Beta Reader Feedback Style

[Nynah]

Partially inspired by Penny's lovely thread for fêting beta readers and partially because I am myself currently beta reading another friend's story, I have to ask: For those of us who are authors but also do beta reading* for other authors here, what is your style of giving feedback?

• Do you go through and look for errors in grammar/spelling, more in a proofreader/copyeditor sense?
• How far do you go for factual accuracy? (Ex. the author has clearly depicted some sort of thing or process in such a way that is incorrect; do you point this out?)
• Do you ask why authors say things in certain ways or question how they've described a character/setting/place? Or do you just let the story stand on its own as the author has presented it to you?
• Does being an author yourself inform how you beta read for someone else?

Obviously some authors clearly state the parameters of how and on what they want to receive feedback, so I suppose these questions are posed to the readers who are given more free rein with their commentary.

*(I am aware that there are semantic arguments to be had about alpha vs. beta readers but for the purposes of this question I just mean the people you trust to read your work after you're mostly done with it, but are open to changing significant portions if needed.)

 

[AwkwardlySet]

If the O.P. is okay with it, I'd like to ask a question that's very relevant to this topic. Some might see the question as inflammatory, even though it comes from honest intentions, as I am quite divided about it myself.
Anyway, waiting for permission as I don't want to hijack the thread. As I said, the question is relevant to the topic.

 

[Bramblethorn]

Partially inspired by Penny's lovely thread for fêting beta readers and partially because I am myself currently beta reading another friend's story, I have to ask: For those of us who are authors but also do beta reading* for other authors here, what is your style of giving feedback?

• Do you go through and look for errors in grammar/spelling, more in a proofreader/copyeditor sense?
• How far do you go for factual accuracy? (Ex. the author has clearly depicted some sort of thing or process in such a way that is incorrect; do you point this out?)
• Do you ask why authors say things in certain ways or question how they've described a character/setting/place? Or do you just let the story stand on its own as the author has presented it to you?
• Does being an author yourself inform how you beta read for someone else?

I try to gauge what the author's receptive to and looking for, but in general, a bit of everything.

My capacity for attention is finite, so the more issues there are with SPAG the less I have in the tank for feedback on other aspects of the story. One reason for authors to do their best to get SPAG stuff right before throwing it to a beta reader - or failing that, give me a clear "I haven't polished the SPAG yet so don't worry about that stuff". But it's hard for me to switch that off.

I will point out things like "that gun only holds six shots but you have the protag firing seven" if I notice them, but IME some authors don't care about that level of accuracy.

It's important for me to understand what the author wants to do with a story, so I'll ask clarifying questions if needed.

I will also try to give them a sense of what my reaction is as a reader - where did I figure out the twist, did I take a dislike to the protagonist I'm supposed to love, that kind of thing.

I think being an author has probably influenced all this, but I only really started beta reading well after I started writing my own stories, so it's hard to think back to what kind of beta reader I'd have been like before.

 

[THBGato]

Do you go through and look for errors in grammar/spelling, more in a proofreader/copyeditor sense?

Yes. I can't help myself. If I see an error I'll comment on it (or correct it if I've been given permission).

How far do you go for factual accuracy? (Ex. the author has clearly depicted some sort of thing or process in such a way that is incorrect; do you point this out?)

Ditto. If I spot something wrong, I'll double check it online, then point it out. But I'm not usually going to look for these things. Just if it jumps out at me.

Do you ask why authors say things in certain ways or question how they've described a character/setting/place? Or do you just let the story stand on its own as the author has presented it to you?

Yes. In this I'll often be guided by the author: I usually ask if there's anything in particular they want me to focus on, and will concentrate on those aspects. However, if something jars or seems out of character, I will ask if it's necessary. Sometimes I will also suggest alternatives or additions: for example, if I feel a writer has skipped over or rushed through a really emotional moment. However, I always stress that they should ignore me if my suggestions move them away from the story they want to tell. (A couple of writers are far too deferential to me, so I've felt the need to put that in writing, even though it should be obvious.)

Does being an author yourself inform how you beta read for someone else?

Um... I hope so? Maybe in the sense that I see the intent behind the craft more?

 

[TheLobster]

Do you go through and look for errors in grammar/spelling, more in a proofreader/copyeditor sense?

Yes. I mostly beta-read / edit for other ESL folks who find me on this forum; their material usually requires a lot of mending which I can easily do as I go. The downside is, of course, that the GDoc gets littered with minor suggestions that are interspersed with higher-level comments, but since I always ask whether such corrections are welcome I haven't had complaints.

