Question on Beta-Readers

[Ren]

Do those of you who have beta readers require an NDA before letting them read?
Is it something that should be done?
I've gotten enough written that I think I can start considering official Beta-readers instead of the one friend I have reading it now.

[LizW65]

Nope, just people I trust who have good instincts regarding fiction.
If you're Stephen King or J.K. Rowling or somebody like that it might be a good idea, though.

[the neurovore of Zur-En-Aargh]

Do those of you who have beta readers require an NDA before letting them read?
Is it something that should be done?

If you are wary enough of someone to think of offering them an NDA, I doubt you should be considering them as a beta in the first place.

[The Deposed King]

If you are wary enough of someone to think of offering them an NDA, I doubt you should be considering them as a beta in the first place.

Yeah.  Beta's are just people too.  Frankly I've found the gaumat runs from people you know to out and out strangers.  And if you don't like their feedback you either cut them off right then and there.  Or else finish your novel and don't invite them again.

But NDA?  I don't even know what the name means and I've already got 4 full novels and a novella up on amazon.



The Deposed King

[the neurovore of Zur-En-Aargh]

But NDA?  I don't even know what the name means and I've already got 4 full novels and a novella up on amazon.

Non-Disclosure Agreement. 

[Ren]

Thanks for the info, just wanted to be sure.

[The Deposed King]

I'd just make sure you have time and date stamps on your files.  Like on your computer.  Then if you post on somewhere like here you also have time and date stamps.  I've not had a problem yet.  The other thing I've heard about is getting an ISBN as soon as you get ready to publish.

I think if you get big this is something you want to do. But I've yet to really get people pirating my stuff.  And that's general pirates at large.  I can't swear my beta's haven't shared with friends.  But I haven't seen any files cropping up on the web.


The Deposed King

[the neurovore of Zur-En-Aargh]

I'd just make sure you have time and date stamps on your files.  Like on your computer.  Then if you post on somewhere like here you also have time and date stamps.

It occurs to me I may have been taking something for granted that I shouldn't, here.

The absolute minimum safe number of backup copies to have of something you are working on is three, one of which lives in a different geographical location from the other two.  A trusted friend or beta, or a dedicated gmail account for sending things to yourself, will work for that. If you do that sensibly the time and datestamps should happen automatically.

[The Deposed King]

It occurs to me I may have been taking something for granted that I shouldn't, here.

The absolute minimum safe number of backup copies to have of something you are working on is three, one of which lives in a different geographical location from the other two.  A trusted friend or beta, or a dedicated gmail account for sending things to yourself, will work for that. If you do that sensibly the time and datestamps should happen automatically.

1)Laptop

2)Flash Drive

3)Yahoo E-Mail


That works well for me.  I haven't lost anything unreplacable that I am actively working on yet.



The Deposed King

[Anei]

Doesn't GMail sell your emails? Not like to anyone worth being annoyed about, but just little advertisers. Or is that only in-line text?

[Wordmaker]

I only use people I trust as beta readers. They're some of my closest friends and wouldn't even let another friend read anything I send without my permission.

[The Deposed King]

I only use people I trust as beta readers. They're some of my closest friends and wouldn't even let another friend read anything I send without my permission.

I've had beta readers who were fans of my previous books and I didn't know them other than an e-mail requesting to join my beta reader group.  Of course that book came out within a couple weeks of them joining...

With you and your extended publishing schedule that might be more problematic.  But so far (fingers crossed) I've had not issues.



The Deposed King

[Wordmaker]

Yes, if you have a faster release schedule or the story is part of an existing series either already on contract or in publication, you can afford to extend your trust that much further.

[Sully]

Doesn't GMail sell your emails? Not like to anyone worth being annoyed about, but just little advertisers. Or is that only in-line text?

They analyze them so they know what ads to offer you. Not the same thing as selling. Nobody sees them.


Well, other than the NSA, of course.

[Aminar]

They analyze them so they know what ads to offer you. Not the same thing as selling. Nobody sees them.


Well, other than the NSA, of course.

Any chance the NSA will publish my novel if I throw a bunch of terroristy keywords into the header?