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Writing Tip: Working With Your Beta Reader


Renee Stevens

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Today we're bringing you another piece that has been written by Dark about how to work with your beta reader. He was even kind enough to share some of the suggestions made by his beta readers and his fixes or his reasoning. Enjoy!

Working with your Beta Reader


by


Dark

 


When I first came to GA, I had no beta. After getting to know some of the folks here, advertising, and doing some snooping around, I started working with some folks as betas. So, now that I have a beta, what do I do with him/her?

 

Working with a beta can be a very personal experience because stories/novellas/etc. are an author’s baby. That’s our work! and we don’t always like it when someone tells us it sucks. Authors, like other artists, can be pretty dramatic -- oh no! I got an awful review, so I must suck as an author, let me go hide in RL and never write again! LOL. I’m sure you know people (or yourself) who has reacted like that. The trick is to be able to step away from the “Augh, you’re attacking my baby!” reaction and get something useful out of it, because if you’re not learning or improving, then what’s the use?

 

I found the beta for my Secrets Can Kill (SCK) Anthology from some comments he sent me on previous stories and chatting with him on GA Chat. Since I was still feeling the sting from a recent bad-beta experience and because I was still working on SCK, I sent this prospective beta something else I was working on. A few days later I received back a word document with what looked like a thousand little red boxes scrunched on the right-hand margin with the word “unnecessary” typed inside. My eyes did this: O_O

 

103 comments later, I knew that I had found something special. That story went on to earn some amazing reviews from our GA readers. The self-satisfaction I felt cannot be described.

 

You may be wondering how I went from all those red boxes and my first reaction (which was OMG I suck!) to the finished product. Below you will find a handful of before-beta work, the beta’s comment(s) and the after-beta product.

 

From Waylon's Crossing

Before:

Finding the access ways was a learned skill, one that had consumed a centuries of Bryce's life. Now he could slip from one world to the other with almost as much ease as demonkind.

Beta’s comments:

Initially you capitalised [demonkind]. I prefer it not as humankind is never capitalised and what’s the difference.

After:

Finding the access ways was a learned skill, one that had consumed centuries of Bryce's life. Now he could slip from one world to the other with almost as much ease as demonkind.

My reasoning:

continuity! I had to go back and make sure that I wrote the same thing everywhere throughout the story instead of switching back and forth between Demonkind and demonkind. I agreed with my beta here.

 

 

 

Before:

The little half-unicorn still reeked of the magic he'd summoned, more felt than smelled, like static picked up by rubbing socked feet over carpet. Touch him and Bryce received a jolt.

Beta’s comment:

I know exactly what you were trying to say but I don’t think you were saying it very clearly.

After:

He gave the little half-unicorn a sideways glance and rubbed his arms. The remnants of magic clinging to Jacen made all the hairs stand up on Bryce’s body. It was a ticklish sensation like static picked up by rubbing socked feet over carpet. What made Bryce nervous was wondering when and how that static would discharge.

My reasoning:

This second version more clearly brings out the wariness of the character that I wanted to convey.

 


From Ashton's Place:

Before:

The water in the lake was low at this time of year, so even though Ashton rolled up his pants-legs, his feet stayed dry.

Beta’s comments:

This is unnecessary. The reason his feet don’t get wet is because they don’t reach the water. if you want to leave it in, I’d suggest … year, so Ashton’s rolled up pants stayed dry. The ‘legs’ part is unnecessary … which other part of the pants is likely to be down there? J

After:

The water in the lake was low at this time of year, but he rolled up the bottoms of his trousers anyway;

My reasoning:

says what I want without being wordy.

 

 

 

Before:

His books were all gone, including the brand-new copy of Sherlock Holmes "The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge" that he’d received for his birthday. He stared at the empty shelf for long minutes.

Beta’s comment:

It might seem superfluous, but describe his reason for this long look … is it wonder, amazement, curiosity, surprise, shock, bafflement etc?

After:

His books were all gone, including the brand-new copy of Sherlock Holmes’ "The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge" that he’d received for his birthday. He stared at the empty shelves, wracking his brain for the reason behind this latest punishment. He couldn’t think of anything, but he knew he was always disappointing his parents.

My reasoning:

This explains why Ashton is staring at his bookshelf without being repetitive (stuff was missing). The phrase allows the reader to empathize with the reader and alludes to Ashton’s relationship with his parents.

 

 

 

Before:

Screaming, Ashton scrambled up the steps, ignoring the damage he was inflicting to himself. He ran outside and straight into the lake only to find himself standing on the dock before he’d even really begun to drown. He was clean and dry and fell to his knees, staring down at the water which showed no reflection.

Beta’s comments:

I get that this is another spatial shift, but I think this one is unnecessary, and a shift too far. I’d cut it to … He ran outside and onto the dock. Looking down he could see he was clean and dry. Confused, he fell to his knees, and stared over the edge into the water. Water which also showed no reflection.

After:

Screaming, Ashton scrambled up the steps, ignoring the damage he was inflicting to himself. He ran out to the dock. No blood met his eyes when he lifted his hands; he was clean and dry. Falling to his knees, he stared down at the water and his missing reflection.

My reasoning:

I agree with my beta on this; I’ve already described what happens when Ashton gets too far from the house. Changing it up better connects the previous scene and what will follow. Instead of distancing the reader from the action, the reader has a chance to reconnect with the main character. My style is to be less explicit, so I use imagery to try and create the confusion Ashton is feeling.

 


Working with a beta can be one of the most rewarding experiences as an author. Not only do they tell you what needs improvement, but the right beta will also encourage you and boost your ego by telling you what you’re doing right.

