On being a beta

What are friends for? 

​I really enjoy is beta reading. Feedback from my betas for Gathering of the Four was essential for getting that book out into the world, so now I offer to beta read when I can as a way to pay it forward. It also helps develop mutually beneficial relationships, which are key in the writing community. 
 
I think there’s a bit of an art to being a successful beta—and giving feedback in general. 
 
Here are a few things I keep in mind whenever I beta.
 
Do:

• Read as though you picked this book up in a bookstore
• Give feedback in a constructive way by making suggestions (eg: “This paragraph might read better if you…”)
• Let the author know what they’re doing well in addition to what they could improve
• Make sure your feedback is honest but kind (eg: “This just isn’t working in my opinion. I think you might want to eliminate this because…”)
• Think about how you’d react if you were given the feedback you’re giving 
• If the MS is a DNF, explain why in the kindest way possible that could still help the writer move forward 

 
Don’t

• Be harsh for the sake of being harsh
• Tell the author their writing is terrible
• Tell the author you could write their story better than they could (Yes, I had someone say this to me once)

 
I also tend to make comments about spelling errors that Word or other writing software might not catch. Additionally, I note if something makes me uncomfortable and do my best to explain why. 
 
I’m currently beta reading two manuscripts, so I’m not open for beta reading at the moment. But if you follow me on social, you’ll know when I’m available—trust me! 
 
A Thing I Enjoyed This Week
 
For some, this might sound odd, but I was able to meet my exercise goals this week. I managed to get not one, not two, not three, but four runs in! I’m really proud of myself! So, the Thing I Enjoyed This Week is, well, me. 
 
Have a fantastic weekend, Serrulata Stories pals!