I’ve written a couple of one-sided posts about beta reading. On the author’s side I’ve moaned about how difficult it is to get any beta readers, let alone reliable beta readers, and how difficult it can be to balance the sometimes contradictory feedback.
However, beta reading is a two-sided process. As a reader I’ve had problems getting writers to follow up their requests and some just disappear. I’ve done a fair bit of beta reading for others, and I get nervous about providing something useful for the author that will be constructive and not me just tearing apart or trying to re-write their hard work.
So far I’ve found beta reading is a skill that I need to learn and practice just a much as writing. I’ve read a variety of things from different authors. Unless they tell me what to look for, it can be very difficult to try to work out what they want.
I also beta read for free. This can be a controversial issue, but I feel writers have enough costs involved when it comes to getting their work to print. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to afford an editor when the time comes, so I’ll give a fellow writer a break, and beta read for free.
Yeah, it’s a lot of my time for nothing, so I always try to swap manuscripts where I can. So far it’s not been too bad, no one has really complained about my feedback. I guess I hope that other writers feel the same way about the process as I do. I’m not a professional editor, it’s just my opinion, and don’t expect me to correct every grammatical error or syntax issue.
These are all quite negative points, but beta reading is not all bad. I’m about to finish reading something that has left me feeling great about beta reading. The author has been so positive and appreciative of my feedback. The writing has been good, and I’ve given some feedback that the author has praised as very constructive. It has been so wonderful to think that I’ve been able to help another writer in their efforts to make their book the best it can be.
I’ve also had the opposite experience. One of the first beta reads I did felt like I was picking at every detail, and I was worried the author would hate me and my feedback. I still don’t know if the author was able to draw something constructive from my comments. All I can say is they thanked me for my time.
Like everything with writing, I’m finding it a huge learning curve. Both sides of beta reading are fraught with difficulties from attracting interest and chasing up feedback, to nerves about the quality of feedback and trying not to change an authors story into one’s own. I’m sure I have will have plenty more good and bad experiences on both sides of beta reading, but I will not be giving up. I know perseverance and practice will only enhance my own writing in the end.
What are your experiences as a beta reader? I’d love to hear from you, so leave a comment.
