tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646134662936278718.post4709813188647881353..comments2024-03-27T23:03:58.848-06:00Comments on The Warrior Muse: Critique Partners Versus Beta ReadersShannon Lawrencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00934641808195675935noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646134662936278718.post-79226085369817698392013-11-29T22:34:51.543-07:002013-11-29T22:34:51.543-07:00Alex, that sounds like a solid crew you have there...Alex, that sounds like a solid crew you have there!<br /><br />B&B, true! I like that my main beta reader is someone who is grammatically inclined and does this for her husband's writing. Still sort of two birds...<br /><br />D.G., that sounds like a good system you two have worked out.<br /><br />Andrew, interesting, that makes sense. I've been struggling with whether to take bits of my WIP to critique group, versus one already finished. <br /><br />Al, so many terms, so little time!<br /><br />Mary, I tend to agree.<br /><br />Shelly, do they split it up or do it at the same time?<br /><br />Lisa, that makes sense. I do tend to be in different modes at once when reading, though if they've asked targeted questions I have an easier time splitting the two.<br /><br />Sharon, I wish my hubby liked to read! It would be so convenient to have my beta reader living right under my roof.<br /><br />Penny, well now, you've got a built in beta reader/critique partner.<br /><br />Susan, I like them to look for that, too. It's so easy to have it in your head and assume you got it down on paper.<br /><br />Tina, that makes sense. I'm into the grammar details. <br /><br />Maurice, could be. I'm wondering at which order (critique and beta) makes the most sense.<br /><br />Julie, hee hee, I hope it does! I'm trying to go with that, anyway, so I can pretend I know what I'm doing.<br /><br />Happy Thanksgiving!Shannon Lawrencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00934641808195675935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646134662936278718.post-22408062775947627152013-11-26T17:19:34.821-07:002013-11-26T17:19:34.821-07:00For the longest time I had no idea what the differ...For the longest time I had no idea what the difference between the two was. Still not sure I really know but I think your explanation makes sense. <br /><br />Happy Thanksgiving, Shannon!Julie Flandershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05003737491313673214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646134662936278718.post-73434279685919447092013-11-26T08:47:29.444-07:002013-11-26T08:47:29.444-07:00This is a great explanation Shannon. I would think...This is a great explanation Shannon. I would think a Beta Reader would be more useful in the early stages than a Critique Partner.Maurice Mitchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15338165486757095191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646134662936278718.post-63919900882308987782013-11-26T08:43:28.740-07:002013-11-26T08:43:28.740-07:00That's how it was explained to me, so I think ...That's how it was explained to me, so I think it's a dead-on correct explanation. I've been a beta reader, and am a critique partner, and I enjoy it. I am slow, though. The beta reading goes quickly - I love to read and since I'm not a very experienced writer yet (as in one story published, one unfinished mess of a novel)I think I qualify as beta reader. At least this writer thought so ;-) The critique is taking longer as I'm a detail person. Every little detail...<br />Tina @ <a href="http://kmdlifeisgood.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Life is Good</a>Tinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08925730745204736744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646134662936278718.post-26379564248964945252013-11-25T18:27:17.253-07:002013-11-25T18:27:17.253-07:00I like my beta reader to alert me to plot holes or...I like my beta reader to alert me to plot holes or bit mess-ups in the continuity.Susan Gourley/Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02669793865290876168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646134662936278718.post-76713439197044746742013-11-25T18:19:54.274-07:002013-11-25T18:19:54.274-07:00Hey Shannon,
For beta or worse, I note what you w...Hey Shannon,<br /><br />For beta or worse, I note what you wrote. <br /><br />I have no need for either. We would rather do our own thing and we like it that way, thank you. <br /><br />On behalf on my human, Gary,<br /><br />Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet superstar! klahaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08613505424843475639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646134662936278718.post-2169798555383953752013-11-25T16:50:42.013-07:002013-11-25T16:50:42.013-07:00This is probably the best comparison I have ever h...This is probably the best comparison I have ever heard. Lisa above is so right. Writers struggle (I sure do) with reading everything in line edit mode, which is why my husband (a reader, not a writer) is the perfect beta reader. I need to add to this list, and save the deep edits for my critique group. Thanks for spelling out the difference!Sharon Himslhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08835934582653243661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646134662936278718.post-24553462148932409482013-11-25T16:13:49.579-07:002013-11-25T16:13:49.579-07:00I agree with your assessment of the difference bet...I agree with your assessment of the difference between the two. The only problem with a critique partner also being a beta reader is that it is tough to get that first-through read overview when one is working in line editing mode. Lisa Ricard Clarohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05048410207952052295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646134662936278718.post-36294632682016878072013-11-25T15:21:46.402-07:002013-11-25T15:21:46.402-07:00The two that I have are both beta and critquers.
...The two that I have are both beta and critquers.<br /><br />Hugs and chocolate,<br />Shellyshellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09596621767297173021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646134662936278718.post-61838356014630479892013-11-25T15:16:55.064-07:002013-11-25T15:16:55.064-07:00I think you have that right. I think of beta reade...I think you have that right. I think of beta readers as readers not writers. Writers look at it very differently.M Paxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14096697282530998519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646134662936278718.post-91265059392020722762013-11-25T12:23:26.974-07:002013-11-25T12:23:26.974-07:00There was a time a thought Beta and Critic was the...There was a time a thought Beta and Critic was the same. I wasn't sure what was the difference. I asked a friend and he told me the explanation you're giving me. I find it logic.Al Diazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08107619009321980764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646134662936278718.post-52005320612231868802013-11-25T11:04:10.113-07:002013-11-25T11:04:10.113-07:00In addition, a CP is someone that may look at piec...In addition, a CP is someone that may look at pieces of your manuscript as you work on it, in effect, an alpha reader. <br /><br />In theory, a beta should only ever see the completed manuscript. The beta, as in video games, is someone there to catch an errors that may have been passed over. They're looking for the "bugs" in your book.Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646134662936278718.post-82586892329946329802013-11-25T09:04:22.664-07:002013-11-25T09:04:22.664-07:00Your definitions agree with how I interpret the tw...Your definitions agree with how I interpret the two, Shannon. We need both opinions for a complete assessment of whether a story is working on not.<br /><br />I have to send my critique partner some new writing to review after November ends. She is an excellent editor and beta reads first, so she blurs the line as well. I'm so glad we met online during a writing class. She also writes scifi but isn't concentrating on that right now.D.G. Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06213237734772028645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646134662936278718.post-84179600169867292432013-11-25T07:40:14.904-07:002013-11-25T07:40:14.904-07:00Those sound like the correct definitions to me. As...Those sound like the correct definitions to me. As for us, we don't have beta readers. We have people that are more of the two combined. I mean, while you're in there, why NOT tell us what you think about the characters, the story arc, if you find any grammar/spelling errors, etc? Kill two birds with one stone.A Beer for the Showerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17029139745335325356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646134662936278718.post-14002764739727948432013-11-25T07:02:26.057-07:002013-11-25T07:02:26.057-07:00I think those are perfect definitions. I have two ...I think those are perfect definitions. I have two test readers who are just readers and look at the overall story, plus three critique partners who are writers and they tackle it like an editor.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.com