When NOT to use a beta?

IMO, the only time it's best not to use a beta is if the beta in question sucks (clueless/rude/often incommunicado/etc). I can think of a lot of famous writers who really should have kept using theirs... so beta + editor.

As a fellow genre-hopper, I recommend doing time with a good, diverse crit group. I'm paranoid, so my crit group shall never see my erotica, but a few years ago I did catch one of those mythical creatures: a non-writer beta who begs to read my work. Now most of my stuff, including all my self-pubbed erotica, goes through him. He's like a mini focus group. Very useful. I worry that he'll gnaw through the ropes and get away.

So if you must have an omnivorous beta, try a non-writer, especially if you don't need a lot of hand holding and are good at unraveling the reason behind the complaint. Truly diverse writer-betas with free time are freaking hard to find, and ones with free time tend to be even flakier than the average writer. That's just my experience, so no one yell at me.

I think that a crit group is the way to go.

I have a critique partner, but I don't ask him to read every story I write. It's not really viable as a short story writer. For novels, I'd want someone reading it though (but I don't write six novels a month, so that's not an issue for me).

Maryn said:

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A lot of the betas I've had were poor matches for the material. Many thought they read the genre, erotica, but did not. (They read erotic romance.) Others did not have language skills and marked writing mechanics which were correct as wrong. Some wanted to revise the story as it would be if they had written it. Others apparently wanted a different story altogether. And a few were never heard from again, undoubtedly unable to get into it but not willing to tell me so, much less why.

So when I find a good beta, I don't want to overwhelm him or her by turning over everything I write, especially if they're not writing as much and the exchange can't be anything like even. It's just asking too much.
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This. Forgoing a beta reader is better than being subjected to a bad one, IMHO. I'm fortunate to have a handful of beta readers who are willing to read across genres and who offer constructive criticism in a palatable (polite) fashion. They all possess strong writing skills to include the basic mechanics, but also the ability to recognize and appreciate differences in voice, style, etc. I've also had the misfortune to experience a few crit partners who were just plain rude or who, as Maryn pointed out, merely wanted to "revise the story as it would be if they had written it."

I personally think beta readers are invaluable and you should cherish the really good ones. A good crit partner will not only critique your work but can also help you brainstorm new ideas and keep you motivated. They're also there to pick you up after that stinging rejection.

I enjoy the process and swap projects with my partners on a fairly regular basis. Both critiquing and getting critiqued will improve your writing. You can always "test drive" a potential beta by swapping a chapter or two and making a deal to return them on the same day at the same time.

I've had a bad beta. She told me to get rid of a good chunk of my internal dialogue. Fast forward to now and thankfully I have a copy of that story before I met her, but I'm backed two years now. There are tons of betas/people who think their way is law. Like Maryn said, some think they read your genre, but don't.

It's always best to get a second pair of eyes, but I wouldn't say it's necessary. If you're in doubt, get one. If you think it's solid, maybe you're fine.

Not all beta's are created equal, nor should they be...

c.m.n. said:

Thanks for the replies so far.
I'd love to find a dedicated beta, but haven't had too much luck there. But I have had some wonderful beta's so far. I just feel like I'm asking too much since I finish a new story once every 3-4 months.

The last beta, though, said she was good a grammar and everything but she only left a random comment every 3 or 4 pages. Delete a comma here, change a word there... really didn't help anything and I don't think I'll share the rest of my ms.
Maybe I'll stick with the critique group I joined recently.

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It sounds like you're looking for an editor not a beta. It's hard to find a beta willing to correct every grammatical mistake in a manuscript.

For most of my writing career I never used a beta. It's there as an option, not an obligation.

Originally Posted by c.m.n.
Thanks for the replies so far.
I'd love to find a dedicated beta, but haven't had too much luck there. But I have had some wonderful beta's so far. I just feel like I'm asking too much since I finish a new story once every 3-4 months.

The last beta, though, said she was good a grammar and everything but she only left a random comment every 3 or 4 pages. Delete a comma here, change a word there... really didn't help anything and I don't think I'll share the rest of my ms.
Maybe I'll stick with the critique group I joined recently.

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meowzbark said:

It sounds like you're looking for an editor not a beta. It's hard to find a beta willing to correct every grammatical mistake in a manuscript.

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I think what c.m.n. meant is that she would have liked a beta reader who focused on elements such as overall plot issues, pacing, character development, and voice but instead found a beta who only focused on grammatical issues, which wasn't very helpful to her. She wants a critique partner and not an editor. I would have to agree. As writers, we should be able to identify and correct our own grammatical or spelling errors, although the occasional one will get past even the most meticulous person. (So it's nice for a beta reader to highlight those.)

If you need a line by line critique, as in your MS is chock full of grammatical or spelling errors, the project isn't ready for a beta reader*. However, some beta readers will line edit or change elements to suit their personal preferences. As Maryn pointed out earlier, there's nothing worse than someone rewriting your work to match their own voice and style. So it's therefore important that you clearly outline what you want from the beta partnership. And for this type of partnership to work, your manuscript should be polished. It's always a good idea to swap a few chapters so you have an idea as to the beta's critiquing style. Then you can decide whether to go forward with a full MS critique.

IMHO, an ideal beta reader is more of a partner who reads your manuscript and gives you feedback regarding what they feel works and what may not work with regard to plot (any holes?), pacing (is it appropriate for the genre or overall?), character development (are my characters one-dimensional?), voice (do I have one? ), dialogue (is it flat?). etc. A good beta will tell you if you accomplished a specific set of goals and brainstorm ideas with you. If you're really fortunate, a beta reader will also point out any bad habits you repeat throughout the manuscript such as a tendency to use past perfect or a reliance on adverbs to bolster your dialogue. In short, a keeper is someone you can trust to provide feedback that will improve your MS and has your best interests at heart.

*On a side note, there are beta readers who are willing to help with grammar/spelling issues and there's nothing wrong with that. Some beta readers find that identifying grammatical problems actually improves their own writing. But I'm defining a beta reader as more of a writing partner and feel it's important that both parties are well matched when it comes to mechanics.