You Know You've Got the Wrong Beta Reader When . . .

Discussion in 'Revision and Editing' started by Catrin Lewis, Apr 24, 2016.

  1. Sack-a-Doo!

    Sack-a-Doo! Contributor Contributor

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    LOL! This reminds me of what Micheal Dorsey's roommate (played by Bill Murray) said in Tootsie when he found out that Dorothy Michaels was dating Julie's father, Les. :)
     
  2. DeadMoon

    DeadMoon The light side of the dark side Contributor

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    I did not even get to the Beta reader stage with one of my short stories. I told her about the story, they said that can't happen, you cant do that. I replied with "it's that lack of non in front of fiction that let's me to that."
     
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  3. GingerCoffee

    GingerCoffee Web Surfer Girl Contributor

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    I have heard the truth is stranger than fiction. ;)

    But there is something to be said when characters do things so stupid it ruins the story. If that was the issue, I can see it.
     
  4. Sack-a-Doo!

    Sack-a-Doo! Contributor Contributor

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    LOL.
    Yeah, we only get away with being that stupid in real life. :)
     
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  5. Catrin Lewis

    Catrin Lewis Contributor Contributor Contest Winner 2023 Community Volunteer

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    As one who's toyed with the idea of offering paid beta/editing services, I'm afraid (!) I wouldn't and couldn't give favorable reviews just because I was being paid. Once I understand what you're trying to do with your plot, I tend to be zealous against anything you've written that detracts from it. I also enthusiastically encourage whatever helps it go, but that's for the plot's sake, not because I want to suck up to get more $$$.

    (BTW--- if you ask me to beta-read your work, I read the whole thing, regardless of how the writing strikes me.)
     
  6. Catrin Lewis

    Catrin Lewis Contributor Contributor Contest Winner 2023 Community Volunteer

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    But to get back to the original topic . . .

    You know you have the wrong beta when, on the second page, she mistakes a restrictive clause (no commas) with a non-restrictive one, informs you you forgot the commas around the modifying phrase, and officiously tells you to follow the link she's supplied to a tutorial on How to Use Commas.

    Uh, point out the lack of commas, if you like--- not knowing the difference between restrictive and non-restrictive clauses is an oversight we all make occasionally. But hold off on assuming I'm ignorant on punctuation use till you've seen me make the same "mistake" a few more times. Otherwise I'm going to think you're looking for me to screw up. 'K?
     
    Last edited: Jul 2, 2016
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  7. Catrin Lewis

    Catrin Lewis Contributor Contributor Contest Winner 2023 Community Volunteer

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    Good. She was definitely the wrong beta for you. Better to find that out before she started reading.

    Have you tried again with other readers? You should. :agreed:
     
  8. Ettina

    Ettina Senior Member

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    I didn't get to the point of asking this girl to beta read, but whenever I described my plot to her (which involved supernatural characters in hiding among humans) she kept asking me to give it the same plot as Twilight. (Not in as many words, but she was a big fan of Twilight and every bit of advice she gave would have made it more like Twilight.) Meanwhile, what I was wanting to write was about friendship and fear leading to harmful actions, and about the complexity of identity for someone who's not entirely themselves but not completely different either.
     
  9. doggiedude

    doggiedude Contributor Contributor

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    NO! You must write it the way I want it to be!
    Here... Let me help you with that. (Grabs pen.)
     
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  10. Cave Troll

    Cave Troll It's Coffee O'clock everywhere. Contributor

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    You know you have the wrong beta when, they tell you they are going to read it and then come back a week later and say that they will not be reading it after all. :p
     
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  11. KhalieLa

    KhalieLa It's not a lie, it's fiction. Contributor

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    You know you've got the wrong beta reader when they say they won't finish the novel because they are disgusted by all the kinky dwarf sex and you immediatly wonder whose book they were reading because you didn't write any kinky dwarf sex, but you'd sure like to read some. :p
     
    Last edited: May 4, 2016
  12. doggiedude

    doggiedude Contributor Contributor

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    New on Amazon my novel -- Peggy and the Dwarf - A Love Story.
     
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  13. KhalieLa

    KhalieLa It's not a lie, it's fiction. Contributor

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    Liar--I just checked. How dare you get my hopes up like that!
     
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  14. doggiedude

    doggiedude Contributor Contributor

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  15. Masterspeler

    Masterspeler Active Member

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    You know you have the wrong beta reader when they are in love with you...
     
  16. Catrin Lewis

    Catrin Lewis Contributor Contributor Contest Winner 2023 Community Volunteer

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    So everything you do is brilliant in their eyes?
     
  17. Laurin Kelly

    Laurin Kelly Contributor Contributor

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    Not me but this happened to an author friend of mine...

    You know you have the wrong beta reader when he/she tells you that your African-American MC isn't black enough because he doesn't talk enough about his "urban" upbringing (which was never established in the first place), and that your other MC who's Hispanic would never go to a classic diner for comfort food - only a Mexican restaurant.
     
  18. A.M.P.

    A.M.P. People Buy My Books for the Bio Photo Contributor

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    @Laurin Kelly
    So racist, lol.
     
  19. Catrin Lewis

    Catrin Lewis Contributor Contributor Contest Winner 2023 Community Volunteer

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    Whoa! A little stereotyping going on there, eh?

    My novel deals with racial issues, and I've had two black beta-readers so far. Both liked the book a lot, but one pointed out that a certain black supporting character mostly appeared in scenes where racial issues were being discussed. Couldn't he be shown just being a person-person? Ouch. Well. She was right. I wrote a new chapter to deal with the problem, and it was one the plot needed anyway.

    That I call a good beta reader.
     
  20. BC Barry

    BC Barry Member

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    Exactly! Or tell you they read it, that it looks great, perfect. Then when you ask about a specific section, saying it feels fumbly to you and should it be changed to A or B. And they tell you that no, A looks great, like I already had it. Umm...those were two new options, completely different from what I'd given her. Pretty obvious she never actually read it.
     
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  21. BC Barry

    BC Barry Member

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    You know you have the wrong beta reader when he tells you it shouldn't be a cat, it should be a dog because people hate cats. She shouldn't be trying to become adopted by the humans, she should be gathering all the strays under her leadership to take over the humans and turn them into the strays' slaves. It shouldn't be a family home, it should be a marine barracks to make for good combat scenes.

    Yeah.....wrong reader.
     
  22. Brindy

    Brindy Senior Member

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    You know you have the wrong beta reader when they suggest
    Sounds an idea for a follow up book though
     
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  23. Elven Candy

    Elven Candy Pay no attention to the foot in my mouth Contributor

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    Now I want to read it . . . I love cats! That sounds like a cute story.
     
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  24. BC Barry

    BC Barry Member

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    Thank you! It's self-published on Amazon. Are we allowed to name our work on here like this? If you're really interested I'd love to hear your opinion of it. :D
     
  25. Elven Candy

    Elven Candy Pay no attention to the foot in my mouth Contributor

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    As a physical book, or kindle? I don't have a kindle. You can always PM me the book title (and the author name on it. You know, in case there's another book with the exact same title about a cat).
     
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