Beta Notes
This is my Saturday.
Hanging out with notes from my beta readers.
I love getting thoughts and comments from readers. Back when I wrote my first book and got my first beta reader for it I was scared to death to get her emails. So sure she was going to hate what she read and tell me I was a moron for writing it. (That didn’t happen)
Over the past few years I’ve LOVED to get thoughts from readers. I have a few readers who let me know EXACTLY what they’re feeling when they read different parts of the book and I feel like I’m in their head, reading it from a whole new perspective. I have a few readers who email their thoughts, a few that call and a few that write things down next to the text. My friend Abby draws me little hearts when she likes something she reads (my favorite!)
I’m a dreamer when I write. Things don’t always make sense, and they’re not always possible. My readers are really good at grounding me and bringing me back down to earth. In fact I got a call at work from my husband this past week where he started the conversation with “Are you crazy? Do you think submarines are made out of fruit roll-ups?” ha ha ha – well, they’d be pretty yummy if they were, wouldn’t they?
I’m diving back into sorting through my reader notes. Each one makes this story so much better and that makes Holly a happy girl.
March 22, 2014 @ 4:51 pm
Hi Holly! We met all the way back in 2011 at a SCBWI conference in Columbus. I was looking through some of my old notes from that and found your card. I’m so happy to see that you’re still writing! I’m also still plugging away at it. 🙂 Maybe we’ll see each other at the Northern Ohio conference in Sept. 🙂
March 24, 2014 @ 1:29 am
Hey Holly! I saw your post on my google page but I’m still figuring out this whole google+ thing so I thought I’d just write back here. 🙂 Obviously, I just started that blog (I had resisted for a long time and finally caved!) so its nice to know at least one person knows about it now! I love your website by the way–it’s so professional.
Actually, it’s funny that you mentioned beta reading my novel because I just started sending a few chapters out to some people. I haven’t finished my revision actually so that’s pretty unorthodox, but they were pestering me because they wanted to read it! lol! Anyway, I’d love to have some feedback from someone else in the same boat as me whenever you have the time. And I’d absolutely return the favor if you’d like any more beta readers. Good to hear from you!