How far do you go for factual accuracy? (Ex. the author has clearly depicted some sort of thing or process in such a way that is incorrect; do you point this out?)

I've pointed out things like confusing and potentially physically impossible house layouts; I doubt most reader would notice such discrepancies but hey, we should all strive to keep our strokers factually accurate!

Do you ask why authors say things in certain ways or question how they've described a character/setting/place? Or do you just let the story stand on its own as the author has presented it to you?

The latter. This is mostly colored by own experiences being on the other side of the process and having to field endless questions about minor things, many of which were background worldbuilding/flavor and some were even expanded upon later in the story.

If I notice something that's not clear, the most I do is leave a comment in the style of 'I trust this will be touched upon eventually', but most of the time I just note the thing separately and go back to it if the rest of the story doesn't provide a satisfactory resolution.

Does being an author yourself inform how you beta read for someone else?

See above, and also what @THBGato said.

 

[Nynah]

If the O.P. is okay with it, I'd like to ask a question that's very relevant to this topic. Some might see the question as inflammatory, even though it comes from honest intentions, as I am quite divided about it myself.
Anyway, waiting for permission as I don't want to hijack the thread. As I said, the question is relevant to the topic.

Sure, the thread's an hour old now, why not?

 

[Bazzle]

I will always give my honest input.

Sometimes i will have a discussion with the author.

I can't see my own errors, but others standout proud. But i am only repeating what others have told me.

No 'then', what is 'it' and try and not sentence run.

Each author has their style and repetitive mistakes. Some mistakes are style.

As long as you don't fall out, it's fun.

 

[PennyThompson]

I don't think I'm actually a terribly good beta reader, I don't tend to be very strategic or systematic.

I'm not a highly skilled proof reader, though often just having a pair of eyes that aren't the author's will catch the odd mistake or dropped word, which I'll point out if I see one.

But what I do try to do is articulate what I'm feeling as a reader, in real time. If something in the story feels vague or ambiguous when I come to it, I'll comment something like, "I'm not sure if I trust this character, it seems like they're up to something..." Or "I don't understand her motivations here, maybe she has a past that is explains it..."

I don't read ahead to see if something is going to be resolved, and I don't try to guess if the uncertainty is intentional or accidental. My writer will know if my feelings are by design or against design, and can decide what to do with that information.

I'm also a sensory goblin, so I often leave comments like "I wonder what she's wearing right now," or "I wonder how it feels to be touched like that," or "I imagine that room smells like baking bread," etc.

Some writers like to add that level of detail and some don't, I'm just expressing what my imagination is doing.

I also tend to leave a lot of emoticon comments if something makes me feel some kind of way, positive or negative. Again, the writer can decide if my reaction as a reader is desirable or not!

 

[NotWise]

The main thing I provide as a beta reader, and what I hope for from a beta reader, is a reader's reaction to the story: good, bad, indifferent, and some idea of why.

I draw a fairly hard line between beta reading and editing. If an author wants an editor or needs an editor then I'll recommend that they find an editor. I'm not a proof reader or an editor, but if a story is in good shape and I spot only a limited number of problems then I'll point them out.

That said, I haven't beta-read in quite a while, and I'm not good at responding to perfectly valid input from beta readers. My favorite beta readers have been authors I respect, and their time is hard to find.

 

[AwkwardlySet]

Sure, the thread's an hour old now, why not?

Thanks. Anyway, the question is quite relevant to this topic. So... does anyone see the concept of having a beta reader(s) as a writing crutch?
I've been asked once to beta read a Lit story, and had more than one offer from readers to beta read my stuff. I declined every time. I obsessed over the concept of beta reading for a while and couldn't decide one way or the other. The potential issue I see with it is even more pronounced here on Lit.

Say Stephen King asks a reader to beta read for him. It's probably not an issue as it's just a normal reader giving their impressions on the story. The difference in their writing skills is likely immense. And King might make a tiny adjustment due to the feedback, or he might not.

But here on Lit, I see that many authors have other authors as beta readers. I assume many set some boundaries over the input they are ready to receive, but still, it's peers giving opinions on a yet unpublished story. Their input might sway the author and influence a minor or major change in the way some character is portrayed, the way the plot is moving, the consistency of worldbuilding, etc. Can you imagine Sanderson giving beta-reader feedback to G.R.R.M., for example? This is kinda the same.

