like to ask beta readers to complete the book and questions within 4-6 weeks so I can begin work on incorporating their suggestions or addressing other issues. Then, if I still feel it necessary, I can either hire another developmental editor or begin querying again.

 For anyone that’s ever used a beta reader or been one, how do these parameters sound? And what is the best way to share the manuscript? Should I format it for anyone who wants to read on a Kindle, print out physical pages, or send in a Word document? I welcome any feedback and advice on this topic. I’m nervous about the process but also feel it will help move my book along as progress is at a dead stop for now. 

Renee Roberson is an award-winning writer who also produces and hosts the true crime podcast, Missing in the Carolinas. Learn more at FinishedPages.com and missinginthecarolinas.com.

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2 comments beta readers, editing tips, finding reader feedback, Renee Roberson, writing advice

What To Do If You Lose Track Changes and Other Tips

I’m currently in the phase of motherhood where I’m more Taxi Driver than Helicopter Parent. It’s not an easy stage, but giving up some control and allowing my kids to navigate the world on their own more and more these days gives me the time to absorb truckloads of writerly content while I’m battling highway demons. 

Not only are audiobooks my new favourite, but podcasts are hot on my car stereo rotation. And while listening to Dear Rach and Soph, I learned how to solve a problem I had when I hired an editor and sent her back a clean manuscript. Face plant! 

My last blog was all about my failed manuscript. It wasn’t an easy blog to write and it hasn’t been an easy time in my life. But since I opened up about my situation, it’s been easier for me to move on. 

Step one was to reacquaint myself with my manuscript and decide what to do with it. 

But how can you read a manuscript with fresh eyes? 

Try listening to your manuscript while driving. 

Here’s how it’s done: All you need is the Word app on your phone and connectivity in your car. Then you access your manuscript on your phone, via any file-sharing source like Dropbox or email, etc. and once it’s in Word, hit read aloud. 

Yes, the voice can be a lot robotic, but this is a great way to hear your words in the most usual way, and I find it helps me pick out things that I may have missed while staring at my computer screen while I was writing and editing my little heart out. 

Another way you can read your manuscript with fresh eyes is on your Kindle or the Kindle app on your phone. 

This is a cool way to see your words with fresh eyes. It even looks like a real eBook, minus the cover art, and you can highlight, bookmark and do everything else you can on a Kindle that we all love, like reading in night mode, commenting, and checking words in the dictionary, etc. 

Here’s how it’s done: Open your manuscript via email or any file-sharing app you have on your phone, hit the share button and share to Kindle. 

It’s that easy. All the formatting is done for you! 

After listening to my failed manuscript, I had plenty of food for thought which has helped me to determine that I want to give this manuscript another edit before sending it out again. 

So with that decision, when it comes to editing, looking at your characters is a good place to start. 

Highlight keywords throughout an entire document 

During #editTillEaster this year, I talked about the shrunken manuscript technique. While learning and sharing about this, I worked out how to highlight keywords throughout an entire document, such as character names. At the time I was using this technique to see when certain characters of mine disappeared. Whoops! 

Here’s how it’s done: In Word, first you select the highlight colour you want to use, then you go to edit, find, advanced find and replace, and the replace tab. Type the word you want to highlight in find and make sure the same word is in the replace bar. Then you’ll want to make sure the replace format, highlight is selected and click replace all. Then when you shrink the manuscript (or zoom out) you can easily see when a colour vanishes from your pages. 

Saving the best till last, here’s what to do if you lose track changes. 

Gosh, I wish I had known this earlier. 

If you don’t know the story, when I worked with an editor, I resolved thousands of edits and sent her back a completely clean document. I’d done all the work but there was no way she could see what I’d changed. Triple face plant. After I panicked, I went back through the manuscript and highlighted what I knew the major changes were, looking back on her original comments. Time consuming and not as detailed as track changes. 

Now I know the solution to this problem. 

Rach and Soph is a new podcast I have come to love, and in Episode:8 Rejections, Submissions, and The Editorial Process from about the 47th minute they are just talking casually about track changes when Rach says, “My publisher or editor said, look, leave track changes on if you can. If you can’t stand it, then don’t.” Then soon after Soph says, “The other thing you can do is not track the changes but then do a compare/merge.” When I heard this, I had a major lightbulb moment. Never again will I fear losing track changes. 

