Alpha's ,Beta's, and ARC's
Feb 12, 2022 9:32:16 GMT -6
Post by pelwrath on Feb 12, 2022 9:32:16 GMT -6
As I'm at the point of having Sundowners #2 put out to several beta readers, I was asked by one possible person, how many edits have I done on it. A very valid question, so I asked on Twitter and had a lot of responses, which I'll summarize here. What I did learn is that, only the author can decide if their book is ready to be sent out. Also note that this is before an editor sees the manuscript.
Terms:
Alpha reader: A reader that reads an unpolished copy. Some of those who replied to my question, use Alpha readers for sections of the book. They seem to be like guard rails for a writer. S.P&G isn't their promary reason. Story and character arcs are what they are looking for.
Beta reader: A reader who reads a much polished, almost ready for publication or is ready. They read the whole story and provide feedback.
ARC's: Advanded Reader Copies, This sometimes is used to be a final before released read, after any editor. Read from a readers perspective and not an editor.
Things to know: If you ask people to do any of the above with your manuscript, make sure they and you know what you're asking them to do. How much time you're giving them to do it. Then don't complain when they do it and your don't expect/like what they returned. In esence, you're asking them to provide a critique of your manuscript, find things wrong or to be improved on.
What I dsicovered is that maybe 30% of those who replied to my question, use Alpha readers, 5% don't use any of them before sending to an editor, and 10% use beta's in more than one round. They make revisions after the first round of beta's, then send it out to a secoond round of beta's. Of those that use Alpha's, it seemed a 50-50 break on a by chapter or full manuscript.
For those who use one group of beta's, the plurality 40%, look for 2-3 edits to be done before they see it. The next largest group, 25%, said that when the manuscript becomes a fog of words and they don't really see anything more that they feel can be done, whithout a major rewrite. As I mentioned, all said that it comes down to the author and when they feel the story is ready for somein the public to read.
So what are your thoughts on theuse of such?
I now have four people who've graciously offered to be beta's for Sundowners #2