Site icon Eroticon

The Tricky Business of a Beta Read – Avoiding Hurt Feelings & Getting the Most Out of It

red pen

(c) 123rf Stock Photos

Last year I was asked by a new-ish author for a beta read. Stupidly, I agreed without asking first what exactly she wanted from me.  I read her book–a hot tasty read that didn’t have a typical “romance” plot for the spanking romance genre. I gave feedback about how she could make it fit the romance genre, and talked about the things I liked.  She never spoke to me again. I’m serious.

If you know me, you know I’m nice.  I never want to hurt anyone’s feelings. If I had known beta reading would hurt this person, I never, ever would have done it.  I don’t need to earn enemies when I’m taking time away from my own writing and trying to do someone a favor.

Let’s face it–giving and receiving feedback is a tricky business. When giving, our goal should always be providing feedback in a way that leaves the recipient feeling expanded, not contracted.

When receiving, being clear about what kind of feedback you’re looking for is helpful. If you just want copy edits, say so. If you want content edits, say that, too. And particularly if you have specific questions, let them know.  If you really just want someone to tell you that they love it, say that! I’m serious! I just finished my first middle grade novel and I was feeling quite fragile about it. When I gave the first two chapters to a friend, I told her I wasn’t ready for any serious critique, I only wanted to hear if what I had going was working. She understood me perfectly, told me she loved it and couldn’t wait to read more (a true friend–lol!).

But a true friend is also one who helps you grow.  Some of the very best beta reads I’ve had came from Trent Evans and Maren Smith who taught me about craft with their edits. For example, I have a tendency for hyperbole. Trent crossed out one of my adverbs and pointed out that I’d already said that with such-and-such body language.  Oh! I didn’t need to overstate. I have a number of other friends with whom I swap manuscripts on a regular basis and we can rely on each other for both honesty and the understanding that all feedback is given with the intent to help, not hurt.

Why bother with beta reading?  It’s not just useful for the person receiving. Learning to give feedback helps you grow as well. It’s a way of studying craft. You notice what doesn’t work in a story and have to figure out why it doesn’t work. The better you get at this, the more your own writing improves.

Giving a Helpful Beta Read

Receiving a Beta Read

Please comment if you stopped by! Let me know what has worked and has not worked for you! Did I miss anything you think is important to keep in mind when either giving or receiving a beta read?

 

Exit mobile version