Becoming a Beta Reader

[Marjorie]

I am a reviewer. Every book I read I review. I am interested in becoming a beta reader but not sure what it entails and what it is about. What is needed and what it involves. Can someone let me know what is a beta reader? I know it sounds dumb but I really don't know what a beta reader is. Thanks
Marjorie
my email is mbsplce@charter.net this is where you will for sure get me :)

[Angela]

Sent you a message to email address above.

[Martyn]

Beta-reader is reading a beta version of a book (a polished draft of a manuscript inches from publication), where the beta reader provides feedback straight to the author in order to improve the work prior to publication.

Me, I ask betas to give me their emotional response to the work: does the scene work? were you bored/horrified/elated/sad? were there passages/scenes that you wanted to skip? Was the pace too fast/too slow/dragging? Et cetera.

If you want to try your hand at that, I have a book that I'll need more betas for. Updates on my blog...

[Renee E]

I tend to use my beta readers differently, sending them sections to read as I go, after the section is written and edited. I want any reactions they have, even "there's an unclosed quote on page 77" if they happen to see it. Different beta readers catch different things and have different feedback. A couple of them are writers themselves, one an English major.

[Lance]

Renee wrote: "I tend to use my beta readers differently, sending them sections to read as I go, after the section is written and edited..."

That's what critique groups are for. What you're missing is a reader's experience with the complete story -- continuity, pace, tone and character development, things you can't see effectively when looking at only a few pages at a time. You can end up with a novel in which individual pieces work okay, but the whole thing doesn't hang together.

[Marjorie]

Thank you Lance for the information. I appreciate it so much.
Marjorie

[R.]

Currently, I use three different Betas. All of them focus on something different. One is great at catching word choice, and all of them give me feedback on character development, as well as what they would like to see happen. I don't want my betas to have to focus on editing at all. Though they point that out as well. One is great at giving suggestions at what could be added to the story to beef up word count. Betas' suggestions, help see what readers may be looking for. And if a Beta says, "It's good, I really liked the story and can't wait for more." I don't use them again because that's not what I'm looking for. Overall, I expect a Beta to provide constructive criticism.

[Renee E]

Lance wrote: "..."That's what critique groups are for. What you're missing is a reader's experience with the complete story -- continuity, pace, tone and character development, things you can't see effectively when looking at only a few pages at a time. You can end up with a novel in which individual pieces work okay, but the whole thing doesn't hang together."

I do belong to a crit group.

So far my betas have really been more insightful though, than all but a couple of the crit group. Once the story is in its entirety and mostly edited, the betas are all eager to read it again, and their familiarity with it will let them read it with a more critical eye.

But that's just me. I don't have a reputation for doing things "by the book." ;-) That "think outside the box" business? Why would you get in the sillydamn box in the first place?

[Marjorie]

R. wrote: "Currently, I use three different Betas. All of them focus on something different. One is great at catching word choice, and all of them give me feedback on character development, as well as what th..."
Thank you R. I appreciate your help. Marjorie