My Experience with Beta Readers
Angel M.B. Chadwick
I've decided to not use more than one beta reader. I've had too many betas reading and critiquing my novel "Weeping Well." There is a such thing as too many cooks in the kitchen and of course that causes chaos because everyone has different opinions and sometimes those opinions clash with other beta readers. I tried to follow their suggestions, opinions, etc. making those corrections, but, it just ended up a total mess.
It was like having too many voices in my head and it was causing me great distress. I decided to let multiple betas read my work to get an overall feel, sort of a preview of what my readers would think of my novel after it's released. I was obviously overzealous with this idea.
Also I had many of the betas, (except for one Deb Rhodes her website is:
http://debdobalina.wixsite.com/better...
who I will definitely use again) were not familiar with the material or subject matter such as cultural, colloquial terms, my writing style, spelling, grammar from particular regions, etc.
I think betas need to research the material and subject matter, etc. of the author's work, even biographical things about the author because that also plays a part in the author's written work, ask the author about biographical things that aren't mentioned in their Goodreads Author bios, before writing the final report of the critique of the author's work.
Also all the betas, (except for Deb Rhodes) were not thorough with their critiques of my novel, if you find inconsistencies in my novel give me a detailed and very thorough report of all the inconsistencies and errors don't just name a few and be vague about the rest. It makes me as the author unable to thoroughly fix the problems.
Also the betas, (except for Deb Rhodes) were not consistent with keeping in contact with me. I would email them whether it was to ask a question or etc. and I would get no answer back. Also all the betas, (except for Deb Rhodes) misrepresented their skills and what they said they can do as betas on their websites, at least when they were critiquing my work.
Also when I told them specifically what I wanted done for my manuscript they failed to follow directions or maybe they forgot what I actually wanted done. This has been my experience with beta readers.
I've decided to not use more than one beta reader. I've had too many betas reading and critiquing my novel "Weeping Well." There is a such thing as too many cooks in the kitchen and of course that causes chaos because everyone has different opinions and sometimes those opinions clash with other beta readers. I tried to follow their suggestions, opinions, etc. making those corrections, but, it just ended up a total mess.
It was like having too many voices in my head and it was causing me great distress. I decided to let multiple betas read my work to get an overall feel, sort of a preview of what my readers would think of my novel after it's released. I was obviously overzealous with this idea.
Also I had many of the betas, (except for one Deb Rhodes her website is:
http://debdobalina.wixsite.com/better...
who I will definitely use again) were not familiar with the material or subject matter such as cultural, colloquial terms, my writing style, spelling, grammar from particular regions, etc.
I think betas need to research the material and subject matter, etc. of the author's work, even biographical things about the author because that also plays a part in the author's written work, ask the author about biographical things that aren't mentioned in their Goodreads Author bios, before writing the final report of the critique of the author's work.
Also all the betas, (except for Deb Rhodes) were not thorough with their critiques of my novel, if you find inconsistencies in my novel give me a detailed and very thorough report of all the inconsistencies and errors don't just name a few and be vague about the rest. It makes me as the author unable to thoroughly fix the problems.
Also the betas, (except for Deb Rhodes) were not consistent with keeping in contact with me. I would email them whether it was to ask a question or etc. and I would get no answer back. Also all the betas, (except for Deb Rhodes) misrepresented their skills and what they said they can do as betas on their websites, at least when they were critiquing my work.
Also when I told them specifically what I wanted done for my manuscript they failed to follow directions or maybe they forgot what I actually wanted done. This has been my experience with beta readers.
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T.K.
(new)
Jan 27, 2016 06:01PM
I share your experience.
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T.K. wrote: "I share your experience."Thanks, that's good to know!
Yes, your experience is consistent with mine as well. Like a dummy, with my first novel I waited months for feedback, much of which I didn't end up getting. I've learned to skip the beta readers except for my husband, who is wonderful about doing it, even though my genre (middle grade/YA) is not something he normally reads.Whenever I hear people talking about all the help they got from their early readers I really wonder. Either they know people I don't or they're exaggerating.
:)
Paula wrote: "Yes, your experience is consistent with mine as well. Like a dummy, with my first novel I waited months for feedback, much of which I didn't end up getting. I've learned to skip the beta readers ex..."I think the ones that say that are younger authors who don't know any better and are happy for anyone to read and give feedback on their book even a crappy beta reader. Which I find out that is nearly 100% true.
People get so desperate and don't consider the quality of the beta reader their choosing to read their work and give inexperienced feedback on it before it's published. There are very few quality beta readers out there. Whether free betas or paid betas, which I've tried both they're not always the best to have critiquing your work.
Paula wrote: "Yes, your experience is consistent with mine as well. Like a dummy, with my first novel I waited months for feedback, much of which I didn't end up getting. I've learned to skip the beta readers ex..."Good to know there are others who share in my frustration.
