One of the top arguments I see authors make in their query letters is to tell me how much their beta readers love the story. I get it! You want to show us you have "done your market research" to identify what your readers like and don't like. You want to show the enthusiasm of readers, especially if you are a beginning writer. However, this enthusiasm is not necessarily giving us a complete picture.
The first thing we have to consider is "who are the beta readers" of your book? For the most part, these are people who know you. These may be people in your critique group, or even people in your writing chapter who just like to read. It may be family members. Unfortunately, this piece of evidence is a bit biased toward your writing. You may think your beta readers will tell you if the writing is bad, but the majority of the time, these thoughts will be overshadowed by compliments since the relationship is more important. I will also say that these comments they make are probably unconscious decisions.
Even so, let's say you did expand your beta-reader audience. How does their enthusiasm seem to be missing the mark and the editors and agents are still passing on the story. The answer is simple.
Your beta readers are just looking at the story. Do they like it or not? Do they find the characters interesting. Do they love those hot steamy sex scenes? Is the mystery really a page turner? Yes, these are certainly important elements and yes, editors and agents are looking at these elements as well. We always say at conferences that these are the things we want to see in a story.
HOWEVER...
There is another piece that your beta-readers are missing. Is this story marketable? Is there a place in that editors or agents line up for your story? If we already have authors doing just what you did, we are not going to go out and add another author. It is like going to the store to buy milk, even though you have enough in the fridge right now to last for the next 2 weeks. Would you really do that? Probably not and neither will the editors and agents.
We are also looking to see if the author is more than simply this one book. Remember we are looking for a package deal. We know that one book will not make a career. It takes several books from an author to attract a following. We have to ask ourselves how much work it is going to take to get the book to a place it can be marketed, as well as how much work it will take to get the reader prepared.
Don't get me wrong. Having someone other that you look at your writing is important. But it does need to be more than just the writing itself.
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