After deciding that I would proceed on my own, without an agent, without a publisher, I needed to get my manuscript “out there” for the world to start reading. I needed people to read it, REALLY NEEDED PEOPLE TO READ IT. It was a useless compilation of words of no one ever read it.
I decided to put it on several author websites. One was the eBook site Smashwords (when it was just rolling out, no less). And I also joined an author chat site (where you could also post your work) called AuthorNation.com (no longer operational). Each of these sites put me in touch with other writers, which I think is important. I asked one person from each site if they would mind reading my manuscript (Beta readers, but I didn’t realize it at the time) and surprisingly they (basically total strangers) did.
I will be forever grateful to the kind words and encouragement that each gave me. Someone out in the big world actually cared about what I’d written. One even gave me my first review, which I so much appreciated. Writers NEED other writers. Not just for critiques, but for emotional support.
Here is what I learned:
- Beta readers are really important; they give you other perspectives about your work.
- Always cherish your Beta readers, and anyone who is willing to not only read your work, but post a review.
- Writers need to be in contact with other writers. It really helps your mental state of being. We feel like we really belong.
- NOT. QUIT.
More to come….
