tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445138433367622139.post1649209864402634980..comments2024-03-28T08:21:40.779-05:00Comments on A Writer's Faith: How You Can Help Your Beta ReadersKatie Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01867517507191129951noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445138433367622139.post-55137078023772455432015-12-21T18:14:45.390-06:002015-12-21T18:14:45.390-06:00Hmmm, that's actually a really good point on t...Hmmm, that's actually a really good point on the questions. I'd probably split it up and give readers a few questions to think about WHILE they're reading but I love the idea of asking questions like you pointed out AFTER they finish the story.<br /><br />*nod* Thank you so much for your thoughts, Kate! Very insightful. :)Katie Gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01867517507191129951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445138433367622139.post-55931812346649055192015-12-21T18:11:58.123-06:002015-12-21T18:11:58.123-06:00ACK THANK YOU FOR COMMENTING. This gives me all th...ACK THANK YOU FOR COMMENTING. This gives me all the warm fuzzy feelings and eeep. xD<br /><br />Same hereee. Like, I never <i>feel</i> like the author is being pushy when they ask questions, but if I did that to my readers I just wouldn't want to force things on them. :P So if they agree to answer questions when they sign up it just all works out for the better. :PKatie Gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01867517507191129951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445138433367622139.post-46950563014942029982015-12-21T15:45:23.167-06:002015-12-21T15:45:23.167-06:00Ohh this is a great great post. THANK YOU FOR THIS...Ohh this is a great <i>great</i> post. THANK YOU FOR THIS. I've had several beta readers and, gah, I think I've done a bit of everything?!? But you just reminded me about the list of questions! THAT is an excellent idea and I should do it again. :P I always feel pushy if I keep asking questions after they're done...so just having the questions all set out up front is a glorious idea. x)CG @ Paper Furyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14954615708675952085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445138433367622139.post-34435516125347972872015-12-21T12:45:30.151-06:002015-12-21T12:45:30.151-06:00Really belated response here, but...
As a writer,...Really belated response here, but...<br /><br />As a writer, I would find "Uh, I wasn't paying attention to Character C" a really useful comment, especially if I was hoping my readers would have a strong reaction to Char C--obviously I've not done my job well enough! I know writers who tell their betas specifically NOT to read their questions in advance because it skews their perspective in advance and causes them to read the story in a way they wouldn't otherwise.<br /><br />On the other hand, I can definitely see where something general like "Please focus specifically on the characters" or "I'm concerned about my pacing" would be useful in advance, because otherwise, as Victoria mentioned, you might be focusing on something else, like the setting. <br /><br />Ultimately I think it comes down to whether your beta-reader is approaching the story as though s/he's reading the published work (with all its elements combined) or being asked to read for, and comment on, something specific--and that might be an additional thing to tell your betas before they begin.Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06449169225096625159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445138433367622139.post-28400506159158975482015-09-13T16:19:30.510-05:002015-09-13T16:19:30.510-05:00Oh, most definitely. It's hard when the questi...Oh, most definitely. It's hard when the questions get asked afterwards, though, especially if I'm not looking for them. "How did you like Character C?"<br />Me: "Uh... I wasn't paying attention to them..." xDKatie Gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01867517507191129951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445138433367622139.post-58810334249219194922015-09-12T20:48:03.978-05:002015-09-12T20:48:03.978-05:00:) Excellent post! Yes, I love it when I get quest...:) Excellent post! Yes, I love it when I get questions to answer!!! It really helps to focus my reading when I'm critiquing a piece of work. That way I know to focus on the relationship between character A and B and not the setting. And it's great to give questions too because then you get your questions answered that you're not sure of. Thanks for visiting The Endless Oceans of my Mind! Victoria Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15036742461356732142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445138433367622139.post-22230744306772812732015-09-08T10:20:30.606-05:002015-09-08T10:20:30.606-05:00This is a great post. ^ ^ I recently had betas and...This is a great post. ^ ^ I recently had betas and it went really well. These are some great tips for next time. :) The list of questions is a good idea. Six is a good number of betas for me. Too many can be overwhelming and too few can not give you diverse enough opinions. <br /><br />storitorigrace.blogspot.comVictoria Grace Howellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01849013182543674707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445138433367622139.post-47671355602650273152015-09-08T08:10:03.465-05:002015-09-08T08:10:03.465-05:00This was very helpful Katie, thanks for posting it...This was very helpful Katie, thanks for posting it! I'm hoping to get some beta readers for my novella when it is finished, so I am definitely book marking this post for future reference :). <br /><br />~Savannah P. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445138433367622139.post-574283425593099702015-09-05T18:26:19.288-05:002015-09-05T18:26:19.288-05:00Thank you!
