Test Audience!

Well the time has come!!!!

A few Pre-Readers received their copies of the book this weekend and have gotten underway!
I am a little nervous/excited/sick to my stomach... haha... BUT I also know that I can never expect to put a book out on the market if I do not intend for people to actually read it, right? ;)

So why am I letting people read it before it's in book format????
Well, the answer is this: So I know if people are going to like it!!!!!
Pretty simple, right?

How are the Pre-Readers chosen?
Randomly. I have several reasons why I choose certain people, even when they do not know the reasons themselves. I look for how avid a reader they are. I want someone who reads all the time and I want someone who is quite the opposite.
I want someone who loves to read fiction, and someone who does not.
I also pull from different ages. Currently my readers range from the age of 24-62 .... not bad. :)

What do they have to do?
They read. :)
They sign a paper swearing their life away.... okay, not really. But they do have to sign a legal document stating they cannot share anything about the book until it is published. :) So you can't pester them. :)
Then after they are done, they answer a series of questions for me.
Who their favorite character is? Least favorite?
What scenes do they like the best?
Those types of questions.

What do I do with their answers?
I use them for feedback. Sometimes I will change how I word things, if a scene was unclear.
Sometimes I will add a few extra scenes to build the backstory of a character, if they felt that character needed a better description.... those types of things.
It also allows me to gauge the reaction on how people feel about the book as a whole. Was it a page turner? Did they struggle even getting through it?
Basically, all of their information provides me with feedback from an actual audience, and I can tweak my novel before I have it officially nailed down for publishing.

Not every author does a test audience. I debated, but eventually realized that with my nerves the way they are, I wanted to know what people thought to make sure I was even onto something. :)
Yes, it makes the process a little longer, but I feel it pays off in the end.

Thank you to those who have taken the time to be Pre-Readers.... if my long list of questions does not scare you off, I would love to use some of you again! ;)