ext_20409 ([identity profile] luckykitty.livejournal.com) wrote in [personal profile] feuervogel 2011-08-19 01:11 pm (UTC)

The only thing you can say to that kind of thing is "Thank you for your time and effort."

And then walk away. Later when you're cooler headed, you can come back and see if there's anything worth taking from the critique -- there can be *something* buried under all the misunderstanding, but not always -- and then chuck the rest into the trash.

I've made that mistake before, had someone beta read something that was so. Not. Their thing. And on one hand it's interesting (from a purely objective point of view) to know what a non-ideal-reader would think, but from another it's just an exercise in frustration for both of you.

(I've also BEEN that beta reader before, and ended up writing to the author: hey, I am so not the right reader for you. Since I read the whole thing, I *have* made notes, and here they are, but I really don't think I am your ideal audience, so I have tried to keep the notes to the purely storytelling-technique side. And then fully expected them to throw it in the trash)

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