For Writers of Original Fiction

The Disclaimer: This post is not intended to single out any one person, group or community but to talk about a subject based on a number of similar encounters with a particular topic.

This has been something that I've been running across lately and it has caused some confusion and even a few problems. It is the need for a meeting of the minds between the writer and the beta readers.

The lack of a meeting of the minds between the writer and the beta readers, like unrealistic expectations, vague or generalized critique needs and sometimes a little bad behavior thrown in could be alleviated by working out an agreement of expectations and needs up front.

Somethings that might be helpful in achieving a meeting of the minds are:

-General critique etiquette http://community.livejournal.com/writers_loft/3326.html
-Beta reading takes valuable time and they are doing the writer a favor. Be gracious to the betas and don't get snippy if they find the holes and problems with your work, that's what they're supposed to do, spot the things the writer can't see in their own work.
-Let the potential betas see a sample of your work so they can see if they would like to invest time with your work or not.
-Here is a long list of editing questions that may help with defining what the writer wants the beta readers to look for and what the beta readers could look for in a work: http://aeriedraconia.livejournal.com/133190.html
-Proofread your work before you put it out there so you don't torture your betas (or give them fodder to mock you with). ;-) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjhOBiSk8Gg

In the end, if the writer can be specific about what they want the beta reader to concentrate on and what their expectations are the writer/beta experience will be a more positive experience for both the writer and the beta.