McAnally's (The Community Pub) > Author Craft
Beta Readers for Novel-length work
jeno:
Whatever you choose, I wish you the best of luck~!
prophet224:
Aye, good luck. At the same time, you can often find writer's groups and critique groups in your local area.
My sig has the link to my local group's online presence. Take a look at how we do it if you like.
meg_evonne:
Hi Kali! I would encourage you to wait on the query until you are sure that your manuscript is as perfect as you can manage. Have you chosen to work with an editor? If so, be cautious. The quality is varied, as well as the price. I'd suggest a few pages to test the waters first. The best will actually 'vet' your work first before accepting.
I've had mixed reviews from many sources on local crit groups. Make sure you are getting equal crit back for crit provided, before you dig in too deeply and your time gets waylaid. Also the local groups tend to have a wide range of skill and craft level. Again, be cautious. Ideally seek out a group that is above your skill level.
Either way, I can tell you are happy with whatever decision you've decided on.
One more thing? Go the intermediate step on the query if you like. Query a few agents that aren't anywhere near the top of our preferred list. If you get an offer, then you sweat--or maybe celebrate? Cross that bridge when it happens.
Meg
Kali:
I'm sending out one query first, to my first-choice agent. I want this agent, so I'm giving them a first shot at it. Not that I think there'll be a bidding war or anything, and I should be so lucky as to have two or more agents interested, but I figured giving them the first look was polite.
I'm treating it like applying to college. :) You have your dream schools, then the ones you like, then the backup schools. You never let on to anyone but the dream schools where they are in your list, of course, but you have a list anyway! I have a list. My list does not include "everyone who ever agented an urban fantasy book ever". I feel badly for people who just mass mail every agent in the book. There are some who have handled books very like mine, and that's who I'm targeting. If they all pass, they all pass. I'll drop this world and its characters (except for fun), and will move on to another idea that's in my head.
prophet224:
On queries:
Wow, I have to say I would never send a query out first to a 'low on my list' agent. While you are not obligated to go with them, if they do say 'ok', then you have set up a difficult situation. Do you now say 'nevermind' and not only turn your back on a professional in the field (it is a close-knit community), but perhaps (you don't know yet) the only person who wants the book? Or do you go with them and never get a chance to try your first choice?
Otherwise, yes wait on the query. You need to be ready, and I seem to recall you mentioning that the first five pages were polished. If your query comes back positive, they may ask for the whole thing or they may ask only for the first 2-5 chapters, but they are unlikely to only ask for a few pages.
On critique groups:
Yeah, critique groups are tough. There are many more bad writers out there than not. That said, if you take a look at the writing the other folks in the group are doing, you can get a good idea of whether it is worth investing your time. I know I was on writerscafe.org for a bit, and just decided that I wasn't getting many useful critiques. I was also reading so much really bad work it was ridiculous, and I felt like to do myself justice I had to give a good critique - but bad writing is a lot of work to do that with. I just gave it up.
As mentioned, groups can be of wide ranges - not just in skill and craft but also in life experience, age, etc. But you don't know anything at all about your local groups until you try. (Or until you set one up yourself. From what I've heard, Barnes & Noble is very receptive to hosting and advertising local writer's groups.)
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