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Okay,
I was about to start with “who among us hasn’t had the experience of trying to figure out who to tag for beta readers” but remembered that some of us haven’t finished our WIPs.We all will need beta readers at some point. It’s inevitable. But it can be really hard to figure out who you should tag and who might be available to read your stuff, right? I know I’ve had trouble in the past. This is why I’m creating this post. If you’re interested in being an alpha/beta reader, comment below using this format:Name: You
Tag: @yourself
Experience: [Base this off about how frequently you’ve beta’d and the feedback people have given you on it. 1-2 times is inexperienced, 3-4 times is somewhat experienced, and 5+ times is very experienced. This is not including stories that you and your friends share and are like “OH MY GOSH THIS IS SO CUTEEEEE.” I’m talking about actual novels or novellas, and where you’ve given plot and character feedback besides heart eye emoji.]
Style: [Some authors do want people who are going to do more “fangirling” over their plot and characters, while also offering feedback. We’ll call this style “Marshmellow fluff.” Some authors want a healthy mix of fangirling and feedback, which we’ll call the “Gummy worm” style. The last style would be the brutal, straight feedback with minimal “Ahh I like this part” and coming from a very logical standpoint, which we’ll call “Dark chocolate.” If you need help figuring out which of the styles you are, ask someone you’ve beta’d for before.]
Brainstorming-ness: [rate it 1-10 on how easily and willing you are to help an author brainstorm solutions to their problems. 1 is “I will show you this plot hole and all the aspects it’s messed up, but I really don’t have a ton of brain-power to invest in your novel.” and 10 is “By the time I’ve pointed out this plot hole I have twelve ideas on how to fix it.”
Time: [What’s the average amount of time you could effectively beta read a novel in?]
Word count: [What’s your preferred word count for a book? Do you like them Order Of the Pheonix long or The Girl Who Could See short?]
Genre: [This is probably the genre you’re most familiar with reading so you can most effectively beta for it.]
Rating: [How would you prefer your novels? No more graphic than G, or leaning into heavy PG-13? What are things you really would prefer not to read novels with? This is where you can put things that you find triggering, etc, so that you won’t be asked to read a novel with this in it.]
Preference: [Alpha, Beta, or both]
Link to your blog/author site: http://www.________.com
Your comments should only include the bold categories. We’ve got a very friendly and outgoing group on here, but let’s *only* comment once– for our own “beta profiles”– and then use this for future reference. The whole point is so there aren’t millions of comments to scroll through, and it’s really easy to get exactly what you want.
(Also if you comment anything besides your beta profile, I’ll tag you elsewhere and ask you kindly to delete it. 🙂 I want to make this a useful resource for all of us without the spam that other posts can get.)
If you have any questions, tag me on one of the general writing discussion posts and I’ll try to answer it. Thank you guys so much!
The pen is mightier than the sword, but in a duel, I'm taking the sword.
ekseaver.wordpress.comName: Em
Tag: @e-k-seaver
Experience: Very Experienced
Style: Dark Chocolate
Brainstorming-ness: 3-4
Time: One Month
Word count: 20,000-90,000 words
Genre: Fantasy, Dystopian, Adventure, YA
Rating: PG-13. Minimal kissing being the max of s*xual stuff. I will not read a book with homosexuality. Would prefer there not be any s*lf-h*rm unless the character ends up finding hope in the end.
Preference: Beta
Link to your blog/author site: https://ekseaver.wordpress.com/
The pen is mightier than the sword, but in a duel, I'm taking the sword.
ekseaver.wordpress.comName: Linyang
Tag: @devastate-lasting
Experience: Inexperienced, but I’ve done things such as judging short story contests and other things
Style: Somewhere in between Gummy Worm and Dark Chocolate
Brainstorming-ness: I’m way better at line-editing, ngl, so 2 or 3?
Time: A couple of hours, make two or three weeks.
Word count: I prefer shorter pieces.
Genre: I’d prefer something more like realistic fiction, maybe a little fantasy.
Rating: I can probably take PG-15. I’d prefer no heavy swearing, sexual content, or extreme gore.
Preference: Either is fine.
Link to your blog/author site: https://zhanglinyang.weebly.com/
Lately, it's been on my brain
Would you mind letting me know
If hours don't turn into daysI’m not able to beta read right now, but I’ll tag some more people @seekjustice @rochellaine @alia @valtmy @gracie-j @nova21 @issawriter17 @godlyfantasy12
I'm a Kapeefer 'TIL WE'RE OLD AND GREY!
www.jennaterese.comName: Abigail
Tag: @abigail-m
Experience: Technically inexperienced.
Style: When asked, I can be any style needed.
Brainstorming-ness: 2-5
Time: About a month or more depending on length. Short stories only take a week or so and flash fiction, a day. (Alavablity varies).
