What is a Beta Reader?

Well, we all know that the Alpha Reader is the writer. I can vouch for that. I’ve read my work over and over again until I can’t tell where the good ends and the bad takes over. At that point when I’ve looked and removed everything I can see, I need a Beta Reader.

The Beta Reader I need is someone to read my work and rip it apart. I want to hear about everything I was too blind to see, The parts that I automatically back filled so that I understand it all, but to anyone else it is unconnected and confusing. I’m looking for plot holes, the typos, the punctuation errors that I just can’t see anymore, have I mentioned repetitiveness, and anything else that makes my writing suck.

So that’s it. A Beta Reader is what I cannot be for myself a person not afraid to tell me how it is and help me ready my work for submission. I can’t afford to have someone read my work and rave about how wonderful I am. (Don’t get me started on that—everyone loves me.:-)) I want the truth before it is accepted for publication, because once out there the reviewers will do what the beta, and editors did not.

If I disappoint my readers, then I deserve the reviewer’s scorn. And I’ll take it like an author. But  not before I do my best to clean up my work and make it the best I’ve done to date. It is what my readers deserve.

Anyone that thinks they can do that should comment. If a Beta Reader is accepted, understand this is a special place in the writing process. It is a place of trust, and that whatever is read cannot be shared with anyone. Only the writer of the work will hear/read your opinions.

Can you do this? Can you be trusted? If you think so then comment with your contact information. And I’ll consider you for my next writing project. Looking forward to hearing from you and thank you for dropping by the blog.

Without you, the blogosphere is a empty and lonely place. 🙂