So, is it still truly and fully the author's story then? I assume such a story is likely to be better, but also less authentic, and in a way not a true showing of the author's skill? It's these last parts that had me obsessing and ultimately reject beta reading, at least if it comes from peers.

I really don't want anyone to see this as me criticizing their work and process. I am being honest here, as this is quite a divisive topic for me. This is also the first time I decided to voice these doubts, prompted mostly by recent beta-reading topics.

 

[NotWise]

Thanks. Anyway, the question is quite relevant to this topic. So... does anyone see the concept of having a beta reader(s) as a writing crutch?
I've been asked once to beta read a Lit story, and had more than one offer from readers to beta read my stuff. I declined every time. I obsessed over the concept of beta reading for a while and couldn't decide one way or the other. The potential issue I see with it is even more pronounced here on Lit.

Say Stephen King asks a reader to beta read for him. It's probably not an issue as it's just a normal reader giving their impressions on the story. The difference in their writing skills is likely immense. And King might make a tiny adjustment due to the feedback, or he might not.

But here on Lit, I see that many authors have other authors as beta readers. I assume many set some boundaries over the input they are ready to receive, but still, it's peers giving opinions on a yet unpublished story. Their input might sway the author and influence a minor or major change in the way some character is portrayed, the way the plot is moving, the consistency of worldbuilding, etc. Can you imagine Sanderson giving beta-reader feedback to G.R.R.M., for example? This is kinda the same.

So, is it still truly and fully the author's story then? I assume such a story is likely to be better, but also less authentic, and in a way not a true showing of the author's skill? It's these last parts that had me obsessing and ultimately reject beta reading, at least if it comes from peers.

I really don't want anyone to see this as me criticizing their work and process. I am being honest here, as this is quite a divisive topic for me. This is also the first time I decided to voice these doubts, prompted mostly by recent beta-reading topics.

I don't think the authenticity of any of my stories has been threatened by input I've accepted from a beta reader. But if that happened, it would be my doing, not theirs. It's my story. I'm in control.

 

[alohadave]

So... does anyone see the concept of having a beta reader(s) as a writing crutch?

No, not really. I had great help on one of my stories when @EmilyMiller read for me. She pointed out things that I had missed and gotten wrong and things to consider about the story. I did the work, and her suggestions weren't a crutch for me to avoid work. I ended up rewriting a portion based on her notes, and it made the story better, IMO.

Any extra pair of eyes on your work is good because as authors we know all the details that we didn't write down. So when you write, you leave something out but don't realize because your brain fills it in, or you think that what is obvious to you will be obvious to the reader.

Plus a reader is not emotionally invested in your work like you are, so they have detachment from what you've poured yourself into.

You could write without a reader, and many people do. If I ever finish some of my longer stories, I'd like to have someone read them for the same reasons. I don't worry too much for shorter, stroker style stories, but longer ones that I've put more work into, it would be good.

 

[AwkwardlySet]

No, not really. I had great help on one of my stories when @EmilyMiller read for me. She pointed out things that I had missed and gotten wrong and things to consider about the story. I did the work, and her suggestions weren't a crutch for me to avoid work. I ended up rewriting a portion based on her notes, and it made the story better, IMO.

See, that's it. She saw something you didn't see and told you how it negatively influences the story. So if you didn't see it yourself or thought of it yourself, is it still fully your story, a showing of your skill? I never meant this in the sense that beta readers actually write something for you. But pointing out deficiencies and giving ideas is still an integral part of writing. I see it as such, at least.
I understand people see these things differently, so I am not trying to poke anyone, but I can't help feeling that way.

 

[EmilyMiller]

For those of us who are authors but also do beta reading* for other authors here, what is your style of giving feedback?

I’ve done everything from sounding board, to brainstorming, to plot doctor, to serial proof reading as the author writes, to a shoulder to cry on, to rolling editing, to beta reading (sometimes more than one of these at the same time). I think, if my math is right, I’ve done stuff like this for comfortably over ten distinct authors, each with different levels of proficiency. Different styles and different strengths and weaknesses.

Beta reading @onehitwanda consists of finding one phrase that was slightly less than charmingly beautiful every ten thousand words, and one error every twenty thousand words. My feedback is normally, “fuck, this is good.”

Without naming names - which would be unfair - feedback can also be at the other end of the spectrum: and include suggestions for major rewrites, deletions, different approaches or even reconsidering the story. I always ask what type of feedback people want before starting. I don’t launch into unsolicited critiques.

