Unusual Suspects of the Beta Reading Realm

We love to hate them and want to need them. They are the bane of every writer’s existence. The simple fact remains, though, you just can’t do this whole writing thing without them. They bring an objective and quite often a creative point of view to the writing process that you need in order to have a well written manuscript. As writers, we get too close to our own work. So, what do you do?

Enter, beta readers.

There are many different kinds of beta readers, and they are not all created equal. They should not be a single use item, but rather an artifact to hold onto for dear life. I would suggest approaching beta readers as though you are assembling the perfect team. A team that you can keep around the entirety of your writing career.

Keep them secret, keep them safe.

The main issue you will come to see is that there are so many types it is hard to know what you are getting until the job is already underway. This can change the way you go about interpreting their feedback. Below you will find some the most common types of beta readers along with the guise they will usually appear under.

1.      The Punisher – We all know this one. Everything you have done is wrong. Why are you even writing? Why are you presenting me with something that is so far away from being completed that it hurts my eyes? They will read it. Oh, yes, they will read it. Every. Word. And there will be so many comments and red squiggly lines that you have no idea what to do with yourself. All you can really do is pull out Ice. Stare aimlessly out into the cold of the North and proclaim that winter is coming.

GUISE: Unknown beta reader; Three to four degrees of separation.

2.      The Grammar Nazi – Now, we all know that there is a place for correcting grammar. That usually takes place in the self-edit or when you submit your work to your editor. It doesn’t necessarily take place in the beta reading stages. But lo and behold, here they come. You won’t realize how many people have an English degree until they start dissecting your manuscript sentence by sentence. Or as they may say, sentence fragment by sentence fragment.

GUISE: College graduate; two to three degrees of separation.

3.      The Pulitzer Prize Winner – And here they are. The only beta reader you will ever need. This is the god of the English language. This is the person who has done it all. They have several published works and are an expert in their field. They will give you advice on everything from grammar to writing a query letter. They have blogs and videos and are always the first to tell you the industry standard for anything.

Upon further review, you actually come to find out they are little known and have absolutely no reason to actually know what they are talking about.

GUISE: Family or close friend.

4.      The Quitter – “I’m sorry. I got through the first paragraph, and I just wasn’t hooked. I can’t continue.”

Need I say more? I would, but I can’t get past this first paragraph.

GUISE: Really anyone who didn’t want to read your manuscript in the first place. If you had to persist, even a little, then congratulations you caught a Quitter.

5.      The Fan Girl – This will be the first true fan you have. You can do no wrong with your story or your characters. They are here for the long haul. Through the good and the bad, and the thick and the thin. They love your characters. They love the setting. But most importantly, they want to crowd surf at your concerts and get an autographed copy of your novel first.

GUISE: Stranger acting like family or close friend.

6.      The Yes Man – “I loved it.” Well what about—. “I LOVED IT!” Awesome. But in this scene—. “I LOVED IT SO MUCH!”

We all know this person. We all love this person, but if we are being honest, they don’t help when it comes to actually getting your manuscript into tip top shape. They are going to tell you that your manuscript is the greatest thing that they have ever read. While this is good for your ego, it isn’t good for your readers.

GUISE: Family or close friend.

7.      The Chosen One – I saved the best for last. This is the one that we all want. The one we all deserve. The one who is prompt. Praises the good, but also brings up the bad in an uplifting way. They may even offer suggestions for fixing issues. They are polite and professional. If you get one of these, hold on to them for dear life. One of the above six are lurking around the next corner.

GUISE: #WritingCommunity member; Paid beta reader; Goodreads Beta Reading group member.

Now that you are fully informed, get out there and find you some great beta readers. Is there a type of beta reader that I missed? Let me know below.