Beta readers, part three

Now that you know how to select a beta reader, you may be wondering how to handle being asked to be a beta reader for someone else. Here are a few things you should remember before you accept the invitation to be a beta reader.

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Beta readers, part two

Yesterday, you learned some things to keep in mind when selecting a beta reader for your work. Here are a few more tips as you consider people to read your stories.

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Beta readers, part one

For those who don't know, a beta reader is someone a writer trusts to read a piece and give honest feedback from a reader's point of view. What works? What needs work? Are there glaring plotholes? Superfluous scene? A beta reader goes through the piece as he or she would something that's been already published, and give it the same critique as something already published, without sugar-coating comments.

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Beta Readers, Part Two: How to Be a Beta Reader

A couple of days ago, I wrote a post about selecting beta readers.  Obviously, this post was aimed at writers wishing to get feedback on their pieces.  However, many writers are also asked to be beta readers, and it's just as important for a beta reader to know what he or she is getting into before that manuscript arrives, waiting to be read.  So there are a few things you should remember, dear readers, as you accept the invitation to be a beta reader.

Beta readers are not editors.  Though you may be asked to proofread or double-check continuity or other tasks that editors often undertake, you are not actually an editor.  Don't assume your writer will take all of your suggestions (and yes, they are only suggestions, not directions or commands) to heart.  All editing decisions, at least at this stage, are ultimately in the hands of the writer.  Make suggestions, but don't take it personally if, when you read a revision of the manuscript, something you suggested be cut is still in the story.  After all, the piece is the writer's vision, not yours.

Beta readers should be very clear about what the writer expects.  Does your writer want you to simply read through the manuscript to make sure it flows well?  Does your writer want you to mark every misplaced apostrophe?  Perhaps it's something between the two?  Whatever your writer expects of you should be made clear in the beginning of the process.  In writing, if possible.  It can be upsetting, after all, if your writer wants to make sure the plot flows and gets a manuscript back that looks like it's bleeding because said writer hasn't edited for grammar and spelling yet.  And along those lines, once the expectations are set by the writer, stick to them.  Don't assume you're doing the writer a favor by editing grammar if he or she has asked you to focus on the setting.

Beta readers are not all about glowing praise.  Every writer likes to hear that a reader enjoys his or her work, but the purpose of a beta reader is to help improve the piece.  In order to do that, you have to be honest about it.  If you read the manuscript and something doesn't work, let the writer know it doesn't work.  (If you have a feel for why it's not working, all the better!)  If a character feels flat, tell the writer.  Perhaps he or she just hasn't spent as much time developing that character and it's an easy fix.  But if these comments aren't expressed to the writer, the piece will never be it's best, and you and the writer will both have wasted your time.  If you like something about the piece, be sure to express that, too, but don't be afraid to share your concerns.  Writers should be able to take criticism, after all!

Being a beta reader can be a very rewarding experience.  You're involved in the writer's creative process, and if the piece you read is published, you can know you had a hand in it.  However, it is a relationship that involves a lot of communication, a lot of patience, and even more than that, a willingness to be open to the personal creativity of another person.

If you're asked to be a beta reader, remember that it is something that should be taken very seriously.  If you can't take it seriously, thank the writer for asking, but suggest they choose someone else instead.

And happy reading!

Beta Readers, Part One: Selecting a Beta Reader

A friend of mine recently finished the first draft of her first novel, and emailed it to me to go through for her.

I have to be honest: I enjoy reading other people's drafts.  Not only do I like to read pieces by people I care about, but as a writer, I appreciate the heart that goes into creating a piece, and I always feel honored to be part of that intimate process.

Most of my experience as a reader for people has been in a quite informal process.  I've never really been a beta reader.  But by reading even an early draft of a piece of writing for someone, I serve a similar purpose as a beta reader.

For those who don't know, a beta reader is someone a writer trusts to read a piece and give honest feedback from a reader's point of view.  What works?  What needs work?  Are there glaring plotholes?  Superfluous scene?  A beta reader goes through the piece as he or she would something that's been already published, and give it the same critique as something already published, without sugar-coating comments because the reader knows the writer.

Beta readers can be a valuable resource for writers.  It provides them the opportunity to get honest feedback on a piece of writing before exposing it to the world by sending it to an agent or magazine or wherever it's going to be sent when finished.  However, this doesn't mean you should necessarily send your piece to every friend on your email list to read, or give it to your neighbor who's shown a passing interest in your writing, or your significant other because they'll be honest, right?

Beta readers should be selected carefully.  Yes, often great beta readers are people you know well (and trust greatly), but you may find equally great beta readers through an online writer's community or in your writer's group.  Or your book club.  (You don't have to necessarily limit yourself to fellow writers as beta readers.)  There are a few things you should keep in mind as you consider someont as a beta reader.

You should know your beta reader is going to be honest.  This means that if something in your piece doesn't work, your beta reader should be able to tell you (tactfully, of course) that it doesn't work.  You don't want someone to give you glowing praise and say, "ZOMG, I luved yr book!!!!111!!  It wuz awesome!!!1!!!!1"  You need someone who is going to help make your piece better, and the way to do that is through an honest reading of your work.

Your beta reader should be reliable.  If you give someone a piece to read, you should know you're going to get it back in a timely manner.  Before you select someone as a beta reader, make sure they have the time to work with your piece.  It can be frustrating to send something to a reader only to find out they're not going to be able to get to it in time for you to get it back when you need it.

Your beta reader should know something about your genre...or not.  Some writers want beta readers that know enough about the genre of the piece to be able to contribute more to the piece.  For example, a writer of historical fiction may want a beta reader who can sort of double-check for historical accuracy.  Then again, another historical fiction writer may want a reader who doesn't know historical fiction to get a feel for how the piece reads to an "average" person.

Your beta reader should be warned about anything that may be...jarring.  This is particularly true if your piece has violence or language or anything along those lines that may be offensive to someone.  If this is your style, you may not want a beta reader who's easily ruffled.

Your beta reader should be someone who can give criticism tactfully.  This is a very important one to me.  Yes, I want honesty, and yes, I want to be told what needs to be worked on in my next revision, but I don't want a beta reader to go all Kathy Bates on me because of a plothole or something that steps beyond the willing suspension of disbelief into the realm of the absurd.

Your beta reader should be fully aware of your expectations before even receiving the manuscript.  Do you want your reader to just go over the piece and look for glaring errors?  Do you want your reader to dissect every sentence and scrub the piece of hanging participles and superfluous commas?  Something between the two?  Make sure your beta reader knows exactly what you want ahead of time so there isn't any disappointment or frustration at what arises from the reading.  It helps to get this in writing, especially with a new reader.

Whoever you choose to be a beta reader, make sure that reader is someone you can trust with your writing.  Writers put so much of themselves into any given piece, and you want to make sure that you can be that intimate with the person who will be receiving your piece.  Choose wisely, and when you find a beta reader, let him or her read your pieces with the knowledge they're being read by someone who wants them to be everything you want them to be.