The Dark One
Auror
Something else I'd add, which I spoke about at length on another thread...
Try to find a non-writer beta reader willing to read your work and give you feedback AS A READER.
Non-writers are IMHO the best beta readers because they don't have any kind of interest in your work except seeing it develop into an enjoyable tale. Writer beta readers (I daresay) could be good but they would do things differently to you and their advice, on some level, will always be about turning you into them. Either that or saying nothing helpful because they can't help but see you as the competition and don't want to give you a leg up.
I realise how inflammatory that might sound on a wonderful forum such as this, but...I call it as I see it, and I never share my work with writers - until it's finished.
A non-writer beta reader totally turned my career around. These people are gold.
Try to find a non-writer beta reader willing to read your work and give you feedback AS A READER.
Non-writers are IMHO the best beta readers because they don't have any kind of interest in your work except seeing it develop into an enjoyable tale. Writer beta readers (I daresay) could be good but they would do things differently to you and their advice, on some level, will always be about turning you into them. Either that or saying nothing helpful because they can't help but see you as the competition and don't want to give you a leg up.
I realise how inflammatory that might sound on a wonderful forum such as this, but...I call it as I see it, and I never share my work with writers - until it's finished.
A non-writer beta reader totally turned my career around. These people are gold.
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