And if I’m struggling with say terrible grammar or tenses changing every sentence, I’ll probably go back and suggest that they fix that and then I might try again. Or I might ask, do you really want to know what I think? Because not everyone does and I don’t want to demotivate people.

As @PennyThompson has mentioned in her thread, I tend to provide a lot of feeback. I once did this as Lit PMs to the author and the convo covered four pages. I feel if someone wants help then it’s your duty to take the job seriously.

On @PennyThompson’s forthcoming story, which is around the 10k words mark, I think
I made about sixty comments. Though a few of those were “I really liked that section.” Also bear in mind that others had already reviewed it.

I’ve co-authored with @PennyThompson so I had a good idea about what she was looking for, and she had also asked for some specific feedback in a couple of areas.

Basically, I try to provide the type of feedback that I might find useful myself.

 

[EmilyMiller]

No, not really. I had great help on one of my stories when @EmilyMiller read for me. She pointed out things that I had missed and gotten wrong and things to consider about the story. I did the work, and her suggestions weren't a crutch for me to avoid work. I ended up rewriting a portion based on her notes, and it made the story better, IMO.

Thank you

 

[NotWise]

See, that's it. She saw something you didn't see and told you how it negatively influences the story. So if you didn't see it yourself or thought of it yourself, is it still fully your story, a showing of your skill? I never meant this in the sense that beta readers actually write something for you. But pointing out deficiencies and giving ideas is still an integral part of writing. I see it as such, at least.
I understand people see these things differently, so I am not trying to poke anyone, but I can't help feeling that way.

In the real world, no-one writes alone. Professionally, I've always had reviewers and editors. If you write a story for a mainstream editor, then it may go through your agent, and through teams of proofreaders and editors.

 

[Nynah]

See, that's it. She saw something you didn't see and told you how it negatively influences the story. So if you didn't see it yourself or thought of it yourself, is it still fully your story, a showing of your skill?

I mean, we're all human with different experiences. I can do all the research I want about what it's like to experience something or be from a certain area, but I will always defer to someone who has actually lived that experience or is from that certain area because they would know better than me. You can't be expected to know everything.

 

[PennyThompson]

Thanks. Anyway, the question is quite relevant to this topic. So... does anyone see the concept of having a beta reader(s) as a writing crutch?
I've been asked once to beta read a Lit story, and had more than one offer from readers to beta read my stuff. I declined every time. I obsessed over the concept of beta reading for a while and couldn't decide one way or the other. The potential issue I see with it is even more pronounced here on Lit.

Say Stephen King asks a reader to beta read for him. It's probably not an issue as it's just a normal reader giving their impressions on the story. The difference in their writing skills is likely immense. And King might make a tiny adjustment due to the feedback, or he might not.

But here on Lit, I see that many authors have other authors as beta readers. I assume many set some boundaries over the input they are ready to receive, but still, it's peers giving opinions on a yet unpublished story. Their input might sway the author and influence a minor or major change in the way some character is portrayed, the way the plot is moving, the consistency of worldbuilding, etc. Can you imagine Sanderson giving beta-reader feedback to G.R.R.M., for example? This is kinda the same.

So, is it still truly and fully the author's story then? I assume such a story is likely to be better, but also less authentic, and in a way not a true showing of the author's skill? It's these last parts that had me obsessing and ultimately reject beta reading, at least if it comes from peers.

I really don't want anyone to see this as me criticizing their work and process. I am being honest here, as this is quite a divisive topic for me. This is also the first time I decided to voice these doubts, prompted mostly by recent beta-reading topics.

My initial response to this was to feel defensive, but I think it's a valid question!

For me personally, writing is a pleasurable hobby. I don't do it as a job, I don't make money at it, and I don't have any desire to monetize it.

I get pleasure from forming and shaping characters and stories, and I get pleasure from crafting sentences and phrases and concepts, and I get pleasure from receiving feedback from readers.

And when another writer that I respect and like gives me developmental feedback on a story, that gives me a lot of pleasure too! If they catch a typo or error or inconsistency that I missed, it feels good to fix it. If they feel a way about a character that makes me think about that character in a new light, it feels good to explore that.

I also appreciate getting constructive criticism in comments on my published stories, sometimes I agree with the criticism and I learn something from it and can try to improve my craft next time, and that feels good too. Why wouldn't I want to get more of that opportunity for improvement before publishing the story to the world?

