I love getting comments from beta readers. In particular, I love getting comments from my mom as a beta.
My mom isn’t just a sweetheart reader, although she is very encouraging and supportive and tactful. She’s also a really good critic. I must have gotten my reading genes from her–she reads more than almost anyone I know. She’s also a former English and Language Arts teacher, so she’s a stickler for proper grammar and usage. Thanks to her years teaching teenagers, she is really familiar with YA and a big fan (sample conversation: What do you mean you haven’t read SPEAK yet? You really should. or Oh, I love the HUNGER GAMES.) She cares enough about me and my writing to push me and ask tough questions and be critical. Yay, Mom!
Anyway, I got some comments on my revisions from her this weekend. This page cracked me up because, well, it’s my mom’s note:
Haha you are my very lucky to have a parent who supports you for what you love to do.. and we all need straight-forward and frank editing now, right? 🙂
Love it! Best kinda beta to have. Who couldn’t love a mom who not only knows about your genre, but is also not afraid to speak her mind?
Mom said…
Oh, that’s so sweet! By the way, at the end of the second paragraph do you mean “tough questions?”
Love and good luck!
Uh, yeah. Just edited it.
Thanks, Mom.
(See what I’m talking about, guys?)
That’s totally my mom too. I love it!
-Rachel
Haha, your mom is awesome!
ahahahhaha!