21: Got Me Some Beta Readers!

Here’s how I did it. And yes, they are all fourth and fifth graders.

A couple of years ago I decided to take photos of all my class composites. Teachers remember a remarkable amount about former students, but after 26 years things can get blurry (including names). Luckily I remember enough about my more recent kids that I know exactly who were the “lovers of printed text.” I made a list of about a dozen kids who I felt were good candidates.

Next I went through my school email accounts. One thing I am VERY big on is teacher/parent communication. Honestly, most issues should never be issues in the first place if you already have a consistent and respectful relationship with parents. How do you get there? Why, through communicating! Anywho, I was easily able to find parent email addresses from years past.

Next came the pitch. I created a flyers on Canva and wrote a detailed email. Then I sent it out. While waiting, I bought binders, printed off the pages, and bought candy because, I mean, CANDY. Oh! I also reserved a conference room in the public library for three Thursday mornings in a row.

So far I have five kids coming to our library “book club” and a couple more unable to attend yet still very happy to read. Plus, I have recruited those “yes” kids to find reading friends.

Thank you for attending my TED Talk. But WAIT…there’s MORE!

It’s great that I have kid beta readers, considering that’s who I’d market the book to; HOWEVA, I gotta have a plan for constructive feedback. I need to get specific with questions that help guide my beta readers along. If I simply ask a bunch of ten year olds what they think, that’ll get me nowhere. If you have any suggestions on where to find some guidance, I’m all ears!

By the way, yes, I do have a developmental editor; she’s going to have availability in August or September. Plus, she’s great!