my experience hiring an alpha reader on fiverr to critique my story

in this video i take a deep dive into the alpha reader feedback i got for my novel!! enjoy :)
vee xo
a b o u t ♥ m e:
- 19 years old
- based in canada🇨🇦
- a fraternal twin!
b u s i n e s s ♥ e m a i l : [e-mail]
i n t r o ♥ m u s i c:
♪ Song: Joakim Karud - Love Mode
Music provided by Music Just For You | No Copyright
Video Link: • Joakim Karud - Love Mo...
t a g s: alpha reader, alpha reader feedback, fiverr
#authortube #writingvlog

[@zenebornman7917]

I'm a very sensitive writer and I'm always afraid of sharing my work. I've only shared it with my mom and best friend and this makes me feel a little more comfortable with professional advice. Thank you so much, Vee! 😊❤💕

[@sincerelyvee]

i felt/still feel the same way!! it's definitely not easy sharing your work with people you may not be close to but i'm glad this video could soothe some of those worries!! it truly was a great experience for me and should you do it in the future i hope it would be for you too!🤗💓

[@claudiac6356]

Hi Vee! I just wanted to say that I am not a romance/YA reader at all, and I mainly watch your vlogs because they're very enjoyable and I am a writer at university too. HOWEVER, from seeing those little snippets of your writing, it absolutely hooked me! I think you've already discovered your voice, and you really have something to say with this book. I honestly have to say you're probably the first authortuber I've watched whose book I would actually want to buy when it comes out, even though it lies so far from my normal genres (sci fi & highly speculative fiction). Congratulations on getting this far and stay confident in yourself - you'll get there!

[@sincerelyvee]

claudia, this truly means so much to me! thank you for leaving such a kind and encouraging comment🥹 it’s messages like this that inspire me to keep going with what i’m doing so i appreciate you so much!!

[@JeLiaMorris]

This was very helpful to me and this made me very excited to read your book☺️

[@sincerelyvee]

aw i'm so glad!!🤗 thank you so much!

[@davidbasinski2634]

Based on your description, Project Soulmates isn't a bad title.

[@sincerelyvee]

ahaha maybe not...who knows it could grow on me🤣

[@KrisMF]

omg i love this video, vee! SO interesting! it takes a lot of courage to send your writing to a stranger AND to discuss it like this :) seriously loveee the vibes of your channel. one of my fav authortube spaces atm ☀️!!

[@sincerelyvee]

kris!!! thank you so much!🥺 glad to have you as a fellow writing friend in this community

[@kylahhmariee]

This was so helpful! I would love to see how you get beta readers as well! Also i love seeing the progress you’re making 😍 im so excited for you! It can be scary to have others read you’re writing but also very motivating especially when they love it!❤

[@sincerelyvee]

aw thank you so much kylah, i'm glad you found this helpful!!🥰 will definitely do a similar video to this when i get to the beta reader stage!!

[@lachocomenta3274]

I am not a writer myself, but I love watching these videos recounting other people's experiences, also the way you explain things is really relaxing, keep the good work!

[@charlott7139]

I honestly would love to get alpha readers who are strangers too but I'm genuinely so scared about it. Not necessarily about the criticism but I have this super dumb and probably totally unnecessary fear of those people stealing my work...😣I know it's stupid to think this way but I literally put my heart and soul in my book and sending the full manuscript to strangers seems so scary and risky... Did you have a similar fear or am I the only one?

[@sincerelyvee]

I HAVE THIS FEAR TOO!! still do honestly! i think it’s very valid. that’s another one of the reasons i wanted to hire an alpha reader on fiverr because in my mind that automatically increases the chances that this won’t happen if they have tons of reviews and good credibility!!💗

[@SkyeStevens]

This is SUCH a good video, thank you for sharing!! I didn’t even know what an alpha reader was but now I want to hire one right away!!

[@banana.prose.writes]

This was super helpful! I recently found your channel and have LOVED all of your videos! I can't wait for more!

[@sincerelyvee]

thank you savannah!! that means so much to me :)💓

[@claireythefairy]

Such an interesting video. I didn't know anything about alpha readers either. I'm glad you had such a good experience!

[@sincerelyvee]

thank you!! i am too aha😅 i'm so glad you could find this insightful!!

[@finleyhasfins]

I admire your courage

[@sincerelyvee]

😂😂

[@princesspink1524]

Hey Vee! I really enjoy your vlogs. They are so inspiring! Anyway, I have a question. How do you get rid of writer's block and how do you feel inspired to write? I have been suffering from writer's block for the longest time(it doesn't seem go away!😑) when I do feel inspired to sit down to write that inspiration instantly goes away and it doesn't come back. When it does, it's harder to get back on track. I often find myself staring at my computer or looking blankly at my notebook.

