Seeking Beta Readers

Posted on March 31, 2004    Posted by John Scalzi

So, I’m starting writing Book of the Dumb 2 on Thursday (depending on client work — I may slip until Monday if I’m feeling lazy) and I’m looking for certain special someones to be the beta readers for the book as it comes off my fingers. Being the wanton exhibitionist that I am, I find writing something like this for an audience helps me bang it out. I’m sure there’s some psychological explanation for this need, but who cares? Look at me! I’m writing!

The responsibilities of beta readers are thus:

1. Read the material and (hopefully) enjoy it.
2. If you are so moved, let me know when I’ve misspelled something, or dropped a word, or have made an egregious grammatical error. Also, if you know I’m totally off on something I’m presenting as factual, it’d be nice if you clued me in.

The payment: Bupkus, although as with the beta readers of the first Book of the Dumb, I’ll be happy to acknowledge you in the book. And of course, you’ll get to read for free what everyone else will have to pay $12.95 for (not that you shouldn’t buy the book, however. Your name will be in it, after all).

The beta reader group will be fairly small: No more than 30, of whom I have already chosen a couple. If you were a beta reader before and want to repeat, you can ask, but I do intend largely to pick a new group of people. As with the previous group of beta readers, I also intend to pick at least a few people I don’t know particularly well, so if you’re interested but have never spoken/written/waved to me before, don’t let that stop you.

If you’re interested, here’s what you do: Drop me an e-mail today or tomorrow (3/31 or 4/1) and let me know you’re interested and also tell me a little bit about yourself. I am open to bribery, although, come on. It’s not really worth all of that. I’ll let everyone I choose know by Monday where they can go to read stuff. So if you don’t hear from me by Monday evening, sorry.

As I noted, I’m planning to keep the beta group fairly small and with a diverse mix of readers, so if I don’t select you, please don’t think it means I think you’re an awful person who smells funny and reads by moving your lips. Really, it’s not that at all. You know I love you, and that thing you do. You know, with that other thing. Yeah, that’s it. Also, of course, I’m sure I’ll need beta readers for other things in the future. Like (knock on wood) Book of the Dumb 3.

Anyway, let me know if you want in.