So what is this magical feature? 

All you have to do is open Word. You’ll find the compare or combine button in the review tab. Click compare or combine, choose the original document and then the revised document you want to compare or combine with. Then a new document will be created, full of track changes showing any differences.  

Too easy! 

I hope this has been helpful and that at least one of my tips was new to you so that you may continue writing your way onward and upwards, despite any troubleshooting or rejection. 

Write on, Kelly 

P.S. If you enjoyed this blog, I’d love to connect with you. Feel free to comment and share your thoughts or any other tips. Tell me what you relate to. Let’s talk about writing.

Kelly Sgroi is based in Melbourne, Australia. Represented by Beyond Words Literary Agency, Kelly is looking forward to what comes next in her writing journey. She’s an enthusiastic member of the writing community and is published by WOW! Women on Writing, Dream Journal, The Endometriosis Foundation of America, Endometriosis Australia, and a few Medium publications. Visit her website at www.kellysgroi.com

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Leave a Comment editing tips, kindle, Microsoft Word, Rachel Johns, Track Changes, writing tips

Friday Speak Out!: Quality Control—After the Editor

by Frances Brown

We’ve all heard that it’s almost impossible to self-edit our writing, and there are no truer words. You see, we are all human, but our eyes don’t know that. So, they perform this handy little function, akin to the “auto-correct” function on our smartphones. When our eyes read words that we have written, they skim right over all the errors, essentially “auto-correcting” the word, phrase, or sentence to what our brains know it should be. Which is why we rely on good content and copy-editors to perfect our work.

My problem is that once I get back the edited manuscript, I go through and make all the suggested edits. That’s what we’re supposed to do, right? And why is that a problem? Because the manuscript does not return to the editor after I’ve made my edits. And in making those corrections or changes, I make yet more errors.

These errors are invisible to my auto-correct eyes on my computer screen. I’ve tried printing off the piece and reading the words on paper, but my eyes don’t fail me. They insist on inserting missing words and ignoring repeated ones. They refuse to admit when a sentence is awkward. They repeatedly, and insistently, insert commas where they aren’t needed.

So, what’s the answer? You’ve paid an editor, you’ve made all your edits, and you’re ready to pitch or publish your piece. But you can’t afford a second round of edits . . . what’s a girl to do?

This is advice I got from the publisher of my very first novel, Debbie Gilbert of Soul Mate Publishing—read it out loud. I didn’t believe her at the time. Boy, do I believe her now.

Your ears can hear what your eyes cannot see—even if the words are coming out of your own mouth. I am amazed every time I’ve gone over and over a piece of writing until I’m absolutely, positively certain that it’s perfect. Then I read it out loud. How did that extra “the” get in there? Why does that sentence sound so clunky? Did I really use the word “aggravate” three times in one paragraph?

In my office, I keep two giant aquariums filled with colorful, freshwater angelfish. They are the “best read” angelfish in the world, because they’ve heard almost every blog, story, and chapter I’ve ever written. Do they bother to offer their literary opinions? No. But they are patient and haven’t complained once about having to listen to endless hours of narration.

Yes, you read that right. Hours. I once lost my voice after reading an entire 349-page novel out loud in one weekend—to my angelfish. You would not believe how many errors I caught before the copy went to print. Precious time, well spent.

I’m still waiting, however, for one—just one!—of those snooty, stoic angelfish to post a review for me. Nothing yet. Guess they haven’t perfected aquatic laptops yet.

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Frances Brown is a multi-published, award winning author of a memoir, and five novels + one Author Resource book entitled, The Road to Publication under her pseudonym, Claire Gem. You can visit her at http://www.francessusannebrown.com and http://www.clairegem.com. 
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Would you like to participate in Friday "Speak Out!"? Email your short posts (under 500 words) about women and writing to: marcia[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com for consideration. We look forward to hearing from you!
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4 comments advice for writers, Claire Gem, editing tips, Frances Brown, Friday Speak Out, Self-editing