After I mapped the suggestions from all three beta readers to my second draft (using the Notes space in Scrivener), I realized that my three very different readers were often of the same mind concerning my book’s weak and strong points. By internalizing their mindsets I now find myself applying their perspective to passages in scenes none of them commented on.

While it is tempting to assume that the revision process will always improve the final product, in fact, results may vary. How depressing to realize that some of the blood, sweat, and tears of my second draft revisions resulted in a weaker story. Taking the three critiques seriously will help me make the third draft consistently better. Then, hopefully, a light fourth draft and final proofreading will result in a professional manuscript ready for formatting.

Looking back I admit I almost rationalized skipping this step. Paying for the critiques is not necessary of course. I have no regrets there. I am so thankful I did not skip this step. Mentally I now need to decide what sort of editing to hire out and how to do that.

(first published on 20 Nov 22)

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She spotted a major issue I myself was concerned about when writing my first draft. I attempted to address it when writing the second draft and had my fingers crossed that I had. But no such luck. She struggled with it in much the same way I had but stopped short of giving me a solution. Seeing her shine a light on it energized me. A few hours after receiving her report a solution popped into my mind. It is so simple. I don’t understand how I missed it before. Hopefully, it will hold up better than my second draft patches. 

Something similar happened when it came to another of her major critiques, this one about the relationship between a young man and woman, co-protagonists. In the first draft, I recognized problems with the way their relationship began. I tried a few things in the second draft to fix it and came to the conclusion that I had done all I could. I was willing to settle; the beta reader was not. I don’t know if I dreamt it, but a simple, effective solution presented itself within a day. Why it hadn’t done so earlier, I can not say. Lacking this beta reader’s prodding, I likely would’ve continued to settle. That would have been a shame, especially considering how little it will take to provide not only a solution but an improvement.

A few other of her suggested revisions are less weighty but will take more time to do. I’ll honor her recommended revisions with my best effort. Any thoughts?

(first published on 28 Sept 22)

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I was attached to this first chapter because  — as the last of several potential first chapters  — it was the first to grow into a full-length first draft. If I was wrong about it, I could be wrong about everything that followed. I took several deep breaths. The beta reader’s suggestion was to start in the middle of the second chapter and to include the essential information that was cut exactly where it was needed. That is reasonable.

The takeaway was that my story did take off in the second chapter. If the first chapter is just for me, I can keep it in a scrapbook. Readers are hard to come by. No point in putting them off. And this was just one of several invaluable suggestions. What a fool I would be to press on without taking advantage of her feedback. And yet, that is just what I have done for a lot of my life. Any thoughts?

(first published on 27 Sept 22)

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