Beta Reading: What to Expect

[Mike]

In an article I ran across today by Lee Lopez, she sums up the difference between critique partners/groups, editors, and beta readers:

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Critique partners are for the actual journey of writing your story. Listen, but you don’t have do what they say.

The editor is for the middle, when you need a fresh eye. Interview them, make sure they’re on the same page as you and loves your genre. If they’ve edited any books out there, read it!!!

The beta reader, is the end, to make sure your baby is as good as it can get.
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I thought this was a neat little summation of the general roles these characters might play in your life. Still, I think we should define some fundamental concepts for use in this group.


* Don't expect your beta reader to be an editor. They'll point out blunders or solecims they notice, sure, but don't get frazzled if they miss something. This is an informal group designed to facilitate authors helping each other. This isn't a professional service run for profit -- well, except for the profit the smart authors who use this service make by improving their product!
* Don't expect a critiquing partner. While I'm sure most folks will go above and beyond, don't expect them to engage in extended conversations about your work and become long-term collaborators. Most writers are happy to help other writers, but they're busy with their own work too! Please, always be considerate of others' time, and be patient if they don't respond to your communication right away.
* Completed work only, please. Again, this isn't a critiquing circle. This is a group for beta reading of completed work -- period.
* Obey the ethic of reciprocity. If you do your best, even though others may not seem to do theirs, you will get a reputation as a 'go to' beta reader. The more people who want you to beta read their work, the more beta readers you'll have to choose from, so, yeah, karma and all that.
* Be considerate of word count. If somebody offers a single short story 1,500 words long, please think twice before offering to beta read this short story in exchange for a beta read of your epic novel consisting of 17 volumes, each 275,000 words long. Come on. Get real.
* Thou shalt not plagiarize. This goes without saying, of course, but I don't want anyone saying they weren't warned. Get caught stealing from your beta reading partner, just once, and see how quickly your reputation can be ruined on teh interwebs. Seen writers stealing before ... getting caught online. Mmm. Not pretty.
* Declining Beta Readers Without Comment Sometimes, for whatever reason, we'll know if a beta reader isn't a good fit for our work. If this happens, just quote their response to your offer with a simple "TBNT" ("Thanks, But No Thanks") and leave it at that. Done. Move on.
* OMG! I got a TBNT! What do I do!? Nothing. Don't reply, don't question why. Just move on with your writing career. You'll live. :)
* I currently don't have a finished work to beta read. If you have no finished work to beta read, you can still beta read another writer's work. If you and that author agree, you can arrange a 'rain check' beta reading of your work when it's complete; however, reciprocity is not a requirement for participation in this group (unless agreed upon by the pair beta reading each other's work, of course).


That's it for now. If any other things come up, I'll modify this post.

Thanks!