[@kylahhmariee]

Something that helps me is reading other books or even books about writing like “story genius” or “save the cat writes the novel” i find when they’re explaining things in depth it helps me w ideas like “oh that’s a good idea i can do this for my story” type of thing! Even watching a tv show helps! I hope this helps you in anyway ☺️☺️

[@princesspink1524]

@@kylahhmariee Thank you so much! I will definitely check this out!

[@sincerelyvee]

hey!! :) i've definitely been struggling with writer's block a little bit lately and i emphasize with your pain. it's not fun! but i'm seconding kylah's advice to try reading books to get out of it!! stepping out of my own story and diving into someone else's really helps cure my writer's block because so much inspiration can be found in the stories i read that motivate me to write or even give me ideas for how to change my own story to get myself out of the creative trap! (since this is such a common topic/obstacle in the writing world i'll put a video idea down in my notes to do a video on overcoming writer's block!!) hopefully you're inspired to write again soon

[@kelsey2506]

I am really loving your videos! They are really keeping me going when it comes to my own writing. I really hope to be a writer like you, and I hope that your novel ends well! Edit: Plus, It really feels so nice to see another black girl like me on here. I'm often met with non-black people and it doesn't necessarily discourages me, but it can make me feel like I don't belong or something, I don't know lol. I am most definitely binging your videos!

[@sincerelyvee]

thank you!! i’m so happy to be able to represent other black writers so we can feel not alone in this writing community🤗💓

[@susanjanewilkins]

sounds like a great book -

[@foreverinhandstand9456]

Thank you so so much for making this video!!! My plan is to give my first draft to my twin sister (cool you're a twin too!) and then I'm going to look into an alpha reader. Honestly, I may use your alpha reader - she seems fantastic. Honestly speaking, I'm definitely anxious to give my draft to someone else (even my sister) but I think I'm just going to go for it...

[@sincerelyvee]

i felt the same but it was so worth doing!! i hope it turns out very useful and helpful to you

[@EmmaBennetAuthor]

Great video, really useful information.x

[@sincerelyvee]

thank you so much!!☺️

[@author.gabrielavrivera]

I only recently learned about Alpha readers and they helped my draft out a lot!!!

[@samantharose1001]

Ahh I’m so excited to watch this!!!

[@sincerelyvee]

yay!! i'm glad!!🤍

[@jamiehadleygrave]

Firstly, your book sounds amazing!!!! Second, that was so insightful! I am about to send my manuscript out to 5 alpha readers after my second draft. Hoping my feed back is as helpful as yours 🫶🏼 all the best !!!

[@jeroenf1848]

Thank you so much for this video!

[@sincerelyvee]

you’re so welcome!

[@artsynoonii819]

super helpful and its gotten me rlly curious about your novel actually^-^💛💛💛💛

[@sincerelyvee]

ahaha love that🤍 thank you!!

[@cetriyasArtnComicsChannel]

what I'm looking for is a rewriter/ alpha editor if that's possible?

[@wordcharm2649]

I wonder how much of the feedback was actionable-feedback vs summarizing your book back to you or complementing your story? For me, and I say this as a sensitive person high-key terrified of beta feedback (though will be doing it soon!), I would want 90% of it to be actionable feedback aimed at changes/improvements (small to large) for me to feel something like this was worth my time. While feel-good comments are nice, I want feedback that is laser-focused on improving my book. I wonder if these alpha-readers allow you to direct them with specific questions rather than them sending you pre-made versions of what they normally send customers, which may feel a bit generalized/generic. Either way, fun experience. I'm glad your work is polished enough to be so well received.

[@wordcharm2649]

Super quality video. Thank you for sharing this experience.

[@wearenotdoinggethelp3333]

I've been watching your writing videos while I work on my novel- a totally different genre but it helps me get in the zone!

[@sincerelyvee]

i’m so glad that they can!! :) also i love your username😭 loki stan for life

[@Blazerema101]

Hi vee, I really love your videos. It's inspiring and it also helps through my writing journey. Thank you.

[@sincerelyvee]

thank you so much!! i'm glad it can encourage your own writing journey!

[@helloitislucie4475]

How did you find the right person to review your book? 😊💜

[@sincerelyvee]

hey!! i talk a bit about the key features that i look for in the video but essentially it's important for me to find someone with a) good qualifications (is an avid reader and has writing experience) and b) great communication! it's also important to find someone who reads the genre of book that you write so they're familiar with it!! hope that helps!💓

[@helloitislucie4475]

@@sincerelyvee Right! Thank you, that does help. I also meant if you remember who they were specifically.

[@sincerelyvee]

@@helloitislucie4475 lilibokan on fiverr

[@McKenzieIdeality]

This was VERY helpful and the exact type of writing video that I wanted to see! Thank you!

