Completing a manuscript the first time is a joyous celebration. There are happy dances to be had, high fives to receive, and the feeling of pure accomplishment. Then comes the hard part, the re-writes. I have gone through several. I have had my inside team read my revisions after each edit and always received positive feedback, "this is so much better..." etc. I ask the usual, "does everything make sense?" "What would you change?" "Did I leave anything out?" But the problem when you have the same people read it often, they get stuck in the same rut as you.

Enter the beta reader. Betas are the best thing for a book. They do not care about you as the author or what this book means to you. They care about the story. There isn't a sidebar where you give them outside information about the book, you don't get to explain yourself or your reasoning. They will analyze only what is written on those pages.

I've been working on my query letters, researching publishing houses and agents. After all of the glowing feedback I had received, I thought for sure, minus an intense line edit, my book was ready to be judged by the professionals. I just received feedback from my first (and very thorough) beta reader; and heard it was not close to being ready.

The hardest pill to swallow from their critique was the answer to what I feel is the most important question, "Would you recommend this book to a friend?" She said, "No." *Sad violin plays*

Of course, that is not all the feedback. She liked the story a lot but said for her it still needed some serious revisions in places and if those were fixed she would look forward to picking it off the bookshelf.

We need people to tell us our babies are ugly. It hurts now, but better than later when we've sunk money into publication or we face rejection after rejection. I have always handled feedback well and I'm thankful for her honest review.

I love to hear that my work is fun and original, but I will never have a book to compete alongside Harry Potter of Percy Jackson if I only listen to the people who pat me on the back.

It stings today, but I, and my book, will be better for it tomorrow.

Thanks to everyone who volunteers to be a beta reader, for anyone. Your time and input is treasured.