I'm not Ayn Rand, I don't need to be a purely self-made individual who has never accepted the kindness of another human. I like helping other people, and I like receiving help.

So I guess I don't know if it's a crutch for me, but maybe it is a bit of a security blanket sometimes? But... I like blankets

 

[djrip]

I

I don't think I'm actually a terribly good beta reader, I don't tend to be very strategic or systematic.

I'm not a highly skilled proof reader, though often just having a pair of eyes that aren't the author's will catch the odd mistake or dropped word, which I'll point out if I see one.

But what I do try to do is articulate what I'm feeling as a reader, in real time. If something in the story feels vague or ambiguous when I come to it, I'll comment something like, "I'm not sure if I trust this character, it seems like they're up to something..." Or "I don't understand her motivations here, maybe she has a past that is explains it..."

I don't read ahead to see if something is going to be resolved, and I don't try to guess if the uncertainty is intentional or accidental. My writer will know if my feelings are by design or against design, and can decide what to do with that information.

I'm also a sensory goblin, so I often leave comments like "I wonder what she's wearing right now," or "I wonder how it feels to be touched like that," or "I imagine that room smells like baking bread," etc.

Some writers like to add that level of detail and some don't, I'm just expressing what my imagination is doing.

I also tend to leave a lot of emoticon comments if something makes me feel some kind of way, positive or negative. Again, the writer can decide if my reaction as a reader is desirable or not!

This is pretty much exactly how I've done it a few times. I'm a wheel of time fan. That means I've read the series several times. I like to find blogs where someone is reading it and writing their impressions, thoughts, reactions and questions in real time as they go along, and read along with one of those as I re-read the books. So that kind of thing's been an influence on how I write up reactions to stuff I read.

 

[Omenainen]

Partially inspired by Penny's lovely thread for fêting beta readers and partially because I am myself currently beta reading another friend's story, I have to ask: For those of us who are authors but also do beta reading* for other authors here, what is your style of giving feedback?

• Do you go through and look for errors in grammar/spelling, more in a proofreader/copyeditor sense?

No. I’m not English native and feel it’s beyond my abilities to fix someone else’s English.

• How far do you go for factual accuracy? (Ex. the author has clearly depicted some sort of thing or process in such a way that is incorrect; do you point this out?)

I will point out anything that stands out for me, but won’t go out of my way to fact check. If the author manages to sound convincing enough, I’m good with that. I’m not the type to nit pick mainstream books either.

• Do you ask why authors say things in certain ways or question how they've described a character/setting/place? Or do you just let the story stand on its own as the author has presented it to you?

I suppose I’m more in letting the story stand camp.

• Does being an author yourself inform how you beta read for someone else?

Not really. Beta reading comes from the reading brain more than writing brain. I’m giving my input on how the story reads as it is currently written. It’s up to the author to evaluate if that’s a me issue or something that applies to readers at large that they should act upon.

When beta reading Pink Orchids, I focus especially on the portrayal of female characters and their motivations.

Obviously some authors clearly state the parameters of how and on what they want to receive feedback, so I suppose these questions are posed to the readers who are given more free rein with their commentary.

I don’t remember ever been given much guidance on what to focus on while beta reading. Could be I’ve just forgotten.

*(I am aware that there are semantic arguments to be had about alpha vs. beta readers but for the purposes of this question I just mean the people you trust to read your work after you're mostly done with it, but are open to changing significant portions if needed.)

…and this right here is why I rarely ask people to beta read for me I discovered early on that when I’m mostly done with the story, I am not really open to change, well, anything about the story, let alone significant portions.

 

[EmilyMiller]

So, is it still truly and fully the author's story then? I assume such a story is likely to be better, but also less authentic, and in a way not a true showing of the author's skill? It's these last parts that had me obsessing and ultimately reject beta reading, at least if it comes from peers.

I think you don’t quite get the process. The beta reader is not an editor. They make suggestions. The author is at liberty to accept the suggestions, accept the issue and make their own fix, or ignore the suggestion. The creative choice is still with the author.

I’ve worked collaboratively with @Djmac1031 for a long time and I’ve never felt he took over one of my stories, making it his own. I’m pretty sure he would feel the same.

Tolkien used to read bits of his work to The Inklings - authors all - he took some suggestions on board and utterly ignored others. His story, his choice.

