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@hope-mcclellan Yay! That sounds awesome! 😀 I’ll warn you of two things, though: one, this MIGHT be the first time I’ve done full-on detailed beta critiques, so there’s no telling how this will go. I’ll do my best, though! 😀 Two, since I’ve only got a week to finish a lot of school before Christmas break, it might be a little while before I can sit down and do a good job. I’m excited to read it, though, and will do it as soon as I can!

Haha, I know! I kind of look at editing and critiquing the way I look at getting shots. Does it hurt? Of course it does; it’s my baby, and it’s painful to see what’s wrong with it. But is it for the best in the long run? Yes, and because of that I want the most detailed help I can get so I don’t send my darling into the world in a less-than-optimal form. I found a list of questions (or maybe my sister did; she’s always sending me helpful writers’ stuff she finds!) on Pinterest that helps you get constructive feedback from beta readers without making them uncomfortable by having to say something negative about your story. I’ll put them here in case it helps you out:

I. At what point did you feel like “Ah, now the story has really begun!”
2. What were the points where you found yourself skimming?
3. Which setting in the book was clearest to you as you were reading it? Which
do you remember the best?
4. Which character would you most like to meet and get to know?
5. What was the most suspenseful moment in the book?
6. If you had to pick one character to get rid of, who would you axe?
7. Was there a situation in the novel that reminded you of something in your
own life?
8. Where did you stop reading, the first time you cracked open the manuscript?
(Can show you where your first dull part is, and help you fix your pacing.)
9. What was the last book you read, before this? And what did you think of it?
(This can put their comments in context in surprising ways, when you find
out what their general interests are. It might surprise you.)
10. Finish this sentence: “l kept reading because…”