u/shriekingsea

Hey friends!!

I’m looking for a bit of advice here. About how to find the best beta readers for extreme content, and also how to properly prepare them for it.

I have a few people asking to beta read my literary horror novel, but I’m not entirely sure if they understand what they’re getting into. I have a very clear trigger warning at the beginning of the book, but I feel even that is still too tame for the content. (Perhaps I just write I AM NOT KIDDING after it—)

As a reader, what would you like from a book with extreme, transgressive content to prepare for the experience? Finding readers for books such as mine might prove to be an issue once my editing is completed.

Tips?

Now let’s be clear here:

“But autistic—“ neurological condition, not picky eating. Brain is wired differently and has safe foods.

“Vegetarians—“ ethical/health choice. Not picky

I’m talking real adult humans who refuse to try anything new or take a bite of a strange dish. Especially when it’s culturally significant, like on vacations, when you’re meant to be experiencing new things, or in the company of different creeds of people.

But just in general, when an unfamiliar dish comes to the table and grown adults insist they’re “picky” and refuse to touch it… grow up.