Donna Maree Hanson, Author and PhD Candidate

I am putting up another beta reading interview to keep the ball rolling.

Glenda Larke is an awesome writer and I have beta read a lot for her in recent years. It has been a fascinating experience and I think I learned a lot, particularly when Glenda shares what her other beta readers thought about sections of her work. Also, sometimes she asks me particular questions like ‘is this beginning working?’

Glenda is Australian born but has lived in Malaysia and other parts of the world. She has a number of series out with HarperCollins Voyager here in Australia, the latest novel Stormlord’s Exile is nominated for an Aurealis Award. Here’s hoping she wins this time.

Her website can be found here.

Also, I should note that Jodi Cleghorn is doing a series of posts about being a beta reader here.

1.       How many beta readers do you have and how long have you used beta readers in your writing process?

I’ve had about 10 altogether, not all at once. My first 2 books (1999 and 2003) were published without the aid of any beta readers at all. In fact, I didn’t even know what a beta reader was back then. Both went to my agent without anyone else at all ever having set eyes on them… I was far too embarrassed to show work to anyone I actually knew anyway, I think.

2.       In what ways do beta readers assist you in developing your novel for publication?

In spite of those unaided beginnings to my career, beta readers have become increasingly important in my later books. Partly this is because, once you are under contract, you have less and less time to produce a book. I no longer have the luxury of putting something away for 6 months to stew before tackling it again and seeing all the mistakes leap off the page.

Secondly, I think beta readers make for a better book. They point out things I would never have thought of, and some have marvellous specific talents, such as spotting plot errors and continuity problems…

3.       Do all your beta readers pick up the same points?

No, absolutely not.
If I do get the same observation from more than one reader, I know I MUST fix the problem.

I actually love to have different kinds of readers — someone who is more literary in their reading choices; someone who loves romance and can make suggestions on how to improve the love interest side of the story; someone who is picky, picky picky about the small details, and so on.

4.       Do you sometimes target your beta readers to particular areas based on the experience you had with them in the past? For example, one reader is good at plot holes, another reader is good at grammatical issues and another might be good at style. Or do you take what comes?

Yes,  to both. I target, but this is something beta readers do out of the kindest of the heart, for free. I am deeply grateful for anything I get. And humbled to think that there are people out there who volunteer to read my work in a formative state.

5.       Do you always want the same thing from the beta reader for each novel? For example, when you have deadlines and only have time for high-level feedback?

I have asked for different kinds of reading, depending on where I am in the writing stage. Twice I have sensed that the beginning of a book was having  problems and just sent out the first chapters, asking basically, Hey, what’s wrong with this???

I usually don’t need help with final polish, although once a late stage beta reader suggested a small change in the ending which was utterly brilliant. I took her advice.

At times I ask for comments on a much earlier version, which has little polish; comments on the structure of the story or the development of a character. This is the kind of feedback I treasure the most, I think.

6.        How hard is it to find a good beta reader?

Moderately hard — you need someone who a) has the time b) is going to be honest and not spare your feelings c) won’t be upset if you don’t follow their advice d)  won’t blab about the book before it is published, and, even after it’s published, won’t comment publicly based on the early version e) who has the ability to put their finger on what’s wrong.

7.       Do you have any advice for readers who want to be beta readers or even editors in the long run? For example, what type of commentary to you prefer?

I don’t really need someone to point out how to fix something, as much as to point out what doesn’t work for them. For example: “Character X is coming across as a pathetic whining wimp. Might be better if you make him more attractive?” would be a great comment. It’s up to the writer to work out HOW to make him less whiny and pathetic.

Thank you very much Glenda. I appreciate the time you put in to answer when you are very busy writing your next book. Best of luck with the Aurealis Awards this year.

Donna