I know. It's hard to get to that p...Thank you! <br />I know. It's hard to get to that point where you're ready for a beta reader. There's SO much line editing and rewriting and editing and proofreading to go into that. :pKatie Gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01867517507191129951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445138433367622139.post-5954963438077989922015-09-05T18:24:45.279-05:002015-09-05T18:24:45.279-05:00AH, I totally agree with everything you said here....AH, I totally agree with everything you said here. :D<br />Yeah, I'm a huge line editor, and that's my best way of critiquing for people. Beta-ing is sometimes hard because it's just so GENERAL, but often line edits can come across as harsh or too blunt. *le sigh* <br /><br />And totally. A list of questions is helpful so I know what to focus on, because my mind moves a million miles per minute and I forget things SO easily. I mean, right after I finish book I forget the character's names, so I need help. xD<br />Thank <i>you</i> for commenting! Katie Gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01867517507191129951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445138433367622139.post-10399769216713669372015-09-05T18:22:01.276-05:002015-09-05T18:22:01.276-05:00You had betas?! *gasp*
Ahhh, I'm so excited a...You had <i>betas</i>?! *gasp* <br />Ahhh, I'm so excited about getting betas sometime in the future. I'll probably message you and ask for your experienced professional help. ;)Katie Gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01867517507191129951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445138433367622139.post-62610838942032355192015-09-05T18:20:49.257-05:002015-09-05T18:20:49.257-05:00You're so welcome! :D Communication is definit...You're so welcome! :D Communication is <i>definitely</i> important, and it would help sort out a lot of confusion. xD <br />Thanks for adding in your thoughts!Katie Gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01867517507191129951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445138433367622139.post-74529766468968166552015-09-05T14:31:05.203-05:002015-09-05T14:31:05.203-05:00I've been a beta reader for someone else and I...I've been a beta reader for someone else and I can say these tips are very helpful and great! I've actually never had anyone beta read for me. But thanks for sharing this!<br /><br />~Noor<br /><a title="a little bit of sunshine" href="http://www.alittlebitofsunshineblog.com" rel="nofollow">a little bit of sunshine</a><br />Noorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00632409992742705091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445138433367622139.post-27653259149555960642015-09-05T14:13:01.507-05:002015-09-05T14:13:01.507-05:00*hugs this post* I'd never actually had anyone...*hugs this post* I'd never actually had anyone list questions for me until quite recently, so I didn't realize how helpful it was. But oh man, I loved having that reference while reading so I could know specific things to pay attention to. It helps me because I'm super busy and juggling more projects than I should, so some details will slip through the cracks if they aren't marked as high priority. Also, yes, I definitely need to know what level of critiquing/commenting I'm wanted/expected to do. I love to line edit, but I always worry that's overstepping my bounds, so I usually ask if it isn't specified. I don't want to offer too much advice and make someone hate me. I don't want to offer too little when I'm free to speak my mind. I can ask, but it always sets me at ease when the person I'm reading for tells me up front. Also, yes, I love being thanked. Those two words can turn a mountain of worry into a sense of relief that I did something maybe possibly helpful. And the deadlines are good too, because I'm busy and it helps to know how I need to prioritize things and whether I can even take a project on or not. Thanks for sharing! Liz Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15823595869843889438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445138433367622139.post-32634359120696545982015-09-05T13:16:20.368-05:002015-09-05T13:16:20.368-05:00This is great, and I would agree with pretty much ...This is great, and I would agree with pretty much all of it both as a beta reader and someone who's had betas. :D Providing specifics and having good communication is absolutely necessary, and I've been frustrated on both sides by not getting the information I needed or not having the other person respond with the information I need. I like being given deadlines and stuff like that, too. As you know I just had my first set of betas (wonder how you'd know that :P) and I learned a LOT from that experience and being on that end -- it was neat getting to figure out what worked and what didn't for next time. Aimee Meesterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02288344639711547844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445138433367622139.post-84590649787269962362015-09-05T12:52:57.476-05:002015-09-05T12:52:57.476-05:00Yes! I feel like some of my own beta reading exper...Yes! I feel like some of my own beta reading experiences have been lacking either because I didn't get what I wanted out of the story or because I wasn't able to give what they wanted because of our poor communication skills at the beginning of the deal. I think making sure that you're both able to give what needs giving beforehand saves a lot of pain and work and confusion later on, so this is definitely something helpful to consider. Thanks for your thoughts, Katie!Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16797485444727976121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445138433367622139.post-74587662465927732092015-09-05T12:20:34.178-05:002015-09-05T12:20:34.178-05:00Thank youu, Ashley! <3
Ah, reactions/fangirl c...Thank youu, Ashley! <3<br /><br />Ah, reactions/fangirl comments are so funnnn. :D I would probably squeal and fall over if someone were to do it to me. xD <br />You sound like an awesome beta reader. :)Katie Gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01867517507191129951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445138433367622139.post-57510791891989015552015-09-05T00:12:43.734-05:002015-09-05T00:12:43.734-05:00This is a really good post!
