Thank you. As someone who voluntarily beta reads for others, I find it a bit stunning that some betas have a very shark-like approach. I beta read because I like to read, not because I want something. so....i think it might be a good idea, for you AND your author, if we start to back things up here. People beta for a great many reasons, most of them at least in part because they "like to read". That said, expecting the other person to reciprocate is hardly bad...for one thing, most of us here, you know, are here because we have stuff of our own. for another, it suggests the other person has a bit of skin in the game, instead of just wanting to strip-mine talent and run off with it. You'll get much farther if you can broaden your own possible views, suggesting anyone expecting more than nothing in return is "shark-like" is both myopic and insulting.
If that is the modus here, I will adhere to that.
The situation:
Unfortunately, there are too many writers that will write a book, maybe self-edit it, and then self-publish it. I have encountered one of these writers, and I would like to help her because I'm just a helpful person. I don't know, maybe years of working customer service has ruined me. I work customer service. Tech support, so maybe slightly different, but....I'm not sure any of that matters anyway. I agree, many self-pub as a shortcut. That said, if she has, that book is out there....what is the intent and end-game? To convince her to re-write the same book, better? I'm not sure of the wisdom or utility in that. After all, to what end? Why not spend the time on a follow-up? Is she gonna refund the folks who bought V1.0? Apologize to them?
I originally intended to write a review for her, but after reading about 7 chapters, it occurred to me that she was of the write-to-self-publish breed. In any case, I told her my issues with the book, but (to keep things vague) she implied that she would like a second opinion. this isn't uncommon...nobody likes to hear bad news, which it sounds like you dropped on her (unsolicited?). That said, I find it deeply troubling that she's "wanting" to fix something but not, you know, bad enough to ask around herself. Like the suspicious side of me is wondering if this even passes the smell test to begin with, but even the rest of me is thinking "how much help is she gonna really use if she can't come looking herself? And for a published book? And when one stranger from the net collected another stranger from the net to do it for her?"
I told her I would see if I could find another beta reader to take a look at it; I am apparently the only person she does not know *personally* to have read this book.
Why can't she come here and request herself?
1) I told her I would take care of it for her
2) I am a woman of my word.
Had I realized this would be so difficult, I would not have made that promise, but I try to stay true to my word. again, the little passive-aggressive lines like this may make you feel better about being in the right, but probably aren't doing you favors. You may not know it, but you came in here with a pretty unusual request....and people were generally pretty soft about trying to get more info. You sort of came back with a "No idea what YOUR problem is, but let me explain this so you'll stop being unreasonable" tone, and nobody here is asking anything all that outlandish. Maybe there's some miscommunication, but since you are a fellow writer, you might consider your words. We're a bit confused, not on a mission from God to thwart your beta attempt.
Can I connect anyone, genuinely interested in helping, to the author?
Absolutely. If that is the issue, I will work to patch you through to her. However, the author implied that sending *me* the book for review was a blow to her budget, this troubles me as well....her budget? Of what, $3.99? She's selling it on Amazon; even if she went entirely on the up-and-up and paid for a download for someone else to beta, this isn't much of a budget....that sounds more like "nooo, you will BUY MAH BOOK!" That's fine, she IS selling a book, but she may have to make a decision.....and as for devoting time to a beta read, this and the points above sort of suggest to me that both she and you are coming at this with a certain level of naivete. Naivete isn't a sin, but again, it IS part of why folks have questions....ALSO as betas, in addition to most folks expecting reciprocity, they like to have some idea of the return on investment.....which includes the story they're getting, the reciprocity, but also a general idea how hard they're likely to have to work/how wasted or well-received their efforts may be. "This'll blow my budget, beta for free, in a couple weeks, and no, i can't read yours" collectively raises enough questions that, honestly, people are asking them. That's all that's going on here. so I figured it would be easier if I just loaned the book to the interested beta. I don't think it will take more than a few chapters (way less than the 14 days Amazon permits) to get a feel for what's going on with the book.
TL;DR - It's a hot mess-- I know. If you've ever looked back on the past and wished someone would have been kind enough to tell you the truth, you will understand this scenario.
Voluntarily. Not because it was mandatory in order to get a beta.
