Where do y'all find beta readers for works you're still writing?

[FrancesScott]

Maybe so in the outside world, but not here on Lit. Lit betas typically do both - that's the convention here. I've not seen anyone refer to alphas. Not in this sense, anyway.

OK - by here, do you mean this forum? Because people keep saying it’s a tiny fraction of the actual author base. I’m familliar with the term from the outside world. But when in Rome…

 

[Lifestyle66]

It's GOOD, but it's not DONE, so I'm trying to find someone to read it and give me feedback on it, but I have no idea where to go to find such readers.

Okay, BETA-READING is where you can go against the grain a little and get immediate use of the latest computer tech for help!

You can use an AI (with care) if you want a first set of "eyes" on your story for critique! BUT, be warned: DO NOT ask it for samples or suggestions or revisions of your work!!! If you take anything like the AI's writing to change or include in addressing the critical points, you risk rejection by the moderators if their testing methds detect AI written input in your story.

Merely ask ChatGPT or Google Gemini to "Provide a general critique my erotic story as follows: ..." and paste up to about 5k or 6k words, and within a minute it will return both what works and areas for improvement in writing style, story arc, characters, etc. Then you can take those criticisms and rewrite on your own with your methods of changing and improving the story, then ask again, and again for a general critique of the revised story.

The AI never gets tired of doing it.

Note that ChatGPT will say your erotic story's detailed sex scenes are against their policy. But it will still provide the critique.

But NEVER EVER ask the AI to give you writing to include. Merely use it as a sounding board to tell you if your story is truly shitty, or merely routine crap.

EDIT: You can even ask the AI to give you a critique of your story from the point of view of a particular type, such as "Provide a critique of my story from the POV of a reader who hates extra-marital sex..." What it returns will be a scathing review if you have any swingers or sharing in it. But it can help provide specifics to address if you want to improve those areas or reduce critics.

 

[ElectricBlue]

OK - by here, do you mean this forum? Because people keep saying it’s a tiny fraction of the actual author base. I’m familliar with the term from the outside world. But when in Rome…

Well, the AH is one of the few places on Lit where writers write about what they do (the Feedback and Editors Forum are the other places), so yes. What the great mass of authors do is a big unknown; and you're right, the AH is but a fraction. The other writers might also use alpha and beta in the "outside Lit" usage, but how would we know?

 

[FrancesScott]

Well, the AH is one of the few places on Lit where writers write about what they do (the Feedback and Editors Forum are the other places), so yes. What the great mass of authors do is a big unknown; and you're right, the AH is but a fraction. The other writers might also use alpha and beta in the "outside Lit" usage, but how would we know?

I’ll use it in a local manner going fwd.

 

[taytay4eva]

What are some of the details about your story? category, word count, is there something in particular you are looking for?

I think that it's going to fall into the SciFi / Fantasy category (the main characters are made young again and are dealing with the aftermath of a change to reality), but mostly what I'm looking for is whether or not it ties up its plot points in a way that doesn't leave the reader going "wait, why did x happen?" and "well that was stupid"

 

[dirk2024]

I think that it's going to fall into the SciFi / Fantasy category (the main characters are made young again and are dealing with the aftermath of a change to reality), but mostly what I'm looking for is whether or not it ties up its plot points in a way that doesn't leave the reader going "wait, why did x happen?" and "well that was stupid"

That sounds interesting. I can help.

 

[TheLobster]

Nb. “alpha” and “beta” are also terms used when referring to release stages of software products.

Alpha is generally the first rough version that is expected to be buggy and lack some features. Beta is feature-complete and partially tested, but it might still have some non-critical bugs.

The analogy seems to carry over quite neatly to alpha and beta reading of literary, ahem, products.