In a guest post on Jane Friedman’s blog, editor Kris Spisak says that writers looking for a beta reader should go find other writers looking for a beta reader.
Why?
“Because helping each other is always a good thing (you’re not the only one with this dream!),” Spisak says, “and because the more you practice your editing skills, the stronger you will become as a writer.”
Reading to critique is a different experience – and skillset – than reading for pleasure. The process is educational for both parties. “The revision process is often a less-examined segment of the writer’s life, yet we need practice here too,” Spisak writes. “The more we examine entry points into stories and what is working and what isn’t, the more our own storytelling finds its footing. The more we analyze someone else’s closing pages, the better we understand resolutions and the art of tying up all necessary threads.”
How can you be a great beta reader? Spisak has some suggestions:
- Point out the good, not just the areas that need work.
- Highlight points where you were confused as a reader or where the story dragged
- Ask questions about character motivation and plot twists, when needed
- Remember: you can be honest and supportive at the same time
- Don’t try to rewrite the story your way.
