tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000518581959626200.post304785025246152906..comments2023-10-26T06:33:50.775-05:00Comments on E.J. Wesley, Author: Beta Reading = Better WritingAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273059558675234923noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000518581959626200.post-16140531777971837052011-08-21T07:06:46.072-05:002011-08-21T07:06:46.072-05:00This is a fantastic post. Very informative. I'...This is a fantastic post. Very informative. I've just linked to it in my latest post, which is a call out for beta readers.Cally Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08313803959936813426noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000518581959626200.post-11913158983752021762011-08-17T09:46:14.230-05:002011-08-17T09:46:14.230-05:00Excellent post! Great tips for writers and readers...Excellent post! Great tips for writers and readers alike. Thanks!Becky Wallacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02880501542510014819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000518581959626200.post-81161046113343850832011-08-16T09:38:54.539-05:002011-08-16T09:38:54.539-05:00I really like beta-reading. Beta reading really h...I really like beta-reading. Beta reading really helped me make the final step to get my own draft to a readable point. Reading the work of someone I knew and had been writing with for a year gave me the confidence that I could do it too. Also my writing group really wanted to read my work too.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18226974782422398270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000518581959626200.post-62924378603131467702011-08-16T09:04:27.194-05:002011-08-16T09:04:27.194-05:00I haven't been a Beta reader (nor requested an...I haven't been a Beta reader (nor requested any readers) but have had people offer to read my work.... I think it's a great idea, but I need to be absolutely ready for anything of mine to be read -- then it goes to my husband first off. I am also incredibly cautious about offering to read anything because I would want to give it my all and I have very very little spare time. Still I love the idea and the philosophy behind it and I hope to give it a try sometime soon!Julia Munroe Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09798422149542791454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000518581959626200.post-73806039620099619272011-08-16T00:19:03.111-05:002011-08-16T00:19:03.111-05:00I recently did my first Beta read and it was an ey...I recently did my first Beta read and it was an eye-opening experience. I learned something from it and I hope it was of value to the author who is writing the novel. I feel like I will have been part of the creative process.<br /><br />Lee<br /><a href="http://tossingitout.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Tossing It Out</a>Arlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000518581959626200.post-43657573678691662332011-08-15T10:23:45.037-05:002011-08-15T10:23:45.037-05:00I do a lot of beta reading for fellow students in ...I do a lot of beta reading for fellow students in my MFA program. The process HAS given me a more critical eye, made me a better writer. It's good stuff, the beta reading.Anitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06333494452915600562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000518581959626200.post-11870327480420166712011-08-15T09:42:50.316-05:002011-08-15T09:42:50.316-05:00I am lucky to have my husband as my first reader w...I am lucky to have my husband as my first reader without it endangering our relationship at all. We have the same tastes and think the same way. He basically IS my target audience. And he knows if he was anything less than 100% honest with me I would never forgive him so I couldn't ask for a better arrangement. :)Sarah McCabehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10985261436020635823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000518581959626200.post-21837351215456954782011-08-15T09:39:30.311-05:002011-08-15T09:39:30.311-05:00This is all so true! I'd love to have some be...This is all so true! I'd love to have some beta readers who could really help me figure out what is and isn't working in my novels. But the very fact that I can't figure these things out on my own makes me a less-than-useful beta reader myself. It's kind of a vicious circle: if I was a good enough critical reader to find what works and what doesn't, I'd be much more capable of fixing my own stories. I'm betting you're right, though, that the more you practice it the better, and I'm sure I could learn a lot from reading other people's works in progress!Susanna Leonard Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17655630528649780363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000518581959626200.post-45827582258873424572011-08-15T08:09:08.024-05:002011-08-15T08:09:08.024-05:00Great post, EJ!
The bottom line is that you must ...Great post, EJ!<br /><br />The bottom line is that you must give in order to receive. And it feels really good to help someone else polish a manuscript that you believe in almost as much as they do.Vicki Tremperhttp://www.vbtremper.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000518581959626200.post-17284622794149970692011-08-14T21:58:51.153-05:002011-08-14T21:58:51.153-05:00Very thorough post!
Beta reading is time consuming...Very thorough post!<br />Beta reading is time consuming, but you are going to need one, so it's best to help others out too. I also think I learn from others by beta reading. By seeing what strengthens their story, it will help strenghten my future story. I also like reading stories anyway so win-win!Kelly Polarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10968381456100611120noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000518581959626200.post-88086182177452982752011-08-14T20:37:34.098-05:002011-08-14T20:37:34.098-05:00I don't call it beta reading, but I have three...I don't call it beta reading, but I have three critique partners and I've critiqued/read at least one thing from each of them. (I also have two 'test readers' who aren't writers who read my work.) I really wasn't sure how I would do as a critique partner, as I miss things in my own work and didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings. But the more you do it, the better you become.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000518581959626200.post-16584542428796440002011-08-14T20:18:44.746-05:002011-08-14T20:18:44.746-05:00If you can beta read for others, it helps you with...If you can beta read for others, it helps you with your own MS.shellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09596621767297173021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000518581959626200.post-89096151030619320192011-08-14T17:03:47.654-05:002011-08-14T17:03:47.654-05:00In spite of 25 years as a published author, I'...In spite of 25 years as a published author, I'm a truly crappy beta reader. I'm not even good at editing my own work, possibly because I have the attention span of a fruit fly.Normahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12685538277690762655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000518581959626200.post-5090461872071251022011-08-14T14:49:55.928-05:002011-08-14T14:49:55.928-05:00I alpha read for Steph Schmidt and have been enjoy...I alpha read for Steph Schmidt and have been enjoying it and having input on her manuscript. I also help out with Misha when I can. She tried to unload 500 pages though on me and needed it done in three weeks and I told her no. I later clarified that I'd help here with the 500 pages just not all in three weeks time...holy cow. I think she gave up on that as it's an enormous task (the three week thing) and has settled back down and will start sending me chapters again. I like helping out other writers. But I've actually not had the opportunity to beta read yet. It sounds intriguing...commenting on essentially an almost finished manuscript. Instead I usually have been handed very rough first drafts and this is where my editing skills come in much more handy. Sure, I get some beta reading in there but fixing the errors I find kinda dulls the overall experience.Michael Offutt, Phantom Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557969104886174930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000518581959626200.post-893656007570523832011-08-14T13:53:56.880-05:002011-08-14T13:53:56.880-05:00Great post. You can't underestimate the value ...Great post. You can't underestimate the value of a good beta reader. It's the only way to learn how to write well. And to get a good read, you need to be able to reciprocate. Sounds as if you're having a productive summer.Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.com