Dear reader, can we agree that beta readers are necessary for a book’s excellence?

Sure! But we need rules for the process to work, sir.

Hang on, is there a way we can bring Hamilton into this?

Okay, so we’re doing this...

One two three four five six seven eight nine

It’s the Ten Beta Commandments
It’s the Ten Beta Commandments!

Number one:
The challenge: invite a reaction
If they accept, set a date for the transaction

Number two:
Push it back, let’s be real, you need more time
You might lose a few but in the end it will be fine

Number three:
Get your words into a narrative flow
Plot holes, clichés, confusion gotta go

First draft, worst draft, you know it’s true
We need beta readers to do what they do!

Number four:
If they’re not writers too, that’s all right
You need your target audience to be on site

You pick ‘em for their love of the genre or themes
You have ‘em go in cold so their feedback’s clean

Five!
Send your book in the form that they prefer
If you don’t, face the fact that they’ll defer

Number six:
Let it go, spend time with family and friends
Tell ‘em where you been, promise your book is near its end

Seven!
Accept it all, critique and praise
Don’t just debate and argue your case

Number eight:
Take your time to clarify
You don’t have to agree, just understand (or try)

Number nine:
Fix your book, it was great but aim higher
Put in all the work that it requires

Then tell

one two three four five six seven eight nine (maybe) ten readers:

THANK YOU!

****

A notable day is approaching: on August 18th, 2015, I discovered Inkshares and entered the first Nerdist contest. That means my one-year Inkshares anniversary is almost here!

So, to celebrate (and give myself a deadline), I will be sending out my manuscript to beta readers on August 18th!!

My beta readers will have four weeks to get their comments back to me. I will incorporate their input over the course of another two weeks. Then...

Production on my book will begin!!

FINALLY!!

In the meantime, if you like Terry Pratchett, whimsy, or murder mysteries, order Jay Lockwood’s A Beast Requires immediately and help him win the current Geek & Sundry Fantasy contest!

Here is my review:

"Inkshares won’t let me recommend this more than once, which is a sad limitation when I like it at least ten times over. A Beast Requires mixes the wit of Douglas Adams and the whimsy of Jasper Fforde in a fairy tale land of forest slums, skeevy elf landlords, and murder. Every moment is layered in world building gold. If this book were food, it would be chocolate and I would eat it. (I may eat it anyway.)"

Nom nom.