Word count: I prefer the 0-50,000 range. I can more efficiently and effectively review shorter pieces.
Genre: (I’m listing this as my best subjects to my less frequent subjects) Poetry, Flash Fiction, Horse Stories, Fiction, Animal POV Stories, Medium Fantasy, Adventure.
Rating: I’m a G-PG girl:) No graphic gore, horror, excessive modern weaponry, crime-drama, heavy sexual content (I like romance, but kissing is my max), self-harm, mental illnesses, homosexuality (I know none of you would write that, I just like getting my list out of the way), graphic suicide stories, psychopathic anything, extremely sad endings.
Preference: Either is fine by me.
(No blog yet).
Extensive knowledge: horses, keeping animals, hodgepodge.
- Rank: Eccentric Mentor
- Total Posts: 1789
Name: Grace (or Gracie)
Tag: @gracie-j
Experience: Somewhat experienced. I have only beta-read one novel, have read several short stories, and am currently in the middle of several large projects. And I’ve gotten positive feedback from those I’ve read for.
Style: It depends on the person, project, and request. For line-edits, I’m usually Dark Chocolate. For short projects that only need a quick overview, I can be very Marshmallow Fluff. I tend to stick with what’s asked of me.
Brainstorming-ness: 8. I’m a very analytical and in-depth reader, so I’m liable to write your novel for you. However, I know when to keep my mouth shut, so if you don’t need further assistance or suggestions, I will not offer them.
Time: Of course, depends on the word count. For a 50-80k novel, no more than a month. Anything longer (and/or needing more work) would be about two months. For novellas/short stories, a couple weeks, maybe. Availability varies.
Word Count: I would prefer to read anything up to 100k. If you’re offering up a fast-paced, exciting story, I might go for longer.
Genre: I write adult historical romance; but I read that and fantasy, mystery, classical, suspense, contemporary, some YA, etc.
Rating: PG-15. I can take violence, gore, suicide, etc., but no swearing, no homosexuality whatsoever, and preferably lax on the horror side. As for sexual content, I’ll go pretty far, but I stop at the bedroom. I would prefer not to read anything lacking faith.
Preference: Both.
Website/Blog: http://www.graceajohnson.com
Name: valtmy
Tag: @valtmy
Experience: Somewhat experienced
Style: Dark Chocolate
Brainstorming-ness: 6-9, depends on how much I get into the story
Time: Depends. Perhaps a week for shorter pieces, at least a month for a novel
Word count: Depends on how busy I am
Genre: Historical, Fantasy, Romance, Mystery, Comedy
Rating: I have a high threshold, so long as it’s not gratuitous and portrayed with the reality and weight of sin in mind
Preference: Either
Name: Ella
Tag: @nova21
Experience: somewhat experienced (3-4 times)
Style: Gummy Worm
Brainstorming-ness: 8-9; brainstorming is one of my stronger suits
Time: depending on the length, I’m a pretty fast reader, so a 50-60k novel would take less than a month to read and effectively critique (2 1/2 – 3 weeks?)
Word count: any novel below 100k; novellas/short stories work as well
Genre: fantasy, speculative fiction, thriller/suspense, dystopian, YA
Rating: PG-15; no heavy language, graphic sexual content, or gratuitous violence; as long as there’s redemption and a Christian-like portrayal of how evil sin is, I will read it
Preference: I prefer beta, but alpha-reading is good, too
what we do in life echoes in eternity
-gladiator, 2000Name: Libby
Tag: @libby
Experience: Inexperienced, as in I’m beta-reading for the first time this spring.
Style: Default is between Gummy Worm and Dark Chocolate, leaning more toward the latter.
Brainstorming-ness: Around 3, give or take.
Time: One month
Word count: anything, really
Genre: I read in most genres besides horror and thriller. Genres I’m partial to include historical fiction, YA, fantasy, sci-fi, poetry, classical, Christian thought, and memoirs (if anyone happens to be writing one : ) )
Rating: I’d rather stay away from books with homosexuality or horror. Other than that, I’ll echo Valtmy – “I have a high threshold, so long as it’s not gratuitous and portrayed with the reality and weight of sin in mind.”
Preference: Either for now, I may find I have preferences as I gain more experience.
Link to your blog: I’m working on getting that up and running, but if you need to contact me, feel free to shoot me an email at: powellen@masters.edu
Elen síla lúmenn' omentielvo
- Rank: Eccentric Mentor
- Total Posts: 1379
Name: Joy Caroline
Tag: @joy-caroline
Experience: Somewhat Experienced
Style: Gummy Worm
Brainstorming-ness: 7
Time: One month
Word count: Any, but I would generally prefer that it not exceed 130k
Genre: For Biblical fiction, I’m definitely the gal to ask. Historical fiction is also the area in which I’m most experienced. Contemporary Christian fiction, YA, poetry, and nonfiction inspirational Christian books are great. I’m unwilling to read horror, black magic, or sorcery. If your manuscript is a fantasy or sci-fi, I’m probably not the best person to ask since I hardly read and never write those genres.
