Always quirky, sometimes sweet speculative fiction

Beta-Reading: Handing Over The Critique

At first glance this picture has no relation to this post, but the figure was a gift from the writer's wife. Squee, Loki!

At first glance this picture has no relation to this post, but the figure was a gift from the writer’s wife. Squee, Loki!

You might remember my post last month on beta-reading and how for the first time I was beta-reading a novel for one of my critique group friends. Last night he held a small dinner and gathered all of us (his beta-readers) together so we could give him our thoughts and critiques and he rewarded us with nommy chilli-dogs.

Being that this was my first beta-reading I’m not certain if this is the standard format for returning a beta-reading critique, but I can assure you it was a fun one. A table of avid readers and writers discussing the finer points of the novel, occasionally breaking off onto mad and hilarious tangents, ideas building on each other collectively – the whole experience was organic and enjoyable.

The experience felt very much like when I attend our writers’ group, and since I adore our writers’ group it was hard not to have fun (while learning).

I feel a lot can be learned from being a beta-reader. Maybe not as much as may be learned when your own work is being beta-read, but listening to the other readers’ responses seeing points I had not picked up or my own points reiterated helps me with my ability to critique both others work and my own.

As a writer, I recommend to any other writers out there that if you have the chance to join a critique group or beta-read a fellow author’s work, take it, because you will be growing as a writer yourself in doing so as well as assisting another writer in improving their own work. As I said in my last post: writers are lovely people and who doesn’t want the opportunity to grow whilst helping someone else?

3 Comments

  1. Belinda

    I was bummed I couldn’t make it last night. My beta copy should get to the author on Monday. Hopefully my opinions were similar to everyone else. Damn good book. It’ll be one to rave about when it finally gets published.
    Belinda recently posted..2012 in reviewMy Profile

    • Kirstie

      It was a great book, I’m looking forward to buying it and making him sign it for me. I’m also hoping I get to beta-read the whole series ;p

  2. Althea Young

    Dealing and mingling with other person is really help to become better person like in writing if you are going to talk to the writers you will learn a lot of things.

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