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.
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.
I love
the first line ... I agree about dumped, but I feel it is a word Piper would
use...
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.
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).
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.
but it does need something
about being telepathic in there.
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."
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...
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."
What about something like
But then Piper's achilles heal shows up, a good looking guy. LOVE THAT SENTENCE
Yes! That would work!
Ok, I'm
going to re-write and see what it looks like altogether.
ok
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.
how about knows their
secret.
After
"mysterious", do you think there should be another word to describe
Victor?
What if we cut out
mysterious?
"But someone at
Evermore knows about their secret" I like that better Ok, cutting out mysterious
yeah - because we haven't
really stated that no one knows.
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.
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?
Your beta readers are super important, but their opinions
are not end all, be alls. I agree with Nadine’s opinion for the most part.
Below is a simple note about something I don’t agree with. As a writer you have
the right to disagree. But I also made a note about it, and if say Komal or
Joe, also point out that it’s off, I might re-think it.