Novel Update: Beta Readers & Cultural Consultants
Why building a writing a community, having beta readers, and engaging cultural consultants is so important.
During the past months, my manuscript has been read by beta readers and cultural consultants. This is a critical next step and one of the many reasons establishing a writing community is so helpful. In this newsletter, I’ll talk about building a writing a community, the value of beta readers, and why I’ve engaged cultural consultants. Plus some housekeeping news at the end.
Establishing A Writing Community, No Matter What
I’ve met writer friends at writing workshops like the Community of Writers, which I attended on scholarship in 2015, and at Tangled Roots Writing in Truckee, CA (amazing in-person and online classes—I highly recommend). I earned my MFA from Sierra Nevada College (now UNR), whose low-residency MFA program introduced me to brilliant writers and big names, whose advice about careers and writing and staying the course has been instrumental.
Whether you are writing short or long pieces, poetry, fiction, or creative essays, if your intention is to ever share your writing more broadly with the world, I suggest you start building your writing community. Attend a local writing workshop, ask your bookstore and librarians about what groups and resources exist in your area, start admitting to yourself that you are a writer.
I also recommend that you apply to writing programs. There are a million out there and previously I wrote about the differences between residencies and workshops and why you would attend either.
These days I maintain a modest budget of $500 per year earmarked for writing conferences, residencies, or workshops. Whether that’s AWP or smaller private writing retreats like the one my friend, Elise, just hosted with the incredibly helpful and amiable Diana Friedman. Seven friends pooled our funds to fly Diana from D.C. to Lake Tahoe where she facilitated 4 days of morning craft discussions, writing prompts by lunch, literary-laced dinners, and readings every evening. Elise, thank you for putting this together. And Diana, thank you for all of your insight! A private home retreat is such a great option. If you’re unsure about applying to residencies or are just impatient, make up your own!
The Value of Beta Readers
A beta reader is someone willing to give feedback on your unpolished manuscript. Ideally, this is someone you trust and whose intuition and story sense aligns with what you need right now. I tend to avoid people who give prescriptive feedback like, “This ending is good, but have you thought about setting the book in outer space?!” or “This character should xyz.” That may be true or possible, but it’s not the book I’m writing right now.
I tend to choose beta readers I’ve known for a long time and whose editing style I trust. You can also pay professional editors, who should respect your requests and offer good services, but I also like the you-scratch-my-back-I’ll-scratch-yours system for early beta readers. I suggest leaning on your writing community first. That way you’ll get the most out of paid services later.
Handing over your entire manuscript is a big deal. It’s scary. But it’s also good practice. The goal (at least for me) is to hand over this massive child I’ve kept secret, knowing I have no control over readers’ responses. Practicing overcoming this fear with beta readers is a very cathartic experience.
Early readers help identify plot holes and character gaps that you’re too close to your own project to see. They ask great questions like, “How are they getting food?” or “What happens to that minor character who just disappeared off the page?” Oops, I’d better go write that character a satisfying ending...
To my beta readers, thank you! I appreciate the time, thoughtfulness, and energy you’re contributing to my book. To those of you who have offered and I haven’t followed up, thank you as well. Soon I’ll be ready for another round of beta readers and I may be calling your name.
There’s also a notable difference between beta readers who are writers and beta reades who are friends. Plenty of my friends are eager to read my book (thank you for your support!), but you may be more of a testing-the-market kind of reader, which is a later part of the process.
Hiring Cultural Consultants
This year, in addition to my $500 residency budget, I also saved to hire cultural consultants. For a long time I researched grants, trying to find outside funding but eventually decided to simply work extra gigs and save the money myself, which turned out to be a more efficient use of my time.
In July 2023, I sent my manuscript to potential readers within the Wá∙šiw community, the Indigenous People who have always lived in the Lake Tahoe region, where my historical novel is set. Two weeks ago, I received a fully edited, scratched up, and commented upon manuscript. One individual in particular spent so much time, energy, and thoughtfulness with her comments that she has already improved this book tenfold. I cannot express how deeply grateful I am for these readers and their comments.
