The best beta readers are familiar with your genre and enjoy reading it regularly. They know the pacing,

the tropes, and the expectations that make a story satisfying in that particular genre.

If you are writing a cozy mystery, a reader who loves fast-paced thrillers might say that your

cozy mystery is too slow, right? But that doesn't mean that your story is weak or broken.

It means the feedback is coming from somebody who is outside your target audience or who

typically reads outside of your genre.

Welcome to the Fiction Writing Made Easy Podcast. My name is Savannah Gilbo, and I'm here to help you write a story that

works. I want to prove to you that writing a novel doesn't have to be overwhelming. So each

week, I'll bring you a brand new episode with simple, actionable, and step-by-step strategies

that you can implement in your writing right away. So whether you're brand new to writing or more

of a seasoned author looking to improve your craft, this podcast is for you. So pick up a pen and let's get started.

In today's episode, we're talking about beta readers, specifically what they are, why they matter,

where to find the right ones, and how to use their feedback without losing your sense of

direction.

And I wanted to tackle this topic today because finishing your first draft is a huge milestone.

It takes time, commitment, and a lot of courage to get your story from start to finish.

But when most writers reach this point, they look at the pages in front of them and they feel a mixture of emotions. On one hand, they're really

proud of themselves for getting to the end. And on the other hand, they're really overwhelmed and

confused because what comes next isn't always clear. But this is where beta readers come in,

and they're a huge help in bridging the gap between your first draft and a story that's ready

for the world. So let's just dive right in,

starting with what beta readers are just to make sure we're all on the same page.

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