Readers and Writers and Reviewers, Oh My!

As a writer in the early stage of my authorpreneurship, I cannot stress enough how important it is to have as many eyes on my manuscript as possible. From critiquers to beta readers to book reviewers, each person provides a unique perspective in the writer's journey.

Having a critique team is important to flush out my work as it progresses from chapter to chapter, but once the first draft has been written and polished by an editor, then the beta reader and reviewer comes into the game. Here, the magic and excitement really begins.

I love that I can send my advance reader copy (ARC) to a beta reader to get early feedback and check for any glaring plot holes, character development suggestions, and a satisfying ending. These early reviewers give authors the opportunity to make one final tweak before the book is published and out in the world for all to read and review.

Book reviews are the bread and butter for all authors. They help get our books discovered, especially indie authors who are earning traction with followers and loyal fans. We appreciate all reviews, even the one to three star reviews, so long as they provide constructive feedback on how the book could be improved. Scathing reviews harm our ego and bring us to tears. Yes, we understand the negative reviews do not reflect who we are as a person... most of us are pretty likeable... but those reviews do feel like a personal attack, especially after we've spent months or years of our life writing the book, often times ignoring our family and personal well-being.

The need to read fuels our creative flow and helps us become better writers. The demand for beta readers and book reviewers is high as more and more writers self publish their work and saturate a literary industry that overflows with stories and how-to guides. For the beta readers and reviewers out there, I thank you for taking time out of your schedule, away from family and self-care, to read my books. I am a women's fiction and historical fiction writer. My works take one to three years to write due to the demands of life and intense research... and while I have completed a book in one month, it was at a great cost.

I'm so thankful for readers like Tamara Dragseth who reads all genres and reads at least one book a week. Her reviews help put food on the table and fuels my motivation to continue writing!

--Amy M. Le. award-winning author of Snow in Vietnam