And I am delighted to say that those who read the entire book liked it! What a relief! Obviously that’s just the opinions of a few people, but what a confidence boost for me.
It has been a huge effort to add fictional Wá∙šiw characters to my novel and insert what I think pre-colonial life at Lake Tahoe was like. I am relieved to have received positive and helpful feedback from readers within the Wá∙šiw community. This has been the right thing to do, and my book will be better for it.
Sure, major plot points need fixing. For example, young unmarried people of opposite genders would never have spent time together, so I need to rework a few major scenes. Turns out both white and Wá∙šiw readers want to know the precise geographical locations of each scene, so I’ll have to make that more clear. In the Wá∙šiw language, there are no words equivalent to “hello” or “thank you,” which I think speaks to their inherent cultural respect and expectations, so my attempt at translating common English exchanges needs retooling. Inaccurate harvesting times and culinary techniques like leaching acorn flour (not the acorns themselves) also need fixing, and even some words like chaparral aren’t quite right in this historical context.
What’s Next?
I’m giving myself 3 months to work through these edits, rewrite scenes, and get this novel in tip-top shape. Why 3 months? Because early last summer, I applied to another self-directed artist residency called PLAYA at Summer Lake, OR, and was awareded a tuition-free 2-week residency in February 2024!
If I reach my goal of rewriting all the Wá∙šiw scenes that need editing, I’ll be able to spend these 2 weeks looking at the big picture, perfecting sentences, and doing final edits. (Truly, I’m serious this time). Ideally, I’ll also spend this time working on pitches and proposals to actually try to sell this book. That means writing query letters and getting documents ready to send to editors, agents, and potential publishers.
When I applied for PLAYA 6 months ago, I didn’t know where I’d be with my project, and that doesn’t matter. The lesson here is always apply. Artist residencies don’t care what you’ll be working on. They exist to offer free (ideally) open space for creativity to thrive. My advice? Just apply! It’s good practice and what’s the worst that could happen?
I’m Turning On “Paid Subscriber” Options
Because writing is, as you know, an actual job, I’m turning on the paid subscriber options for Odd Fodder to provide me with another opportunity to earn income for my writing. A lot of my posts take time and I’ll be increasing my monthly output from once to 3x per month.
If you like my monthly updates, don’t move a muscle! You’re exactly where you need to be and nothing needs to change. You’ll continue to get monthly updates directly in your inbox.
If you’re intrigued about what additional content I could possibly write, become a paid subscriber and offer that bit of extra support to me and my writing. Paid subscribers will get, in addition to regular posts, 2 extra perks per month that include:
1. Grammatical Insights for Regular People
Further vs farther anyone!? Learn how I remember when to use which. Plus I’ll share craft ideas, like when to use italics and what affect verb tenses and points of view have on pacing. I intend to make these insights interesting to readers, writers, and general connoisseurs of the English language.
2. Brief Historical Revelries
Paid subscribers will also get brief historical revelries about the American West. I’ve been researching the history of Lake Tahoe and the American West for over 10 years. It’s time I share what I’m learning! I’ll keep it short and sweet, and hope you find these bits of history as interesting as I do.
Goal to Reach 1,000 Subscribers by Jan 1st
To those of you who have been reading, liking, and commenting on my posts thank you! It mean the world to me. It feels so powerful to have an audience to write for, and I love keeping my family and friends updated about my work. I’m pretty sure with your help, I can reach my goal of earning 1,000 subscribers by the new year.
If you know someone interested in the Lake Tahoe history, the American West, or who may just like my style of writing, please share my newsletter. As always, thanks for reading!
WHAT THE DUCE! no comments? There're those crickets we were talking about. Let ME be the first, as it should be ....#1 fan :) Maybe a lot of what you explain is common speak for writers, but I'm impressed. You're putting your feet in the fire and coming out the Phenix, good for you Meghan. BETA reader, well I am vastly, wide and far, a very shallow reader. Pictures and pop ups, ya! ;)
So when you need that guy, I'm here for you.
UM