For Beta or Worse

 

I want to talk this month about my recent experience of having my latest novel road-tested by beta readers. I realise that, for some of us, this would be the equivalent of undergoing surgery without anaesthetic; but I’m happy to report that, not only did the patient (the author) survive, but the long-term prognosis for the novel is cautiously optimistic.

Having readers for our writing is A Good Thing, surely? (*begins to daydream of effusive adulation, people queuing to polish my halo, a new Oscar being carved in my image.)

But, potentially, it could be A Very Hard-to-Face Thing. I mean, what if – saints preserve us – they don’t like it? Find fault? Point at our Emperor’s New Clothes?

The fact is, whichever way we view it, I’ve found that having beta readers is An Essential Thing if I’m serious about becoming a better writer.

So, to talk specifics. I spent about six months last year crafting my latest magnus opus. By November, I’d tweaked and primped until I could do no more. My agent loved it (hurrah, since she really hadn’t liked my previous one!) but said we had to get it read. She duly sent it to a friend of hers familiar to the industry, and I sent it to members of my writing group and a friend further afield. When the feedback came in, I simply glanced at it before collating it into a single document. It wasn’t until the meeting with my agent that I looked at it properly and, even when I did, I made sure that I didn’t let my heart get too involved. This was a dispassionate, strategic planning meeting, not a personal dissection.

In amongst the positive enthusiasm were some scathing criticisms. The ending didn’t work. The plot was at times unconvincing. The characters were… Well, you get the point. And, do you know what? I didn’t cry into my Weetabix. I didn’t throw my writing ambition away.

I was happy.

Yes, really!

Because, suddenly, I was no longer writing solo but as part of a team. The highlighted comments (pasted all over my study wall!) show me not only where to improve but how to improve. One person’s suggestion had me spending a very pleasant, if slightly bizarre, morning researching the qualities of a psychopath. Others queried something which I could see needed expanding. Most wanted more – which was hugely encouraging.

I’ve spent February beavering away at the re-write, which should be finished very soon, and then I’ll send it out AGAIN.

I’ll keep you posted…

 

 

 Jane Walters is the author of Too Soon, a mother's journey through miscarriage (Jane Clamp, SPCK) and vice-chair of ACW. She is signed to Intersaga Literary Agency.

Follow her on Twitter (@Jawywa) and Facebook.