An Interview with my beta reader—Denise Vance Fluhr
Denise Vance Fluhr, beta reader for Rachel Carrington, Stephanie Rowe, and Lisa Kessler. Mom to 4 kids and a CPA during January through April. Any authors interested in another beta reader, please contact me through my FaceBook account (https://www.facebook.com/dee.fluhr) or Goodreads (http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/70...).
1. Why do you feel a beta reader is important for every author?
Every author needs some sort of beta reader, husband, sibling, friend or other. When authors used publishing houses as the only way of having their stories put in print, they had editors proof their story. Now with so many authors self-publishing, there is no editor. I have read quite a few ebooks books that obviously no one went back behind the author and read for spelling/grammar and continuity. I know that when anyone writes a story and then tries to reread what they wrote, their mind inserts words and phrases missed and/or fixes any spelling errors. I feel that an author needs more than one beta reader if possible. Everyone will pick up something different.
2. How did you first get started beta reading?
About one year ago, Stephanie Rowe asked for a couple beta readers on her FaceBook wall. I emailed her and asked what a beta reader was and what it entailed. She sent me her pre-teen fantasy book, Penelope Moonswoggle, The Girl Who Could Not Ride a Dragon and I was hooked! There was one author that I did a review read for but ended up beta reading the story. I told my husband that she would probably NEVER ask me to read another story of hers, but fortunately, I have been able to read quite a few of her stories. 
3. Since beta readers don’t get paid, what motivates you to continue? Is acknowledgement enough?
Honestly, the reason I started was that my husband said that I bought too many books and that I needed an e-reader. I was able to read books as a beta reader and not have to buy them (but don’t tell my husband, I buy them any way). There is NOTHING like seeing your name in print! Sometimes you are just one in a list, but then there are those times that you get a whole paragraph just for yourself in the acknowledgements.
4. What do you consider important qualifications for every beta reader?
To be a good beta reader you need to try and help the author have the best possible story. It is also important to not take over the author’s story. You might have suggestions, but it’s NOT your story. You are just there to edit the story.
5. What is the one more important task every beta reader must do when reading an author’s manuscript?
Read the story through more than one time. I read first on my tablet. I am impatient and want to know how the story goes. (Plus I read over 800 words a minute and I don’t pick up little things reading that fast). I give some time, think about the story line and then go back over the story on my laptop. Reading in different font types (tablet versus computer) helps me pick up some of the spelling errors. Once you already know how the story ends, you can truly read it. Watching for continuity is really important too if there are multiple books in a series.
6. How important is objectivity? Do you think becoming friends with the authors you beta read for is a bad idea?
Objectivity is important; you have to want to help the author. I’ll say this again, because I think that it is so important; IT IS NOT YOUR STORY. You can make suggestions, but not take over the book. My edits are color coded. Red for obvious spelling, grammar, and continuity. Green for a suggestion to how a sentence or paragraph might sound better. Purple are my thoughts and comments.
I have found that the author does like to know how their reader feels at different parts of the book. Being friends with the author… I hope that I can consider each of my authors friends. I want them to have the best product that they can have. Some people can’t tell the author that something doesn’t work if they are friends and are worried about hurting their feelings. I think, too, that the author needs to decide how they want to treat their beta readers. Each of my authors have my cell phone number just in case they need to talk through a chapter, to just bounce thoughts off, or if they have questions about my notes.
7. If an author is looking for a beta reader, how would you suggest they start the search?
Ask your friends/family to read over your story. Ask another author if they have any good beta readers that they might recommend to you. You could post a request on your FaceBook or Twitter wall.