Rating: I am willing to read anything as long as it’s not gratuitous and is portrayed tenderly, wisely, prayerfully, and biblically with the purpose of being honest with readers about how evil sin is and how beautiful Christ is. In Biblical and historical fiction, strong language is often used to portray the time period vividly. Please do this tenderly and prayerfully, not gratuitously. A good example is the Bible book of Hosea. Another good example would be To Kill a Mockingbird, which uses the n-word and other words to portray the ugly reality of the times and the horror of racism. I strongly believe we need books following the examples of Hosea and TKAM. Those are my guidelines for language. The only thing I absolutely will not read is bedroom scenes. There is no need for those whatsoever. Any bedroom scene is gratuitous; you can just say it happened between your characters without describing the action. Absolutely no horror, black magic, or sorcery.
Preference: I prefer beta.
Website/Blog: joycarolineauthor.com
Name: Issabelle Perry
Tag: @issawriter7
Experience: I’m probably a somewhat but I lean pretty close to a very experienced (I’ve never actually completed beta reading a novel, but I’m in the process of going through about four different gal’s novels, I have one gal who’s put the story on hold for now, in May (I think) I’m gonna be on @r-m-archer beta reading team, I’ve had many beta readers for my own stories, I have worked with a professional editor (Hannah Smith of Owl Hollow Press Publishing Company) for a short story, I’ve edited flash fiction and short stories too. My strongest side is line-editing. I’ve been beta reading seriously since November.)
style: gummy warm, but I can be a dark chocolate if asked for
brainstorming: 6
time: it depends on how much critiquing is needed and how long the project is. anywhere from one month to three
word count: 5,ooo-100,000
genre: YA, I read a wide variety of genres but am probably strongest with fantasy and suspense. I do not read adult, except for the rare occasion, and I don’t read MG that much anymore, so I wouldn’t be that good for that genre.
rating: PG-13 I don’t mind romance as long as it stays around a Melanie Dickerson type of romance. I will not read stories with homosexuality, no exceptions, and I’m not your girl for horror. I’d rather not to read a story that has cuss words in it, but if it’s only about 1 to 3 times, I will overlook it. I don’t mind violence as long as it doesn’t become too gory. Basically, when I say PG-13, the movies I’m thinking of are Harry Potter, Pirates of the Caribbean, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit (who’s third movie is actually R rated because of violence, but that’s as far as I will go when it comes to violence), and Star Wars.
preference: both, but I will probably do better as a beta!
website: teenwritersnook.com and intomywritingjourney.wordpress.com (though, I’m more active on the first site)
God gives His hardest battles to His strongest soldiers.
TeenWritersNook.comI know I’m younger than everybody else here, but I’d love to beta read for you guys! I want to help y’all and make friendsssss <3 ^_^
Name: Grace
Experience: Not very experienced, but I’ve done short story critiques, etc. before. I’d love to help you by being a reader, though!
Style: I can be any. If you don’t care, I’ll be a gummy worm most of the time, but I can be critical if you want and I DEFINITELY can fangirl for you. XD
Brainstorming: 8
Time: 2-7 days is how long it’ll normally take me, I am very much a speed reader and can read multiple novels in a day if I feel like it. The maximum length of time is about 2 weeks for me to read something if I’m very busy.
Word count: 5k-200k (I like long books and have read 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea so it really doesn’t matter how long your book is.)
Genre: Fantasy and realistic fiction are what I read and write most often, but I read across all genres (except horror) and many different genres are subtly blended into my fantasy books.
Rating: I’d cap at PG-13. About LoTR kind of content. Romance is fine, but only kissing, nothing beyond that. Zero homosexuality or prostitution of any kind, either. Violence is fine, but not excessively or with excessive gore, I’d prefer it stay kind of on the Artemis Fowl spectrum. Light magic, such as fairies and whatever, I’m fine with. But please, no recitation/incantation of spells or sorcery. No horror, either, please – but I will read thrillers, which is different. I have read and own the first two books in Kenneth Oppel’s Bloom trilogy if that helps (and eagerly await the third one’s arrival!). I’d also prefer there isn’t any swearing, as it makes me really uncomfortable…
Preference: I don’t know the difference, but either, I guess.
Site/blog: http://kadotakesan.wordpress.com
I’d be honoured if anyone chose me as a reader <3
staring at the fields
if nothing's really real
i'll make the winter now my home
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