 

[AwkwardlySet]

I mean, we're all human with different experiences. I can do all the research I want about what it's like to experience something or be from a certain area, but I will always defer to someone who has actually lived that experience or is from that certain area because they would know better than me. You can't be expected to know everything.

That's research, and indeed any author can benefit from it. But from what I've seen and heard from mainstream authors, they delve into it before they start writing, so it doesn't have anything to do with beta reading. I also didn't really mean some technical things about, say, a beta reader pointing out that a copying machine or a toaster doesn't work exactly in the way you described. It was more about writing concepts, character development, plot pacing, world building, foreshadowing, etc. A peer beta-reader can have a lot to say about those things.

 

[AwkwardlySet]

My initial response to this was to feel defensive, but I think it's a valid question!

For me personally, writing is a pleasurable hobby. I don't do it as a job, I don't make money at it, and I don't have any desire to monetize it.

I get pleasure from forming and shaping characters and stories, and I get pleasure from crafting sentences and phrases and concepts, and I get pleasure from receiving feedback from readers.

And when another writer that I respect and like gives me developmental feedback on a story, that gives me a lot of pleasure too! If they catch a typo or error or inconsistency that I missed, it feels good to fix it. If they feel a way about a character that makes me think about that character in a new light, it feels good to explore that.

I also appreciate getting constructive criticism in comments on my published stories, sometimes I agree with the criticism and I learn something from it and can try to improve my craft next time, and that feels good too. Why wouldn't I want to get more of that opportunity for improvement before publishing the story to the world?

I'm not Ayn Rand, I don't need to be a purely self-made individual who has never accepted the kindness of another human. I like helping other people, and I like receiving help.

So I guess I don't know if it's a crutch for me, but maybe it is a bit of a security blanket sometimes? But... I like blankets

Thank you for your honesty.
I guess I am somewhat more obsessive about this than the average AH-er. I am kinda fixated on the story being fully a product of my mind and effort. It's probably the reason why I am so against the use of AI, regardless of Lit's policy about it.

 

[AwkwardlySet]

I think you don’t quite get the process. The beta reader is not an editor. They make suggestions. The author is at liberty to accept the suggestions, accept the issue and make their own fix, or ignore the suggestion. The creative choice is still with the author.

I’ve worked collaboratively with @Djmac1031 for a long time and I’ve never felt he took over one of my stories, making it his own. I’m pretty sure he would feel the same.

Tolkien used to read bits of his work to The Inklings - authors all - he took some suggestions on board and utterly ignored others. His story, his choice.

Oh, I get the process, Em. Say you beta read a story of mine, and you find a weakness and inconsistency in the way an important character is portrayed, and you suggest an idea of how to change it for the better. I read your input and think "Fuck! She is 100% right!"
So, from that point on, I see two choices, and both would bother me a lot. The first is to reject your idea and keep everything as it is, and let the story be worse for it.
The second is to embrace your idea and rewrite the character and make the story better... but not fully mine anymore. I didn't come up with that, and the "coming up" part of writing is very important to me.
It's basically no different than asking AI to come up with an idea for you, except from an ethical standpoint.

 

[Djmac1031]

Do you go through and look for errors in grammar/spelling, more in a proofreader/copyeditor sense?

absolutely yes. One of my primary goals as a beta reader is to catch any mistakes the author may have missed.

How far do you go for factual accuracy? (Ex. the author has clearly depicted some sort of thing or process in such a way that is incorrect; do you point this out?)

generally, yes. The author can then decide if they want to alter things to be more factual or if they prefer a less strictly realistic approach.

Do you ask why authors say things in certain ways or question how they've described a character/setting/place? Or do you just let the story stand on its own as the author has presented it to you?

it depends. If I dont quite understand the intent behind the way something was worded ill point it out and ask if it was intentional or if it needs to altered for clarity.

Does being an author yourself inform how you beta read for someone else?

Yes. I make it a goal to NEVER try and tell another author how to write their own story.

I'll make suggestions. perhaps provide an example of how I might change something to make it more clear.

But in the end I always stress my suggestions are simply that: MY suggestions. Whether the author chooses to accept them or not is up to them, and I am never offended if my suggestions are rejected.

I’ve worked collaboratively with @Djmac1031 for a long time and I’ve never felt he took over one of my stories, making it his own. I’m pretty sure he would feel the same.

As an example of the point i stressed above. @EmilyMiller and I work well together because we have a very clear understanding of what our role is as a beta reader. We never try to force each other to change something just because we wouldn't do it that way.