Why You Should Avoid Letting Friends and Relatives Beta Read Your Work

You're desperate for a beta reader – someone to look over your completed manuscript and tell you what works and what doesn't. You've asked your work colleagues; those strange people across the street; the cat next door. Each and every one of them gave you an emphatic no.

Now there's just one choice left. Ok, two. A friend. Or a relative.

So you approach one of them and ask the dreaded question. “I've just finished writing this book. Would you be willing to look over the final manuscript for me?”

They grin from ear to ear. “No problem! Love to!”

Whoo! Well, that was easy. Sadly, what's even easier is grouping beta readers who happen to be your friends or relatives. They will invariably fall into at least one of the categories below. (For ease of reference, we bypass those who are in the colleague-neighbour-cat next door group.)

Sure! As Soon as I –

They've got your hard copy manuscript and email attachment. Two days later, they email or text you. (Pay careful attention to this method of communication.) They've not had time to look at your book yet, but they will – promise. Just as soon as they've finished their current reading of the entire collection of every Greek philosopher ever born. The next time you see or hear from them again will be because someone close to both of you has died, and there's a will to be read.

I'm Connected to a Genius!

Your book is the best thing they've ever read! A masterpiece! They loved a, b and c. Z was evil. What does this response mean? It means they love you, not your masterpiece. They are so in awe of having a 'writer' in the family or amongst their connections, you could write cardboard – literally c-a-r-d-b-o-a-r-d – and they'd think it was a grand opus. Do not send your manuscript off based on their opinion. You have been warned.

It was very... clever. And poetic.

Edward Scissor Eyes

Members of this group will tear your work to shreds, ignoring all the good bits. Actually, they didn't see any good bits. Whatever made you think you could write? This last statement may be left unsaid (if you're lucky) but it remains implicit in the sneer accompanying their every word. Ten years later you hear passing news of their death. Passing, because the two of you haven't spoken since that day.

Lost in Translation

They read it, but they didn't get it. They have nothing more to offer. Other than it was very ...clever. And poetic.

The Die-hard Competitor

In the midst of a social gathering, they bring up your book, giving everyone within earshot a loud summary of your story, thereby inviting everyone else to pull the plot to pieces. Even more loudly, they announce they'd be happy to help you re-write it.

Fair but Firm

Ah, here's a professional. One of your peers – another writer. They give you great constructive criticism. There’s just one problem. You don't like it. They obviously didn't understand what you were writing. And anyway their own work sucks. You let them know it. You'll both feel the mutual resentment – nay, hatred – for the rest of your conjoined lives. Or at least until the day you revisit your work and realise they were right – it was cack.

The Hustler

Your story is great. They're really loving it. You feed off their positivity, honing your characters at their suggestions. They've been sharing that writing journey with you.

Three months later you find the manuscript you gave them in your home; and almost buried amongst your own collection of English classics; dumped in the corner where they were sitting when you gave it to them them. You realise that during all their critique not once did they initiate the name of a single character or analyse a single scene. Like a sham psychic, they were simply feeding off your prompts.

Conclusion

The lesson is, if you want a long term reliable beta reader, find someone who likes reading the kind of work you write. Who's never seen your work before. Who isn't a friend or relative. Check out social media, relevant forums on your genres. Taking the short cut will bring you right back to where you started.

“Hey Great-Aunt Mel, I've just finished writing this book. Would you be interested in critiquing it for me? ”