Guide to beta reading: from a writer to a beta

[Rachel]

I think some betas may need a little more advice to know what beta reading really requires.;) So, let's help them out!

I realize we shouldn't ask too much from beta readers, but when a beta doesn't know what he/she is doing it's a waste of time for them as well.

What do you guys look for in a beta reader (or a CP)?

I've seen lots of different approaches and I think knowing how you can handle beta reading may be helpful Here's some I like:
- Notes in the document with comments and suggestions
- Seperate notes
- One-page "review" with likes/dislikes, advice and answers to any questions.

But this is really what I look for:
- Answers to my questions (like: is this character believable?)
- Advice (like: what should I change/improve, if you don't like it?)
- Overall opinion with arguments (why did you like or dislike it?)

Some beta readers are wonderful and others just don't seem to know what is required of beta reading. I hope to help the latter realize what beta reading really is. And if it's too much, they can always decide not to do it:)

I don't know if I'm the only one who's had betas that didn't seem to know what beta reading was about. I do hope I am!

-Rachel

[Joe]

Thanks, Rachel. I'm going to hang on to this. I would like to see you add challenges and questions. One of the best comments from a reader of my first novel was that he read in one sitting on a flight home from a meeting. That gave me confidence that the plot and characters worked at least for some people. That reader also challenged me on the way one of the bad guys escaped from an FBI trap. He was right. I had to go back and make some changes to that scene. It wasn't a lot of writing but it was an important change to the book.

[Lin]

Different people will always approach beta reading differently. It can be helpful when an author gives a list of questions. If not, then the reader should at least be indicating comments like "I didn't understand..." "how did..." "I really enjoyed..." " I got bored when..." (bonus points: "because..."). "I felt xxx was realistic/unbelievable/horrible/far too nice...". And yes, it's always great to hear that they couldn't put it down :) (but not as useful as more specific feedback)