I love my beta readers and critique partners, but I am a plodder. I make glacial movement through books. I am far behind in my work. I excuse this by explaining that I try to read too many at once. (I also had a book I was reading just for me and spent some time with that,)
I sent out beta copies of The Ship from Wolfskill Saturday evening. I got a detailed analysis of the first chapter in hours. To add further injury, I received the entire manuscript from another reader with markups within 24 hours. The book is 70K long, and she smoked it in less than a day. These beta readers don’t help my self-esteem.
I feel ashamed. Why don’t I get these books done? This thinking spurs me into an hour or two of reading and adding comments. This morning I looked at a book I am working with, and I am only half done! The author will probably publish the book before I get my comments to him! Added to the problem are the corrections and revisions for The Ship from Wolfskill due to the quick turnaround.
In articles like this, I like to provide solutions. Alas, I have no answers for my lopsided approach to beta reading. I spend too much time gathering wool, musing about problems such as being behind in my collaboration. It is a whirlpool of self-fulfillment.
When reading someone’s manuscript, I get a glimpse into their heart. I feel close to people I have never met and hope they don’t think me a slacker.
I leave you with this quote from Pride and Prejudice:
“No, Lizzy, let me once in my life feel how much I have been to blame. I am not afraid of being overpowered by the impression. It will pass away soon enough.”
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