Sending a Completed Manuscript to a Beta Reader

A few years ago, I completed my first novel for about the 30th time. Yes, I've had to revise it again and again. Such a tedious learning process. Each time, however, the manuscript developed and improved so it wasn't wasted time. Just arduous.

Since joining the Red House Writers Collective, an online writers' group, I have learned many valuable things about writing that I never knew before. One thing I just discovered was beta readers. I didn't even know what that was until this group. So rather than send my manuscripts to my reading-beleaguered family and friends, I just sent my manuscript to a beta reader I found online. For $125 she's reading my book, offering suggestions on how to change the story, and doing some proofreading for me. I hope and trust it will be worthwhile. If nothing else, I'll learn more about beta readers and their value to writers.

And now, after receiving a review of the manuscript from my beta reader, how do I deal with the critique? I immediately write to my fellow writer, Michele. Here's a copy of my private message to her:

Hi, Michele! I just have to write to you, because I need a shoulder to cry on. As writers, what we really want to hear from editors or beta readers is, "Wow! I loved this story so much. You should get it published right away!" But when we hire editors and beta readers, we pay them to tell us the cold, hard, honest truth, which is never what we really want to hear, but what we need to hear. My beta reader was candidly honest about my main character coming off as less than a suffragette and more of a man-hater, so I'll have to go back through the manuscript to make my heroine more likable. These revisions are so tedious, but so necessary. I'm just venting to another writer who understands when I say that writing is such hard work. Ugh.

BUT, in spite of beta readers, editors, proofreads, and friend readers, I have yet to get my manuscripts traditionally published. sigh I took a break from writing for about a year, but I've had a brain wave and will eventually post YouTube videos on my new manuscript rewrite journey toward publication. Maybe, maybe, maybe this time something will work? I'll keep you posted!