McAnally's (The Community Pub) > Author Craft
Test Readers - Limits
MClark:
Hi,
I understand that test readers are supposed to do things such as mark up where when the action is confusing, highlight the adverbs, make a notation "pass." (or some such) for passive voice, or say a character or scene is extraneous and could be cut.
If they start re-writing phrases and sentences (sometimes making them flow better) does that make them co-authors, or is it just accepted that test readers get excited and stick their oar in the water occasionally?
Aminar:
The important part of being an author is your own creativity, your ideas, characters, worlds, plots, etc. If they fudge a few sentences or scenes that's fine(or at least that's how I'd look at it.)
I mean, editors are never put as co-authors.
Shecky:
--- Quote from: MClark on December 07, 2011, 03:12:53 AM ---Hi,
I understand that test readers are supposed to do things such as mark up where when the action is confusing, highlight the adverbs, make a notation "pass." (or some such) for passive voice, or say a character or scene is extraneous and could be cut.
If they start re-writing phrases and sentences (sometimes making them flow better) does that make them co-authors, or is it just accepted that test readers get excited and stick their oar in the water occasionally?
--- End quote ---
How about neither? It's simply a suggestion that "X is sort of limpy; maybe Y will fix that". That's neither co-authorship nor oar-sticking - just a suggestion.
And what's with the adverb highlighting?
Aminar:
I'd guess MClark saw the recent discussion on adverbs and was referencing it.
Shecky:
--- Quote from: Aminar on December 07, 2011, 04:24:19 AM ---I'd guess MClark saw the recent discussion on adverbs and was referencing it.
--- End quote ---
I figured that part. What I didn't get is how it became an issue in the first place; correct usage and awareness of the reader solves any potential problem with adverbs.
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