tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post6268368275163231205..comments2024-03-10T05:06:25.309-04:00Comments on Livia Blackburne: An Experimental Psychologist's Take on Beta Reading Part II: Recruiting Betas and Getting Them To ReadLivia Blackburnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805379309049803903noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-12461518976161077842012-08-10T10:21:20.498-04:002012-08-10T10:21:20.498-04:00There is some relevancy here to my own experimenta...There is some relevancy here to my own experimental psychology thesis study, which is an online reading study. I'm having a hard time achieving the 300 participants I need to complete it, and I would even be satisfied with 100 participants in order to make a valid statistical analysis. I guess what's swimming around in my head is to create a general population subject pool. One can find these within many universities, but I don't know if there is a non-university subject pool for people who want subjects, participants, or "betas" for online surveys and studies.The Great Macawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01102298859347525582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-43215589726187253432011-05-24T20:04:05.631-04:002011-05-24T20:04:05.631-04:00Thanks for the great series on test-readers, I'...Thanks for the great series on test-readers, I'm going to try some of your pointers on my next round!<br /><br />I don't know if I can post a link here in the comments, but on my blog I wrote a summary of how my first test-reader experience went, from heartbreak to triumph:<br /><br />http://tamarapaulin.wordpress.com/2010/12/10/the-truth-about-test-readers/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-47868224072982592742011-05-01T08:52:35.876-04:002011-05-01T08:52:35.876-04:00In my defense, I only ditched your experiment for ...In my defense, I only ditched your experiment for drinking that one time....<br /><br />*shifty*<br /><br />(I like this series, incidentally, m'dear. I'm enjoying catching up on it now.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-5929338928413389042011-04-20T18:18:12.854-04:002011-04-20T18:18:12.854-04:00letterbowl - thanks!
Cally - I didn't ask for...letterbowl - thanks!<br /><br />Cally - I didn't ask for detailed feedback, just big picture feedback, so I usually got responses within a day or two of people finishing. My experience is that if people waited longer to respond to my questions, they would usually never get around to responding.<br /><br />jack - you've piqued my interest. So do people just hang out while you're writing? Are these your friends? When you usually write? Is a novel, or a short story?<br /><br />Steph -- I started out shooting for 10 beta readers, but ended up was 16 for various reasons :-)Livia Blackburnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15805379309049803903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-29097982687835456982011-04-18T13:52:57.597-04:002011-04-18T13:52:57.597-04:00This is a great article, especially as I'm get...This is a great article, especially as I'm getting ready to send a novel off to beta readers.<br /><br />One thing that worked for me regarding format is take it to Staples or Office Depot and have them print it two-up and double-sided (so you get four novel pages on one sheet of paper) and then bind it with a plastic spiral. I think when I did this it cost about $7 per manuscript, though, so it's an expensive option if you have a large group of betas.<br /><br />Which I'm curious about. How many beta-readers do you use?Stephanie Cainhttp://stephaniecain.livejournal.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-20626745721079238722011-04-18T02:47:23.803-04:002011-04-18T02:47:23.803-04:00This is a great article! What I have been doing fo...This is a great article! What I have been doing for my beta program seems to be working. I have been writing the book in Google Documents. The reason why I beleive it is going so well is that there is a chat function built in to the Document. It has allowed my readers to give me feedback live and watch as I write. It also provides them a way to get to know me on a personal level and joke about some of the things they have caught in the Document. They seem to enjoy those things about it. Love the blog!Jack D. Albrecht Jr.https://www.blogger.com/profile/14484703081995582013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-67049237095693936042011-04-17T23:04:14.590-04:002011-04-17T23:04:14.590-04:00Fantastic suggestions. I'll be following this ...Fantastic suggestions. I'll be following this series with interest as I'll be seeking beta readers for the first time in a few months. <br /><br />One thing I'm interested to know is what kind of timeframe is appropriate/realistic to ask beta readers to respond. Of course I'd like responses back instantaneously but understand I'll need to be a little more patient than that! <br /><br />If you could offer some insight into how long you've given people to get comments on your entire manuscript back, I'd really appreciate it. :-)Cally Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08313803959936813426noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-59795823257137045222011-04-17T22:38:18.816-04:002011-04-17T22:38:18.816-04:00I especially like point no.3. Good suggestions I d...I especially like point no.3. Good suggestions I didn't even think of. Thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-67884617235202542682011-04-13T23:33:59.501-04:002011-04-13T23:33:59.501-04:00Jenna and jbchicoine -- Thank you!
Jake -- Sounds...Jenna and jbchicoine -- Thank you!<br /><br />Jake -- Sounds like you might need to find readers closer to your target audience.Livia Blackburnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15805379309049803903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-82740502727956330372011-04-13T05:25:06.332-04:002011-04-13T05:25:06.332-04:00I will definitely use these in my beta reader proc...I will definitely use these in my beta reader process (when I get there). The only thing I'm worried about is the initial commitment. I guess the first chapter should get people to read the rest, but I'm pretty sure my current beta readers will just follow the instructions as I gave them and never read the rest.<br />Is this an indication that I need a new subject pool (or at least an enhanced one)?Jake Heneganhttp://writinginmediasres.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-70534854487016204632011-04-12T15:16:24.925-04:002011-04-12T15:16:24.925-04:00I just want to say I am REALLY enjoying this serie...I just want to say I am REALLY enjoying this series! Can't wait for the follow-up!J.B. Chicoinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06894797553204276281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-39740111923382932212011-04-12T10:20:17.341-04:002011-04-12T10:20:17.341-04:00Livia, these are great tips. I'm just about to...Livia, these are great tips. I'm just about to start recruiting betas and I'll definitely use these, especially the one about the initial commitment.Jenna Wallacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07591399291903261245noreply@blogger.com