Here’s a big shout out to all Beta Readers, those test pilots of the literary world who read a new book ahead of everyone else. These are the people who trial run the book and its story, seeing how fast it goes, whether the wings waggle, and how does it land. Without them reading would be far more dangerous – you might take an untested book on holiday or skim through the pages of a story that collapsed underneath you on page 53.
Like dancers, beta readers come in different shapes and sizes. They are the final arbiters of a book, after all the assessors, editors and other professionals have said their piece. Beta readers check out the experience. Is it at last ready for the readers?
For the titles in my Assumptors, Voyage of Domina Penelope trilogy I’ve had the benefit of three wonderful beta readers. All three of them are completely different types of reader: Mr. Tuatara is a serious sci-fi fan who knows his Asimov from his Heinlein; Ms. Shelley is a fellow author who writes compelling and imaginative speculative books; and Mr. Daisy is a wise, warm hearted teacher who reads lots of things and has no particular wheel jack to grind when it comes to science fiction.
A big thanks to them all.
They’ve each made a huge difference with their suggestions and improvements to Brightest Star and Sun God. Their feedback has included making difficult characters such as Frimp more sympathetic, cutting out slow, unnecessary narration and dialogue, and rearranging the order of initial chapters for bigger opening impact. Also changing the title of the final book to come.
And while we’re here, a shout out to a new assessment and editing service that I’m looking forward to using in the future. https://finelineeditservices.com Linda has been a beta reader on my books and she has provided enormously useful feedback on both Assumptor titles so far.
The third and final Assumptor book is underway. Ten chapters already written!
Andy Southall 