25 for 25: Getting feedback
It's easy for doubt to creep in as you write your book. And if you're not careful, the feedback you receive could derail your momentum.
This essay is part of my 25 for 25 book writing series. The lessons in this series are meant to simplify the book writing and production journey. You can find a guide with links to the entire series here.
Your book is a personal projection of yourself. It's a projection of your dreams, your goals, your ideas, your beliefs, and your background.
It’s your reputation on the line.
And it’s easy for doubt to creep in.
Lots of authors choose to send their draft to people they know and trust in order to receive feedback. But what your beta readers hate the book? What if their feedback makes you doubt yourself and your book?
If you’re not careful, the feedback you receive could derail your momentum. But if you follow the right steps, beta reader feedback could instead be helpful and empowering.
It starts with framing the feedback. Far too often, authors will simply send the draft to others and tell them, “let me know what you think.” The reviewer will start scrutinizing everything. Every misplaced every comma. Every typo.
You don’t want that. That’s an editor’s job.
Your beta readers need to take a wider scope. Which is why you need to guide and direct that conversation.
I compare this process to ballroom dancing, where the input from a leading partner can either guide the pair confidently or guide them into the wrong place. So instead of making a broad, generic request for someone to read your draft, you should instead ask your beta readers specific questions like:
What are your favorite parts of the book?
Were you hooked by the beginning? Did the message seem clear to you?
Where did you get bored or lose interest?
Is the manuscript well-structured and organized? Did anything seem out of place or didn't belong?
Was anything or any resources missing that you wish were added?
What did you think of the book's tone and narrative voice? Was it appropriate for the subject matter?
Would you recommend the book? Why or why not?
The role of beta reader feedback isn’t to address every single line in your draft, but to shore up the draft as it moves forward to editing. To address any weak spots. And to empower you to believe.
It’s up for you as to whether you want to enlist beta readers to review your draft, and it’s also up to you whether to incorporate their suggestions. This is your book, after all, and you can choose how much of their input you wish to incorporate.
I can’t discount the power of beta reader feedback—I’ve seen it work on certain projects.
Other times, it locked up an author and caused them to lose faith in their book.
I don’t typically use beta readers with my projects. But it is an option, and if you end up pursuing it, by all means, be sure to manage and guide the feedback so you can feel empowered as your project advances to editing.
Watch this!
I cover feedback in this video.