Searching for Betas? Check Out Ten Day Book Club

If you've revised and edited your manuscript, and your critique group has worked it over, it's probably time to get some feedback from folks who haven't been examining it through a microscopic lens. It's time for beta readers.

Beta readers (or first readers) are individuals who read your novel and let you know what's working, and which aspects could be changed. Betas won't always agree, and you as the writer must sort through the responses to decide what gets implemented.

Some writer choose among their friends and acquaintances for their betas. That can work, but one drawback is that people who know you sometimes are reluctant to sound negative. Your friends might also be dazzled just by the fact that you wrote a book, and won't find anything wrong with it.

Enter the Ten Day Book Club. Writers post part or all of their novels for ten days. Members of the site read the protected files and post comments on the work in forums or live chat. The cost to writers is $10. Here's a link to show how it works.

One author, Dax M. Tucker, posted his novel on Ten Day Book Club and ended up with a large number of fans, some of whom offered to help publicize his novel. Check out what other writers have to say about their experience with the site.

Ten Day Book Club also offers editing services, marketing, and social networking training for writers who desire additional help.

If you're worried about the safety of your manuscript online, here's a video explaining how it works:

Have you ever used beta readers for feedback? How did you choose them? Any advice you'd like to share?