What do Pride and Prejudice, honesty and beta reading have in common? Read on to find out!
Imagine a sliding scale of tact. At one end, total blunt honesty with complete disregard for feelings. At the other, spineless appeasing sugar-coated honeydrops. Where do you fit on the scale? This handy quiz will tell you.
Question 1: do I look fat in this?
Answer:
a) Darling, you look lovely!
b) Is that you? I thought it was an elephant.
c) I’m afraid it doesn’t flatter your figure.
Question 2: have I offended you?
Answer:
a) No… I’m not offended.
b) Of course you *%^#& have!
c) Yes – can we talk about it?
Question 3: does this colour suit me?
Answer:
a) You look wonderful in everything!
b) You look like you’re dying of some grotesque disease.
c) I think […..] might be a better look.
Question 4: wouldn’t you agree?
Answer:
a) Oh, definitely.
b) No, because I’m not a brain-dead moron!
c) No, actually. I think….
Question 5: do you like my new boyfriend/girlfriend?
Answer:
a) I’m delighted for you – I’m sure you’ll be so happy!
b) S/he is the most repellent person I’ve ever met – you are literally insane, you know that?
c) I don’t know that this is the best relationship for you.
And now to the scoring! Give yourself:
3 points for every time you answered A;
1 point for every time you answered B;
and 2 points for every time you answered C.
If your total is 5-8 points: you are Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
Remember, truth is like a stick: you can use it to support someone, or hit them over the head (and sore heads don’t take much in). Sometimes you have to choose between making a point and making a difference.
If your score is 13-15 points: you are Mr Collins.
Insincerity devalues your contribution, as people have no idea what you are really thinking. It’s nice to want people to feel good, but when it comes down to it, people won’t believe you if they can’t trust you to be honest.
If your total rests between 9-12 points: you are Elizabeth Bennet, who goes to the effort of uniting civility and truth. Just the friend we all want, in fact: someone who will tell it like it is without unnecessarily hurting our feelings.
So to you Elizabeths, I have a proposal to make (blush). Might I interest you in being a beta reader for my WIP? The task is not onerous: it consists of reading the text and telling me what you liked and what you didn’t like, if you got bored and where, and any other ways you think the book could be improved.
If you’re interested, put your hand up in the comment section and I’ll get in touch. The text should be ready in a couple of weeks, and you’ll have about a month to read and reply. In return, you get the first look at the novel (pre-publication) and your name in the acknowledgements (post-publication) – plus of course my undying gratitude, goodwill etc (firstborn child not included).
Restoration Day
Lily has been raised to be the perfect fairytale princess, in her enchanted castle on the edge of a magical land. But when the chance for a quest arises and she descends from her castle, she finds that all is far from perfect in her fairytale kingdom.
Before she knows it she is running for her life (princesses never run) and learning that being a princess is a far cry from being the queen her land so desperately needs. Her quest is deadly serious now: if she doesn’t find the regalia in time for Restoration Day, the land will be lost forever – and so will she.
Pick me! I’m a Lizzie to the core and I’d love to return the favour 🙂
Yay! You’re first on the list 🙂
Brilliant 🙂 Looking forward to it!
I’d love to read it, and i’ll try to be honest but kind 🙂 Will it be in the same format that your blog is? Can I read it on my phone, or will it need to be the big screen? Looking forward to it, either way!
It’ll be a pdf, set up to look like a book with pages and all. Not sure that a phone would work for reading, but I will consult my in-house helpdesk 🙂
Would love to be a beta reader – the story sounds terrific. When are you looking to have final feedback? I’m always kind with my critiques. Being less than honest never helped ANY writer!
The plan is to send the text out on the 2oth of Feb and hopefully start working through the results on the 20th of March, so you’ll have a clear month.
Thanks for volunteering!
Um, I’d like to volunteer – because I like reading and I like helping people improve things and I like Pride and Prejudice and you – but the blurb sort of sounds like “a naive girl goes looking for a dress (or did you mean something else by regalia?) but you should read it because fairytale princess.” Or perhaps I shouldn’t comment when I’m tired and leaning toward cynical? 🙂
By regalia I meant “The emblems and symbols of royalty, such as the crown and sceptre” as the dictionary puts it. In other words, the things she needs to perform her ceremonial function and Save The Day. Hopefully not too nauseating to the tired and slightly cynical 🙂 But in any case, the more eyes the better; complete lack of cynicism not required!
Oh OK, now I understand. I was thinking of the phrase “in full regalia,” as in a soldier in dress uniform, or Sam Vimes in his duking outfit, rather than a couple specific pieces needed to be officially royal. So, there’s a bit of beta feedback: not everyone (perhaps especially those in a country that doesn’t have a monarch associated?) understands the specificity possible with “regalia.”
Looking forward to seeing what other feedback I can offer. 🙂
Noted – thanks! I shall have to have a delve in the thesaurus and try a few options out on you 🙂