Jaime wrote:How many betas do you have? Maybe if you gave it to 2 or 3 at a time, they'd come back in a staggered fashion, and you won't be so hung up on what one person is doing, or why they're taking longer than expected. That way you can compare what each one had to say, too.
And really, 5 days is nothing. I'm still trying to get my ms back from 2 betas who have had it since 2009. They aren't betas I know personally, but they are the friend and the mother-in-law of one of my good, non-writing betas. I thought it would be good to get feedback from people who don't know me at all. But now, my ms has changed so much that it's hardly even the same novel anymore, and seriously, if you've had it that long and haven't gotten around to reading it, that's just insulting.
Hang in there, Watcher. I'm sure you'll find it worth the wait :)
In the back of mind I knew a week wasn't long enough. I'm actually a patient person when it comes to working with people (I taught teenagers for ten yers), I'm just not so patient when it comes to waiting; especially when waiting stands between me and what I want to get accomplished.
I have three beta, and they all got the manuscript on the same day. Two of my betas are sci-fi fans (they are involved in the planning stages of many of the local conventions). The other one barely understands sci-fi, but she has two sons, one of whom repesents my target audience.
In the mean time, I've directed my efforts toward reasearch and perspective gathering (Taking notes on Joseph Capbell and reading Edith Hamilton's MYTHOLOGY). At least that way I'm doing something constructive even though it means I only met one of my goals this week.
Thanks for the reality checks y'all and more importantly the encouragement.