Boys and girls, are their critiques different?

Del · Oct 26, 2006

I've just had a revelation. All of my beta readers have been female, except one. Whereas everyone's input differed somewhat, I have been wondering if I should have more male critiques.

The genre' is horror/thriller/paranormal/new age/romance tragedy/other etc.

The MC is a girl of 18 but this isn't chick-lit by any means.

I've just not found that many guys interested in reading (I've used up all my friends in that one guy mentioned earlier). Does it really matter?

veinglory · Oct 26, 2006

Are they females that read a lot of whatever genre your book would be shelved under? Because that's the type of reader you want IMHO, male or female.

Simon Woodhouse · Oct 26, 2006

I read something the other day that said women tend to read more fiction than men. Bearing that in mind, perhaps you don't need to worry too much about having mostly female critters.

Do you know what market your book might be aimed at? Have you got an idea in mind as to the sort of person who might like to read it? If you see your audience as being predominately female, then having critters of the same gender is probably a good thing.

chartreuse · Oct 26, 2006

My critique group is made up of several women and one guy. We're trying to get more males in the group, because we'd really like to have more male input regarding our male characters' motivations, actions, etc.

I personally would recommend trying to get as many readers as possible from both genders, so that you get feedback on as many aspects of the book as possible.

Maryn · Oct 26, 2006

Delarege said:
The genre' is horror/thriller/paranormal/new age/romance tragedy/other etc. The MC is a girl of 18 but this isn't chick-lit by any means.

It sounds to me like your audience is likely to be overwhelmingly female, in which case having nearly all your betas be female should not cause a problem.

That said, my own WIP has a mostly-female target audience, and my lone male critic--the one who doesn't really go for this stuff--is the one giving me the most useful feedback on the writing itself.

I suspect this is happening not because he's a better, more thorough critic but because he's not caught up in the story and characters. The bare bones of my writing, including its many flaws, show through to him in a way they do not to the women.

Maybe it would serve you well to swap beta reads with someone who isn't your typical audience.

Maryn, who will search for ly forevermore

Sassenach · Oct 26, 2006

Delarege said:
The genre' is horror/thriller/paranormal/new age/romance tragedy/other etc.

What? Are you describing your WIP or am I confused?

Jack_Roberts · Oct 26, 2006

That’s ironic to me. My MC is a ten-year-old girl but all my beta readers (those are people you have critique it, right?) were male. I should have used more female.

Sunshine13 · Oct 26, 2006

My ms is fantasy (possibly epic fantasy but I really am not sure what makes it fall under that....) anyway, I have the ratio 50/50.

aghast · Oct 26, 2006

if your target audiences are males get more male betas and if your targets are females you are fine but if your targets are both men and women get more men, i think your betas should reflect your target readers

Linda Adams · Oct 26, 2006

I've just had a revelation. All of my beta readers have been female, except one. Whereas everyone's input differed somewhat, I have been wondering if I should have more male critiques.

It sounds like your book might be written more for women (paranormal and romance are generally for women). It may be hard to get useful critiques from men if that's the case. Co-writer and I have been fighting an uphill battle with critiques because of this. We're doing an action-adventure thriller for women, and our critique group is mostly male. Every time ours comes up, we seem to run into a wall with the guys. We've run the gamut of having one guy be really angry and hostile at a book written for girls to another guy asking his girlfriend for help on the critique to another guy telling us to get rid of of all the "fae humor"--and when told it was girl humor, he stated that he had asked all the women he knew and they said it wasn't funny. Yet, all the women who have read it have enjoyed it and had far less passionate comments on it.

I've just not found that many guys interested in reading (I've used up all my friends in that one guy mentioned earlier). Does it really matter?

If your book is indeed written for women, pay close attention to what agents you submit it to. Do lots of research into what they're buying to make sure you're a good fit.

Del · Oct 26, 2006

Sassenach said:
What? Are you describing your WIP or am I confused?

Well, I consider it a work complete, but since it is as yet unpublished it may be a WIP.

Does it make a difference?

Del · Oct 26, 2006

ChristaCarol13 said:
My ms is fantasy (possibly epic fantasy but I really am not sure what makes it fall under that....) anyway, I have the ratio 50/50.

So, how do their suggestions compare? Is either gender more likely get a "thanks but I'll do it my way" from you?

Del · Oct 26, 2006

aghast said:
if your target audiences are males get more male betas and if your targets are females you are fine but if your targets are both men and women get more men, i think your betas should reflect your target readers

Good point. Know anyone?

PeeDee · Oct 26, 2006

There is a difference 'cuz girls are meaner.

Yeah.

Otherwise, I haven't noticed a difference. Then again, by pure happenstance, more of my readers tend to be of the female pursuasion (a redundant phrase if I ever heard one) so I don't notice.

Cat Scratch · Oct 26, 2006

I've had an equal number of male/female beta readers, and the critiquing styles are as varied as the individuals. In other words, it makes no difference if they are male or female. There is no "Guys do it this way, girls do it that way."

expatbrat · Oct 26, 2006

I'm not sure about critiques but I would say that men and women defiantly enjoy reading different things. Women will love something men find dull and women will dislike some of the stuff men love (like high action fights etc). This is an extention of how we like different things on TV and different movies.

Like someone said above – as long as the people critiquing your work are in the target readership then the ratios should not be a problem.

Sassenach · Oct 26, 2006

Delarege said:
Well, I consider it a work complete, but since it is as yet unpublished it may be a WIP.

Does it make a difference?

I meant the multiple genres you said it was.

Del · Oct 26, 2006

But I didn't know I was writing for women.

Boys and girls, are their critiques different?

Del

Sky isn't falling, ground is rising

veinglory

volitare nequeo

Simon Woodhouse

chartreuse

Maryn

I Tried

Sassenach

5 W's & an H

Jack_Roberts

Scribe of my muse, Annabelle

Sunshine13

Mom by day, writer by night!

aghast

Linda Adams

Soldier, Storyteller

Del

Sky isn't falling, ground is rising

Del

Sky isn't falling, ground is rising

Del

Sky isn't falling, ground is rising

PeeDee

Where's my tea, please...?

Cat Scratch

The Peacock Next Door

expatbrat

Look what we made:

Sassenach

5 W's & an H

Del

Sky isn't falling, ground is rising