Sunday, July 7, 2019

How Building a Solid Support Squad Can Save You Time and Money

You will need to find an editorial professional before you publish. The great news is your Support Squad can help reduce the amount of work you’ll pay an editor to do.





Being an author is no easy task, especially if you self-publish. You are solely responsible for every step. If you miss a deadline, it may set you back weeks or even months.

But you don’t have to do it alone. If you haven’t yet gathered your Support Squad, here are tips on how to begin.


Your Squad

Writing is solitary work—sitting in front of a screen imagining worlds. It’s easy to feel you’re alone.

Building a solid Support Squad takes time and effort, but once in place, you can breathe easier knowing your Squad is ready when you are.

While it is tempting to piecemeal your Squad as you need them, having the same, dependable Squad builds consistency and peace of mind. Your work is read and edited by people familiar with your writing and your Squad is there to support you.


Friends and family

Although your friends and family are often the first people to see your story, they may be wary of criticizing your work or not able to see the problems. Your sister may have passed AP English, but she is not a trained proofreader.

But as your first readers, they can supply insight into the whole of your story. Once you get them past the “Oh, I just loved it!” stage, they may offer helpful feedback.


Alpha Reader

An alpha reader is the first knowledgeable reader of your work, usually a trusted advisor. They will read your early draft and tell you what they loved and what they didn’t understand, providing actionable feedback.

With your alpha reader’s notes in hand, you’ll revise, rewrite and restructure. Ideally, your alpha reader will read scenes as you rewrite and polish them, or they’ll read additional drafts.


Beta Readers

Beta readers are unpaid readers who love to read and who know what a good story needs.

Beta readers supply feedback you can use to improve your story, firm up your structure and tighten your action. They give feedback on the big picture: the characters, plot, pacing, what does and doesn’t work for them as readers.

You need multiple beta readers to see if there are patterns. If several readers mention the same issue, you may need to revise.

Too many opinions can lead to conflicting feedback, so shoot for a half dozen beta readers.

  • You should avoid paying for beta readers. You want generous readers who love the genre and want to support your work.
  • Beta readers should be as objective as possible, which is why friends and family don’t usually qualify.
  • Beta readers are not looking for grammar, punctuation or the finer points. They are looking at the broader picture of the story from a reader’s perspective.
  • Although most of your beta readers should be fans of your genre, diverse backgrounds and interests provide perspectives you wouldn’t normally get.
  • Beta readers can’t steal your work. The copyright on anything you write is yours the moment you’ve written it. If you need assurances, send an electronic copy of your manuscript to your editor or a family member as dated proof.
You can allow your beta readers to read freely and report what they felt without being limited or you can supply questions to focus the comments on issues you are interested in. Use this Beta Reader Checklist and revise it for your needs.

  • BetaReader.io will gather feedback, ask questions and analyze reading patterns. Signup is free for one manuscript, three readers, with optional upgrade for more manuscripts.
  • Goodreads has several beta reader groups. Post your request in your chosen group and filter through responses. Read through the various threads to find what will work for you.
  • Beta Readers and Critiques (Facebook group)
  • Indie Author Group (Facebook group)
  • TCK Publishing offers a free beta reader service along with several other free services.
You can find beta readers for all stages of your writing. Some authors prefer betas for the first draft, a different beta for the revisions and a third for the polished manuscript.

However you use your betas, it starts with making connections. When you find someone you feel will be a good fit, invite them to join your Support Squad.


Critique Partners

Critique partners are other authors with whom you exchange stories. These partnerships supply feedback and critique on plot holes, character development, POV, and may even capture grammar mistakes.

Critique partners get to know each other’s strengths and weaknesses so they know what to look for. These relationships should be honest, supportive and available, helping you to improve your mindset as well as your manuscript. Critique partners can supply motivation, accountability, a sounding board, a second opinion, and most importantly, a critical eye.

