How harsh should a beta reader be?

When I first beta read, I was harsh.

Not in my criticism. In my tone. Since then when I’m asked, I share both praise and critique, preferring to share my notes on a video call so the right tone is applied to my comments.

Last week, a beta reader contacted me after reading my first chapter. He was concerned he was being harsh and told me if he didn’t want me to continue, he would understand.

I prepared for the worst.

When I read his notes, I felt they were valid. This was a manuscript with a short deadline, so I knew the opening chapter was far from perfect. But without the luxury of developing it over time, I really needed my beta’s advice.

I told him to please continue and that I was not offended by his feedback. He wrote back saying that another author stopped speaking to him for being so critical.

And here is where his critique gets interesting.

He finished the novel and added his notes. It’s been great going through, rewriting this story while deepening the emotional connection between characters. He showed me where I could build suspense for the reader, and pointed out parts where I could show more than tell.

Then, for a part which reads:

Milo has sent a second text. I’m relieved he took the initiative as I couldn’t work out how to reply to his first message.

He advised me that the character in question is young, so if he can’t work his phone to reply to texts, I have to explain why.

Up until this point I really valued his feedback. I still do as there is another part where he felt a character is asking a question which is too personal, so I should make him drunk. I won’t, but I will ease into this question, highlighting a developing friendship through an extended open conversation.

Then there are parts which he really doesn’t like.

This is cultural, I feel. Partly because I’m Australian and he is American, and partly because his expertise is the Romance genre. One scene features dark humour, which he cringed at, believing it’s not right for this book. But this also is a Halloween tale. I feel it’s perfect.

The other features a character in an embarrassing situation, providing comedy in that scene. He found it disgusting, but when I read his note again, it was clear he misunderstood what was going on. I already had a rewrite in mind to make it funnier, so perhaps others like him will not get confused.

A long time ago my acting class explored criticism.

There were thirty in my class, and one by one we had to get up and give one bit of feedback to every other classmate. At the end, our teacher told us to listen to our gut feelings, because the critique which is valid has already resonated with us. The rest we can throw away.

Again, at this point I need to repeat that I find most of his notes invaluable, even though I had to remind him this is an early draft. He gave me a bunch of initial reactions without a filter. But I know it’s not personal.

Which brings me to my epilogue.

I have another beta reader for this project. He is Australian and already told me he liked that scene. I’m still waiting for his notes.

My American beta pointed out that what I wrote is not what is traditionally considered an epilogue. Plus there’s another questionable element which I see as part of the dark humour. Obviously my Australian beta sees the joke.

Through all of this, my rewrites are better.

I don’t usually use beta readers as I leave a lot of time between each draft, then I read it fresh in a font I’ve never seen it in, and clearly see its flaws.

So this has been a unique process. I’m already planning on replacing the epilogue even though I think its pretty cool. But the new scene will create a better wrap up for the reader.

These varying opinions are part of this creative process. And they’re helping finesse a novel which needs it.