[@michellelesley9865]

I'm writing a book currently it is called "Being Thirteen 101" Now I will say the characters act a bit older sometimes but nit anything bad. And it is an Enimies to lovers trope and I am just starting it. And not gonna spoil but I'm going to tell you a blur of it Alruna Paisley has been going to Ravenwood school for years. Her and her friends do have a group of bullies recently Alruna's main Bully's brother came to the school. Since he just joined he hangs out with his brother and when Alruna sees this she already has a hatred for him (His name is Kaemon Oak )

[@sincerelyvee]

ooo i love enemies to lovers!! sounds like it’ll be really good :) ty for sharing!

[@herothebard]

Honestly 3 bits of feedback about the whole way people use 'project' for their work in progress. #1 you do you if it works for you that's fine but I don't personally like calling something a 'project' to me it's a book, a novel, whatever I am hoping that finished project will look like is the thing I am work9ng on. I get it but I don't like it. But you do you. #2 when you use the word 'project' instead of novel your actually downgrading your book/novel not only to others but yourself. 'I'm writing a project about' dosn’t hold the same weight in a conversation as 'I am writing a Novel about.' #3 TBH Project Soulmates sounds like a great title and gives the vibe that this is a new theory being practiced to prove that people can find soulmates. Where as Soulmates is a little less shinny of a title.

[@sincerelyvee]

very insightful opinion!! i do see where you’re coming from. i like the use of project especially when it comes to easily differentiating works in progress. i can refer to one as project ITL and the other as project soulmates as an easy way to reference them. in my personal opinion, referring to my WIP as project ‘so and so’, does not downgrade it at all because it’s obviously still a novel it’s just a filler for what to call it. as for leaving my novel’s title as ‘project soulmates’ i’ve actually gotten that quite a lot! i’ve yet to come up with an effective title for this WIP that seems like the perfect fit for it but i’m coming around to the idea of leaving it as ‘project soulmates’

[@JorjorB]

LOVED THIS VIDEO!! I’ve yet to start my journey on beta readers but I am glad to see someone else look on fiver and hear their experience!!! 💗

[@sincerelyvee]

I’M SO GLAD YOU ENJOYED IT!!😊💕

[@samantharose1001]

Your channel is definitely one of my faves! I love watching your videos (your vibe, your process, your writing journey) and I always feel motivated after watching them. It was so interesting to learn about Alpha readers; I hadn't heard of those like you said! Only beta readers, so that's awesome! Bravo for putting your work out there. It's for sure vulnerable!

[@sincerelyvee]

thank you so much samantha!!🤍 ur support means so much, and yay i’m so glad this video could be helpful for you :)

[@reezers101]

This was very insightful and Lilly (I think that was her name) gave such helpful advice. It's great to have some knowledge about alpha readers and the way they work. As someone who doesn't like sharing their work so to say, this is very encouraging.

[@sincerelyvee]

i’m so glad you could find this helpful!! and yes, lily was great! :)

[@IndigenousGoddess]

This is great! Love 💕 your channel so helpful! Best of luck on the success of your novel 🎉🎊

[@sincerelyvee]

glad you liked it☺️ and thank you so much!!💕

[@johnnymoose8329]

Haha I loved the video and the sims 4 reference. Keep writing!!

[@sincerelyvee]

thank you!!!😊

[@sebastianspencer235]

im so happy you shared this video! I've briefly looked into my plans with my novel and now I know I definitely want to hire an alpha reader!

[@sincerelyvee]

yay, best of luck spencer!! i hope it’s a great experience for you :)

[@martinblampied1942]

Hi Vee I am a surly old git who would rather take cyanide than read a teenage romance novel, but I found your video interesting and helpful as I am writing my first novel and am looking for an alpha reader. Plus points on your presentation: 1. No insipid music tinkling away in the background. Why the heck do presenters do that? 2. No cats or dogs jumping on your lap or in front of the screen. I love them both, but there is a time and a place. Negative points: 3. No-one is interested in your tea or coffee-drinking. Such a cliche! 4. Stop waving your hands about. Looks as if you have a nervous disorder (apologies if you really do have one). You are real easy to look at, but be more tranquil.

[@leelee-fz3zb]

I can’t wait till I’m at this stage. I’m doing nano right now, and hopefully it’ll help me finish a novel for the first time!! I’m getting so emotional just watching your journey and just imagining how you feel. I hope you’re so proud of yourself, cuz I’m definitely proud of you!! 🫶🏽🫶🏽

[@sincerelyvee]

you’ve so got this!!! i can’t wait until you’re at this stage too🤗 and tysm!!!🫶❤️

[@wismeiry31]

I’m currently waiting for my Beta reader to finish reading and give me my feedback. I’m so nervous how much or how little she’s say. Especially since I feel that my book may be too short (45,000) I know that with all revisions and editing it’ll definitely be over 50k and some say that’s great for my specific genre (Ya Romantic comedy) . But idk what to feel yet😶

[@sincerelyvee]

my draft's tend to be on the shorter sides at first as well! revisions definitely tend to bump up the word count :) best of luck with your beta reader feedback!! i hope you can find it helpful🤍