More beta-reading links
Monday, March 7th, 2011 11:43 amThis time, it's a round-up from the pros.
Holly Lisle on The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly, or How to Choose a Writers' Group. A lot of good advice there, but the best is probably at the very end: "When you get home, do you want to write, or do you want to become an accountant?" If only I'd applied that to my ex-group sooner... well, a lot of things would be different.
The Practical Meerkat on Writers' Groups Vs Beta Readers vs Going Solo. Most notable for the simple but vital observation that beta reading is "not a job for the casual reader, who may love your work but not be able – or willing – to clarify what they don't think works, and why." Speaking of my ex-writing-group.
Also, this Pat Wrede post. The post is not about beta-reading as such, but comment #6 does illustrate one of my mandatory requirements for a beta: Must be able to tell a cat from a dog.
Holly Lisle on The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly, or How to Choose a Writers' Group. A lot of good advice there, but the best is probably at the very end: "When you get home, do you want to write, or do you want to become an accountant?" If only I'd applied that to my ex-group sooner... well, a lot of things would be different.
The Practical Meerkat on Writers' Groups Vs Beta Readers vs Going Solo. Most notable for the simple but vital observation that beta reading is "not a job for the casual reader, who may love your work but not be able – or willing – to clarify what they don't think works, and why." Speaking of my ex-writing-group.
Also, this Pat Wrede post. The post is not about beta-reading as such, but comment #6 does illustrate one of my mandatory requirements for a beta: Must be able to tell a cat from a dog.