Beta Reader (1)

Komal and I have been book blogging friends for a really long time now. At some point, we decided to become editing buddies. She is by defintion, one of my beta readers.  Beta readers are super important for writers because you need to have someone you trust with “your baby” who is going to be supportive but critical, only to make your WIP better. It’s a tough thing to do.

I’m lucky because Komal and I become equally invested in each other’s works. I believe in her WIP as much as I believe in my own. Having that relationship, makes having a critique a lot easier to swallow.

Komal and I live on opposite sides of the world, so it’s not like we can meet for coffee every Tuesday. Instead, we do a lot of emailing and a lot of messaging. The emailing allows each of us to digest, contemplate and edit. The messaging allows us to go back and forth immediately. Below is an example of Komal and I working on the summary of my debut novel The Owens Legacy: Revelations.

                                    Komal Lewis

Here's what I have so far:           

       "When Piper and Ryder Owens are dumped at Evermore Academy, they thought that the only thing they would have to worry about was Piper staying out of trouble long enough for them to graduate."           

        I'm not sure about the word 'dumped'. The second sentence is going to be about them being telepathic. Or maybe that should be in the first one.

            
            


            
December 15, 2011
Michelle Flick

       I love the first line ... I agree about dumped, but I feel it is a word Piper would use...

            
            


            
December 15, 2011
Komal Lewis

Yes exactly, because she uses it in the first chapter. You could extend the first line to incorporate the mind reading but the sentence might become too busy.

            
            


            
December 15, 2011
Michelle Flick

I agree that it would become to busy.

I really like this sentence: They will not, for any reason, be separated. But someone at Evermore knows and knows and wants to separate them, permanently. (I dont want to bring up the prophecy thing or Ishtar - like I want that all to be a mystery).

           

            
December 15, 2011
Komal Lewis

I think that would work as the second line to show their bond becuase I think that's the most important part of the story - the bond they share with each other.

            
            


            
December 15, 2011
Michelle Flick

but it does need something about being telepathic in there.

           

            
December 15, 2011
Komal Lewis

Ok, here's what it looks like now:           

"When telepathic twins, Piper and Ryder Owens are dumped at Evermore Academy, they thought that the only thing they would have to worry about was Piper staying out of trouble long enough for them to graduate. They will not, for any reason, be separated. But someone at Evermore knows and wants to separate them permanently.           

What they didn’t expect was Victor Mira. He’s mysterious, good looking and everything Piper is supposed to avoid, and she feels drawn to him in a way she never imagined."

            
            


            
December 15, 2011
Michelle Flick

What they didn’t expect was Victor Mira. He’s mysterious, good looking and everything Piper is supposed to avoid, and she feels drawn to him in a way she never imagined. - The phrase "what they didn't expect" is throwing me because they arent expecting someone to want to separate them...

            
            


            
December 15, 2011
Komal Lewis

That's a good point. After the Victor bit, I have this: "But Victor is hiding a dangerous secret too, and what he knows could be the one thing that could divide the sisters. Forever."

            
            


            
December 15, 2011
Michelle Flick

What about something like But then Piper's achilles heal shows up, a good looking guy. LOVE THAT SENTENCE

           

            
December 15, 2011
Komal Lewis

Yes! That would work!

            
            


            
December 15, 2011
Komal Lewis

       Ok, I'm going to re-write and see what it looks like altogether.

            
            


            
December 15, 2011
Michelle Flick

ok            


           

            
December 15, 2011
Komal Lewis

When telepathic twins, Piper and Ryder Owens are dumped at Evermore Academy, they thought that the only thing they would have to worry about was Piper staying out of trouble long enough for them to graduate. They will not, for any reason, be separated. But someone at Evermore knows and wants to separate them permanently.           

But then Piper’s Achilles Heel shows up: a good lucking guy. Victor Mira is mysterious and everything Piper is supposed to avoid, yet she feels drawn to him in a way she never imagined. But Victor is hiding a dangerous secret too, and what he knows could be the one thing that could divide the sisters. Forever.

           

            
December 15, 2011
Michelle Flick

how about knows their secret.

            
            


            
December 15, 2011
Komal Lewis

After "mysterious", do you think there should be another word to describe Victor?

           

            
December 15, 2011
Michelle Flick

What if we cut out mysterious?            


           

            
December 15, 2011
Komal Lewis

"But someone at Evermore knows about their secret" I like that better Ok, cutting out mysterious

           

            
December 15, 2011
Michelle Flick

yeah - because we haven't really stated that no one knows.

            
            


            
December 15, 2011
Komal Lewis

When telepathic twins, Piper and Ryder Owens are dumped at Evermore Academy, they thought that the only thing they’d have to worry about was Piper staying out of trouble long enough for them to graduate. They will not, for any reason, be separated. But someone at Evermore knows about their secret and wants to separate them permanently.

But then Piper’s Achilles Heel shows up: a good lucking guy. Victor Mira is everything Piper is supposed to avoid, yet she feels drawn to him in a way she never imagined. But Victor is hiding a dangerous secret too, and what he knows could be the one thing that could divide the sisters. Forever.

            
            


            
December 15, 2011
Michelle Flick

Perfect

I think we did it.

You are the best!

            
            


You’ll notice that we both praise each other, we never say something is bad or wrong (or other words with negative connotations), and we work toward an end goal. I feel personally that this is a productive atmosphere.

Komal also wanted to share her overall opinion. "In order for something like that to work you need to have a good understanding of the other person and their story. Be open-minded and willing to take constructive criticism. Have a good connection which is what makes it so easy (and fun!) to bounce ideas back and forth because we are more or less continuing each other's train of thought. Just enjoy yourself with it because it's a great creative process!"

What are some ways you work with your beta readers?