 

I had a general idea of what I wanted in my beta and in my comments. For example, I wanted someone who was tough. I wanted more than “I liked it.” I wanted to know if my work had the desired effect and I did not want to pull teeth to get that feedback. I wanted someone who wasn’t afraid to tell me something sucked and how to fix it.

 

You may want something different, but you’ll never know unless you try. Good luck!

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This article is awesome and I would like to thank you Dark for this. I am sure it will help many on this site. I found my beta is my best friend. Now you would think that a friend will always say good things about your story. Oh no! Not my best friend. What she believes is that honesty is the right way to go about it. And also being a best friend, she has a soft spot for my stories always and so she wants nothing but the best for it. Just yesterday I wrote this chapter for my story and she told me that it wouldn't work. Like Dark said, a story is like a baby to its author and I admit, I do hesitate to make changes in my story. But then I know Danielle and she won't say anything that she doesn't feel strongly against.

There have been times when we have had different opinions and I like about her this thing that she always listens to my reasons.

And the best thing is that the differences in opinion never affects our friendship. I have said this before many many times and I will always keep saying it. I am lucky to have Daan!

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The best thing about a Beta is that they aren't afraid to tell you what's wrong with the story. I think that's really important. you want someone who is going to be honest with you, and not steer you in the wrong direction. A beta's job is to guild and nurture in my opinion. it's like they take what you have written and enrich it, sharpen it up make it pop; that kind of thing. A beta helps you see something you may not have seen because of course you're very close to your own work. it is indeed your baby. We know the story we are trying to tell, and a good beta helps us to make sure that story makes sense. I love my betas; they are the best

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It's not very often we get to see the pre-beta and post-beta work produced by an author, so many thanks for sharing these snippets.

 

A good beta can be a very important part to the creative process, a bad beta is more trouble than they are worth IMO. It is however very important for an author and their beta to gel, and to be able to have a frank and honest exchange of views over the story and any suggested amendments.

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The best thing about a Beta is that they aren't afraid to tell you what's wrong with the story. I think that's really important. you want someone who is going to be honest with you, and not steer you in the wrong direction. A beta's job is to guild and nurture in my opinion. it's like they take what you have written and enrich it, sharpen it up make it pop; that kind of thing. A beta helps you see something you may not have seen because of course you're very close to your own work. it is indeed your baby. We know the story we are trying to tell, and a good beta helps us to make sure that story makes sense. I love my betas; they are the best

 

Hmmm, a beta's job is not to nurture, but that should certainly be included if necessary, especially for a new writer. A beta's job is most certainly not to gild (MuckitList Misdemeanour tongue.png ). It's to remove the verdigris, perhaps, to allow the gilding to be brought to visibility. That's important to who's in charge of the story smile.png Betas do not enrich. Only the author can do that. Again, it is probable that the beta will suggest the removal of stuff that is lowering the standard of otherwise good work (see Dark's examples above) to let the good stuff shine. Indirectly that will cause the pop and shine.

 

Sounds like Dark loves his beta too. I think I can see why!

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It all depends on the dynamic you have with your beta, and how you work with them. Dark's examples are wonderful, and definitely highlight the kind of feedback that can help an author see the story from outside eyes. His beta offers concise opinions, backs them up and then offers suggestions. I love that approach.

 

I enjoy doing beta work. I did a partial chapter read this morning with comments, just to find out the authors decided to just let me read it for now, and let me do an initial beta after the first chapter. My comments might still apply to sections, if they're not edited, so I saved them anyway.

 

I did get to have a rousing conversation with one of the authors about different aspects of the story that I read that could easily translate into upcoming scenes and ideas that I had on where it could go, but hadn't yet. I still consider that doing beta work, even if it's not showing up on any file. A few of the people I talk to offer the same to me.

 

I think any relationship between the author and the beta relies on their ability to converse honestly and openly about the stories. However you do that - whether it is before, after, or during writing - it can only help. Even if I don't agree with my betas on parts of a story, I do love to hear their input on scenes, or possible scenes, as sometimes it simply cements my own ideas based on explaining my thoughts. They push me creatively and my stories are the beneficiaries of that relationship.

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i can honestly say that if I decide to write a story, and post it here, I will be probably hunt a beta before I even start writing. Seriously, I want to know if my writing is worth the time and effort. Honesty is the key to many things, and if I can't be honest about someone's writing, i am silent. I want a beta that enjoys what he does, and has no problem being honest in his opinion.

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Gawsh, Joann! If you find a beta that tells you your writing is not worth the time and effort, send them round to mine. I'll kick their arse six ways to Sunday. A beta or an editor is there to help, not hinder or demotivate.

 

Can I suggest that your impulse to find one early is fine, but if you want to concentrate on anything, concentrate on your writing first, and then a beta you can work with rather than one who is arrogant enough to tell you whether to go on or not. If you want to write, you write.

 

As they say in the papers ... 'publish and be damned'. And if people are going to damn you for what you write, well, better to be damned for doing it, than damned for not. Damn them all!

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Dark always seems to write helpful, intuitive and logical blog posts. I always seem to agree on many things he says, this one included. ~Cheers~

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I'm glad folks are finding this information helpful/informative. smile.png Many people talk about the benefits of a beta, but seldom is there proof ... so, voila! BTW, the beta comments above are from 2 different people. I wanted to include several different examples and those two stories (of those already posted on site) had the most to choose from.

 

A kiss1.gif to all the betas out there! and an extra special glomp.gif for the two featured here. wub.png

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My apologies for the repeat posts. I am on vacation and only have dial-up access - and it is so slow I kept pushing the "Add Comment" button too many times. That is so unlike me.

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