When do you start letting people read your WIP's?

Putputt · Apr 18, 2014

Draft 3. But with my current WIP, I've been showing my betas chunks as I go along, just cause it's such a weird little book that I have no fucking clue where it's going and I need them to hold my paw and stroke my head and tell me it's worth continuing.

Helix · Apr 18, 2014

My work has to be at least in the second draft before I'll share it, because the first draft is usually so hideous that if anyone lays eyes on it, they will expire from shock. And that causes all sorts of problems. Sure I've got a big garden, but I can only hide so many dead betas.

E.F.B. · Apr 18, 2014

BethS said:
Relatives don't always make the best readers of your stuff, so go into that with your eyes wide open.

Randy Lee said:
I'm not sure I agree that having family members beta is always a bad idea.

If they love what you write then you can probably discount that because they love you, but if you can't get them to finish it, especially if they are avid readers, that might be a valuable clue.

And if you discuss the story with them, and they seem confused about what happened in the story, that could be a clue that you need to clarify.

I agree with both of you. Sometimes family members make good beta readers, sometimes they don't. Like, I know I can't let my dad beta read for me because, for one thing, he never reads fiction much less fantasy. I honestly don't think I'd be able to get him to read what I write. For another thing, he's so afraid to hurt my feelings, he'd never give me honest feedback.

My mom is another story. She's always honest with me and knows I'm mature enough to take criticism. If I'm not sure that one of my story ideas is making sense, or I'm struggling to find the right words to describe something, I run it by her because she's great at helping with that kind of thing and not forcing her own ideas on me in the process. And, on the rare occasions that she does give me an idea, she never gets offended if I don't use it because she understands that it is ultimately my story, not hers.

whiporee · Apr 18, 2014

I have a beta/coach I hired to read chapters as I'm done. She gets on me if it's been a while since I had pages for her, and she's good to bounce ideas off of.

John Chambers · Apr 19, 2014

I write a chapter, then edit it once then let my girlfriend take it for editing. She's harsh

folkchick · Apr 19, 2014

I wish I had someone, but it doesn't seem to be a possibility right now. My mother would be shocked with some of the things I write, my sister would go, "Hmmm," or probably not even read it, and my cats would barf on it. So I invented a spilt personality to read over my stuff, Stella. Man, she's evil.

LJD · Apr 19, 2014

E.F.B. said:
Is an alpha reader different from a beta reader?

An alpha reader reads your work at the early stages. A beta reader reads it when it is complete and edited.

FlaDan · Apr 19, 2014

When to review a WIP

I have one trusted reader. But as a newbie, it is scary enough throwing myself open to the world. I need to get thicker skin.

bearilou · Apr 19, 2014

Only after finished draft and one editing pass.

chompers · Apr 19, 2014

folkchick said:
I wish I had someone, but it doesn't seem to be a possibility right now. My mother would be shocked with some of the things I write, my sister would go, "Hmmm," or probably not even read it, and my cats would barf on it. So I invented a spilt personality to read over my stuff, Stella. Man, she's evil.

Have you considered perusing through the Beta thread? Or starting a thread seeking one?

As to the OP, I usually start letting others read it about 3/4 of the way through. I like to know early on if there are any major problems, but I also write out of order, so I need to have enough content for the readers to understand what's going on.

folkchick · Apr 19, 2014

Have you considered perusing through the Beta thread? Or starting a thread seeking one?

I have, and though I'm glad it works for so many writers, I've had a few experiences that left me feeling like a total idiot, and then I spent months trying to find the confidence to write again. Some people like the process, but not me. Most likely I need to find a similar writer/comrade who can tell me what does and doesn't work, without kiling my soul in the process.

E.F.B. · Apr 19, 2014

folkchick said:
So I invented a spilt personality to read over my stuff, Stella. Man, she's evil.

Maybe I should try that sometime.

folkchick · Apr 19, 2014

Maybe I should try that sometime.

It's fun. All fault defers to Stella. Yours could be Sadie or Victoria, or something else equally suspicious.

When do you start letting people read your WIP's?

Putputt

permanently suctioned to Buz's leg

Helix

socially distancing

E.F.B.

Stories, stories everywhere

whiporee

John Chambers

folkchick

Not a new kid

LJD

FlaDan

New Fish; Learning About Thick Skin

bearilou

DenturePunk writer

chompers

folkchick

Not a new kid

E.F.B.

Stories, stories everywhere

folkchick

Not a new kid