Insecure Writer's Support Group: How a Beta Can Help

I was always resistant to having a beta reader. The only people who read my first two novels before they were actually for sale were on my publisher's editing team. Even when I used to write fanfiction, I did it all on my own, without a beta to edit (and it shows.)

I'm intensely private with my writing. I didn't tell my family about it until my first book was about a month from release date. (That was an interesting conversation, to say the least: "Hey, Mom, I took up writing... Have you ever heard of fanfiction? ... No?... Well, anyway, a publisher saw some of my stories online, and now I have a book coming out next month. Pass the salt, please.")

With my first two novels, I had one of my editors reading as I went. By the time the third novel rolled around, her job duties had become too much to allow her to read every day and I found myself a little adrift without her constant reassurances that yes, I could actually write a story. (I'd nominate her for sainthood, but I don't think she's Catholic.) She gently nudged me toward getting myself a beta reader.

It took a while for me to accept, as most changes do, but I finally engaged the services of a fellow writer, who's deep in the midst of editing her own manuscript for publication. She made an excellent choice because she's an experienced beta in the fanfiction realm. (There, betas do not only substantive editing, but copy editing as well, though some specialize in particular areas.)

What I discovered is that having a beta reader is an excellent confidence booster, for several reasons.

1)  A good beta reader will tell you, honestly, if the story isn't working. I was stuck in the, "It's crap, isn't it? Tell me: it's crap. I know it." stage. I have confidence that she would turn to me and say, "Well, hon, I think we need to reconsider some aspects..."

As such, you need to find someone who is honest, but diplomatic enough to keep from wounding you any more than necessary. Here is where your fellow authors can be invaluable. They can probably help you find someone who suits your needs from among their contacts, or can refer you to someone who can.

This is how I feel, sometimes.

2) A good beta will cut down on your editing time. My beta isn't tasked with copy editing, but she does find those little mistakes which impact the way the story reads: clumsily-worded sentences, the occasional missing punctuation, and catches those bizarre instances where I type homophones instead of the correct word. (Why did my fingers type, "Get out of my weigh!" Why?)

3) A good beta will tell you what your readers will say. My newest book is a historical romance, but being the big nerd I am, I can veer off into the "historical" part wand wallow in esoteric detail.  She gently, but firmly gets me back on track by reminding me my romance readers are going to want romance. She is also able to point out areas which may need more explanation or clarification.

All in all, having a beta is another of those things I'm glad I talked myself into accepting. I have more confidence in my manuscript, knowing that someone else is watching over it.

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You can see my other posts for the Insecure Writer's Support Group here, and visit the main blogroll here.