tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961332566292942537.post4538843586547658242..comments2023-10-18T11:09:33.607-04:00Comments on Jo Michaels Blog: Beta Readers - When, How, and WhyJo Michaelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02005237887461809640noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961332566292942537.post-19504011883534972952015-04-17T11:17:59.905-04:002015-04-17T11:17:59.905-04:00I've heard of so many authors having their boo...I've heard of so many authors having their books stolen by a beta-reader lately, I'm scared to even consider it without a contract. You'd be surprised how hard it is to prove and how costly court can be. *shudders* Thanks for stopping in, Thaddeus! Sorry it's taken me so long to reply.Jo Michaelshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02005237887461809640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961332566292942537.post-1095816649826085682015-03-20T05:12:10.748-04:002015-03-20T05:12:10.748-04:00Beta readers were invaluable for Sir Edric's T...Beta readers were invaluable for Sir Edric's Temple. I think I'm reasonably good at self-assessing 'serious' stuff, but comedy's so subjective (and reading your own joke multiple times robs it of humour/novelty) it was critical to get an outside perspective.<br /><br />It's also handy to beta read for other people. Trains your mind to anticipate potential flaws they might then spot in your own work. And, given it's working for free, it's nice to reciprocate (when that works out. Some people are only into certain genres).<br /><br />Must say I've not used a contract for beta readers. Proof of ownership, I'd hope, could be established by having earlier drafts as well as e-mails sent to other beta readers.Thaddeus Whitehttp://thaddeuswhite.weebly.comnoreply@blogger.com