Harper’s Harpings – Beta Readers

What can I say about Beta Readers that other authors have not already said, nothing really so I shall echo their thoughts.

They are invaluable, I adore mine and cannot say how much I appreciate them reading my chapters as I have written them and then I make them read it again.

I quiz them on different aspects, what about this and what about that.  Somethings get changed, some things get embellished and somethings get taken out.

With Loving Lilly I had comments like ‘who tips Lilly off that Elijah is in jail’ my reply was ‘shit, forgot about that’ and another was ‘what happened about the pendant’ and my reply was also ‘shit, forgot to write that bit’.

Then there is ‘how can William say that speech when he wasn’t even there, he was at Liam’s house’ this is where I value it the most.  When I re write a scene and I don’t have the characters in the right place at the right time.

It’s because it is all in my head and when I read it I forget that the reader doesn’t know and that is where beta readers are fabulous and I love them.

I won’t name mine as I haven’t asked them if they want to be named but I know they will read this, so, Firecracker and my pretend sister, thank you so much for helping me.  I couldn’t do this without you.

What it means now is that I am nearly there and that is an awesome feeling, they both love the book.  Just a few more tweaks, yet more edits and then its ready.

Would you want to be a beta reader?  Or do you have beta readers and how do you utilise them?

Thanks for reading

Grace

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Harper’s Motto: You will not be everybody’s favourite flavour, but that’s ok, because they will not always be your favourite flavour.   Be who you want to be and you will attract the people who will support you no matter what.

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