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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/40881
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/40881
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

My top recommendation is this:

## Identify what the story is _attempting_ to do.

Different stories are different creatures. "I'm pretty sure I know how this ends!" can be a harsh indictment for a mystery story, or excited anticipation for a romance. "You've really invested in this character's backstory" can be great for an intimate melodrama -- or a major drag on a fast-paced adventure.

Think of it this way: both _The Lord of the Rings_ and _The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy_ are both excellent, remarkable books, but you'd be hard-pressed to point to laudable qualities that both of them share! As a beta-reader, your job isn't to point out where a book compares to either of those classics -- it's to **identify what particular qualities _this_ book should be measured by.**

You need to let the story tell you what it's _trying_ to be good at. Then, you get to highlight two things:

- When the story hits its own particular marks!
- Even if the story _doesn't_ hit what it's aiming at -- you can _still_ appreciate the awesome thing the story is _trying_ to do, applauding the goal and the effort. "I see you're trying to be really exciting here!" comes out _way_ more positive than "This bit was pretty boring."

Here's how you tell what you're looking for.

**Genre Expectations.** Many expectations depend on the evident genre of a story. From a romance you'd expect a compelling duo of characters, and lots of romantic tension; from literary fiction you might seek realism and unusual use of mundane details. Going into a story, _think_ what elements you'd expect that kind of story to have.

- You don't necessarily have to love the genre you're reading in -- if you have a strong enough sense of what that type of story _should_ have!
- Genres are big and varied; pay attention to subgenre and tone! Is this hard science-fiction, or soft? Gritty crime, or cozy mystery? YA dark fantasy, or adult horror?
- The more conversant you are in the genre, the better your lists will be. Mysteries are often fantastic vehicles to explore a particular setting; not just to find the murderer. SF can do awe-inspiring worldbuilding that feels entirely new -- _or_ work as a clear allegory for present-day social issues. You want to know this, so you'll recognize it when you see it!

**Story Promises.** Every story gives hints about what's going to happen; what's important; what you should be paying attention to. In real life if I tell you "That's a topic I'd rather not discuss," you'd be happy to respect my privacy and leave the matter alone; but in a story, the same line is signalling "PAY ATTENTION, THIS IS GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT." Stories you critique will do the same, knowingly or not, because that's how stories work.

Pick up these hints -- particularly in the first 25-30% of the piece. If the protagonist feels lonely, perhaps the story is trying to be _about_ loneliness? If you keep going "why is this going into all this backstory," maybe the backstory is _intended_ as something that should grab your attention?

Pointing out what promises you're seeing and interpreting is super helpful. Whether the promises are paid off or not; whether the promises are for something you're excited for or not. It tells the author how their story is being understood. Plus, it's nice to acknowledge the basic structural work of signalling to a reader what the story is going to be about.

**Story Focus.** This is extremely similar to story promises -- whatever the story spends a lot of time on, a lot of focus on, _becomes_ important to the story. If the characters spend a bunch of time bantering with each other, that doesn't mean the story is _about_ the banter -- but that might be some of its tone; its potential appeal.

Whenever the story spends a _bunch_ of time on something that you might not have -- it's worth seeing if that focus is some element that the author really enjoys, and hopes the reader will too.

**Unusual Elements.** Some stories will have elements to them that will really stand out to you. Maybe it's a stock adventure story -- but with mermaid zombies. A sweet romance -- with a sassy blind person. Or a neat juxtaposition, like a serial killer in a sleepy Mormon community. It's important to notice those elements -- whether or not they're used well, they are _special_; they stand out; they are going to shape the story around them. If a story has unusual elements, keep your eye on them, and appreciate whenever they're bringing something new or successful to the story.

* * *

These are good guidelines which will point you at each story's goals. When you're able to appreciate what the story is doing _in general_, then you'll be able to highlight and compliment lots of details in particular, from meticulous astrophysics research, to insightful representation of marginalized groups, to perfectly capturing pulpy swashbuckling derring-do.

And where the writing itself isn't perfect -- a goal that's original or ambitious or just plain fun is still absolutely worthy of respect.

Original score: 10