There are also critique groups. These groups require you to critique others to receive critiques, to keep a fair balance of help given and received.
Like dating, finding the right critique partner may take time. But once you make connections and find other authors you feel comfortable with, you’ll find the right partner(s) for you.


Designer

Readers do judge books by their covers. With so many images available, you must grab the reader's attention quickly.

With the price of covers and cover art, it’s tempting to go low budget. It’s just the cover; it’s the story that matters, right?

Wrong. No one will read the story if you can’t capture their attention with the cover.

Search for covers you admire and research who designed them. Connect with the designer and forge a working relationship.


Reviewers

We are a consumer society hungry for proof. One way we decide whether we’ll try a product is by reading reviews.

When we see five stars, we think something must be quality; it’s worth our time, money or effort. When we see no reviews, we move on to the next product. No one thought enough of it, good or bad, to leave a review.

To get reviews in the first few days after publication, try giving away review copies to your email list before release day. Build a Squad of loyal readers who have proven their track record for posting prompt reviews.

And don’t be shy about asking. When someone comments on your book, kindly ask them to leave a review.

Book bloggers are another avenue for garnering reviews. Note that each book blogger has their own guidelines and requirements and all reviewers expect to review an edited manuscript.
Don’t expect everyone to respond. Because there are more review requests than reviewers, you will most likely get only a handful of responses.

And don’t forget to ask your readers to post their reviews on your website and everywhere your book is available.


Writing Groups

Networking is important for finding like-minded people—critique partners, beta readers, designers and reviewers—for your Support Squad. Check out these online hangouts:
Make sure the group fits you. A supportive and insightful group can help you to become a better writer. A disorganized group can leave you confused and frustrated.
The feedback you are looking for will not only make note of what you’ve done right, but will also point out what is wrong, what is missing, what isn’t clear and what doesn’t make sense.


Marketing

The secret to success: a quality product, a potential consumer and a solid marketing plan.

If you know someone in sales or marketing, leverage those relationships for knowledge. Buy your sales friend a beer and discuss potential sales strategies for your book. Work out with your marketing friend and discuss marketing strategies while lifting.

They may not know the specifics of your industry, but they have knowledge that can benefit you.

And if all else fails, you have this budgeted; find a marketing guru you can work with long-term.


Editor

The most important member of your Support Squad—the Spock to your Captain Kirk, the Ford Prefect to your Arthur Dent, the Donkey to your Shrek—your editor.

Every writer needs an editor because publishing unedited work is disrespectful to your readers. Everyone is blind to their own errors. Even editors need an editor, someone with fresh eyes.

Your editor should be your sidekick, your companion on your publishing journey. Finding the right editor for you is as important as finding the right doctor. You don’t go to the corner clinic if you want quality, personalized care; you find a trained and qualified physician you can trust who will treat your unique symptoms.

Your editor must have the right bedside manner to help you feel comfortable during all the poking and prodding of the publishing process.

To find the right editor for you:
  • Get quotes and sample edits from several editors to see how each will edit your manuscript.
  • Ask to see their portfolio or testimonials so you can determine if they have experience in your genre.
  • Are they affiliated with any editing or proofreading societies? These memberships require adherence to a professional code of conduct and demonstration of a certain level of experience and competence.
  • Be clear about your deadlines and payment terms. Make sure you are not agreeing to only one pass. Both editing and proofreading requires multiple passes to ensure perfection.
  • Make sure you understand the levels of editing and which level you need. Proofreading is different from line editing or copy editing. 


Your Support Squad

So, you don't have to do it all alone. You can have a powerful, trusted Support Squad to help you through all phases of your journey.

While freelancers can be skilled, useful and necessary at times, having your own Support Squad will allow you to publish your book on a slimmer budget and with fewer costly surprises.

And the time saved will give you plenty of time to imagine your next story.

Who is in your Support Squad? 
Get your copy of the Levels of Editing infographic, along with other Goodies, on my website, www.wordswizediting.com.

 And while you're there, get your FREE Sample Edit!




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