Ok this is so timely because I'm also trying to build in time to share my draft with early readers. But I worry about sharing it with them at the same time I share it with my editor and getting a ton of feedback that may not necessarily be consistent -- and indeed might contradict each other. Do you have any thoughts?
I have many thoughts! It really helped me to wait as late as I could to share it with readers—they only saw it after my editor had seen a draft first and I'd had time to incorporate her first round of notes, which minimized the gap.
The other thing that's helped is giving the readers guidelines on particular areas (or scale) where feedback would be helpful. I think of it almost as asking them to triangulate between my editor's thoughts and mine rather than giving a brand-new slate of thoughts. So far, it's felt very organic!
That's very helpful! Did you ever consider sharing it with your beta readers before your editor (and incorporating their feedback into the draft you send to your editor)? I'm going back and forth on what order would make most sense.
That would have felt too soon for me personally, just because at that stage it still feels quite plastic to me (not even because of editorial feedback, but because I revise pretty intensely) and I wanted them to see something closer to my vision for it, but this is totally subjective!
Love seeing your name pop up on my Substack again, Tajja! I remember you being so kind to me when I submitted something to Catapult, it's the small things you never forget — can't wait to read your next book ✨🎉
Ok this is so timely because I'm also trying to build in time to share my draft with early readers. But I worry about sharing it with them at the same time I share it with my editor and getting a ton of feedback that may not necessarily be consistent -- and indeed might contradict each other. Do you have any thoughts?
I have many thoughts! It really helped me to wait as late as I could to share it with readers—they only saw it after my editor had seen a draft first and I'd had time to incorporate her first round of notes, which minimized the gap.
The other thing that's helped is giving the readers guidelines on particular areas (or scale) where feedback would be helpful. I think of it almost as asking them to triangulate between my editor's thoughts and mine rather than giving a brand-new slate of thoughts. So far, it's felt very organic!
That's very helpful! Did you ever consider sharing it with your beta readers before your editor (and incorporating their feedback into the draft you send to your editor)? I'm going back and forth on what order would make most sense.
That would have felt too soon for me personally, just because at that stage it still feels quite plastic to me (not even because of editorial feedback, but because I revise pretty intensely) and I wanted them to see something closer to my vision for it, but this is totally subjective!
That makes a lot of sense. Thanks Tajja! Looking forward to reading your next book :)
My pleasure, and likewise—I’m excited to read your book, too! Let’s keep in touch.
Love seeing your name pop up on my Substack again, Tajja! I remember you being so kind to me when I submitted something to Catapult, it's the small things you never forget — can't wait to read your next book ✨🎉
That’s so kind of you to say, Anna; thank you!