I don't need beta...This is a really good post!<br /><br />I don't need beta readers yet, but hopefully within the next year. I have beta read often though. The first time I did, I was not sure exactly what it was. I had thought it was like line by line editing. . . it seems I was wrong. I try to avoid that now. Unless it's asked of me. Though most of the time I'm just given a manuscript and asked to read it with the possibility of questions later. I usually make comments as I read, most of them are reactions/fangirl. Sometimes there are other things too. Whether it's a mistake, or inconsistency. But at the end, I always write a kind of wrap-up email which usually includes what I liked overall, any prevalent problems/mistakes that may have existed, and of course a little more fangirling couldn't hurt. ;)a.n.g.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03667996517318905980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445138433367622139.post-40127068947082252742015-09-04T14:38:53.382-05:002015-09-04T14:38:53.382-05:00That would be pretty epic. xDThat would be pretty epic. xDCarrie-Anne Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02840611324784474990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445138433367622139.post-38130882056854461162015-09-04T14:25:49.242-05:002015-09-04T14:25:49.242-05:00Ah. Yes, I have some possible people in mind... Yo...Ah. Yes, I have some possible people in mind... You could be one! xDKatie Gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01867517507191129951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445138433367622139.post-77369260233226111072015-09-04T14:09:54.983-05:002015-09-04T14:09:54.983-05:00*wishes the same thing* I meant "possible bet...*wishes the same thing* I meant "possible beta readers", by the way... :-PCarrie-Anne Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02840611324784474990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445138433367622139.post-66286565599552465922015-09-04T13:54:40.996-05:002015-09-04T13:54:40.996-05:00Ahem. I meant "who's interested." xD...Ahem. I meant "who's interested." xD *wishes she could edit comments*Katie Gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01867517507191129951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445138433367622139.post-67661781860739808212015-09-04T13:53:58.529-05:002015-09-04T13:53:58.529-05:00Thank youuu. ;)
*nods* That's a good idea. I...Thank youuu. ;) <br /><br />*nods* That's a good idea. I don't want to have too many, but yet there are so many possible beta readers out there. :p *sigh* <br />I knoww! *is kinda freaked out about handing the novel to other people* o.o I don't have specific people picked out yet. I'll start asking/maybe put something out on the blog at the beginning of next year to see who's interesting. ^.^Katie Gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01867517507191129951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445138433367622139.post-2571801552996434412015-09-04T13:52:09.354-05:002015-09-04T13:52:09.354-05:00Ooh, that's awesome!
Hm... Giftcards? Noteboo...Ooh, that's awesome! <br />Hm... Giftcards? Notebooks? Office supplies? ;) <br />Thank <i>you</i> for commenting!Katie Gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01867517507191129951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445138433367622139.post-8544789115726479622015-09-04T13:51:23.841-05:002015-09-04T13:51:23.841-05:00I LOVE beta reading, but I always feel so unhelpfu...I LOVE beta reading, but I always feel so unhelpful. Most of my computers are "Ooh, this was good. Yes, I love this scene. And this scene. AND ALL OF IT, ACTUALLY." <br />I'm better at line edits. :pKatie Gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01867517507191129951noreply@blogger.com