I am currently in the absolute worst part of writing. Waiting for my Beta readers to get back to me. I said I needed it by this week, so of course they’re going to squeak in under the deadline.
Not all of them. I have two back, and two out. Three is the minimum for me to have confidence in their advice. Beta readers don’t always agree with me about how the story should go. That’s normal. But it’s hard to tell when I’m the one who’s wrong. That’s why I need at least three opinions. If one says something needs to change but the others don’t agree and I feel that they’re just misreading it, I can ignore the one comment. However if even two of them say the same thing is wrong, I’d better change it no matter how much I think they just need better reading skills.
Please don’t be offended by that last statement. I choose my beta readers based on their reading skills and I know, with absolute certainty, that they can read just fine. That all goes right out the window when they’re ragging on my baby. All the more reason that I need to set up systems to keep my Mama Bear in check. So at least three Beta readers.
That means that right now, not only am I waiting for a Beta reader to get back to me, I have two Beta reads just sitting there, in my folder waiting to be opened. They’re taunting me. I’m halfway between can’t wait and terrified.
Of course I should be using this time to work on the cover design. I did get the art from my artist (hubby) and just have to put in the last little bits. Of course every time I think about that, the Beta reads are sitting right there in the same folder, taunting me.
The life of a writer is outwardly very boring. Inwardly, it’s a non-stop adventure.