Beta Reader Appreciation Day?

According to a reliable source of mine, today is Beta Readers Appreciation Day. Give your faithful reviewers a hand!

I had a question for this reliable source, however: Do reviewers qualify as beta-readers? I was under the impression that a beta-reader was someone who read the story before it was put up on a board. Anyone have a real definition for me? >.>

Hmm. I've not heard the term before so I'm afraid I can't help...

I think Beta Readers are people who will go through your story and make sure it's ready for display, usually in fanfiction. Here's what Google has to say:

Google wrote:# A beta reader is like an editor of fan fiction. This is anyone who is sent a story for the purpose of reading and reviewing a story before it is ...
expressions.populli.net/dictionary.html

# Someone who checks the writer's work before publication to make sure there are no spelling/grammar/plot/characterisation mistakes. Or in other words someone who can stop you from making a right pig's ear of it.
www.ralst.com/Definitions.html

# an individual, ideally one who is knowledgable with regard to spelling, grammar, and punctuation and is familiar with the show's canon, who reads a story before it is made public and checks for errors and plot inconsistencies.
www.blackraptor.net/m7fic/contents/terms.htm

# A beta reader (or betareader, or beta) is a person who reads a work of fiction with a critical eye, with the aim of improving grammar, spelling, characterization, and general style of a story prior to its release to the general public.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta reader

^^ yep yep! 'Melia's got it, as far as I know. It's someone who basically edits your story before they're seen, only in fanfic before reviews get to them. I know it's done to a small extent on writing boards like this one (ex: I'll have someone proofread and check for major holes) before posting, but never a full-blown beta like used in fanfic.

So basically... it's an editor?

Prokaryote

So basically... it's an editor?

Yes. I had one once, and she read it through and made comments before I posted it up.

Haha, I get beta readers through nagging!


*hugs betas*

I used to beta.



Wheeeee!

Hehe, we love beta writers! I have a couple for FREAK. They are intensely helpful. ^_^

Hey, that's like my mum. She reads all my stuff and gives me comments, usually before I post it here. But, aww... I don't feel like doing the vacumming. I know, I'll do something even better for her! Just don't know what that is yet. Oh well, I'll come up with something!