Agree the remit of the job. I tend to have at anything, unless told otherwise.
Firmly agree tolerance levels. The most horrid experience I ever had as a beta reader included the most ghastly and vomitous sex scene I'd ever clapped eyes on (sadly, it's not even the Bronze, these days). Spend some time agreeing what content squicks, it will save tears later.
Finally: respect your beta when she says the bit you think is really cool is actually out to lunch. This is your last chance to take a reality check before a less friendly reader gets to you. I once lobbed a present-tense chapter into a past-historic fic. I thought it was all "dream like" - my beta (quite correctly) pointed out it was just a bit stupid. I fixed.
no subject
Agree the remit of the job. I tend to have at anything, unless told otherwise.
Firmly agree tolerance levels. The most horrid experience I ever had as a beta reader included the most ghastly and vomitous sex scene I'd ever clapped eyes on (sadly, it's not even the Bronze, these days). Spend some time agreeing what content squicks, it will save tears later.
Finally: respect your beta when she says the bit you think is really cool is actually out to lunch. This is your last chance to take a reality check before a less friendly reader gets to you. I once lobbed a present-tense chapter into a past-historic fic. I thought it was all "dream like" - my beta (quite correctly) pointed out it was just a bit stupid. I fixed.