Hi! I hope you're doing really well! I wanted to pop in and ask about sympathy readers. I'm dealing with a fairly diverse cast in my book. I've taken the time to research stereotypes and avoid them, but I'm curious to know more about sympathy readers. How do I find them? Do I pay them? Are they like beta readers? Thanks!
Hi anon, I hope youâre doing great too!
I think by âsympathy readersâ, you might mean âsensitivity readersâ?Â
I have no personal experience with sensitivity readers as of yet, just because I donât have any work that I feel is ready enough, but Iâve researched them so Iâll know what to expect.Â
A sensitivity reader is similar to a beta reader in that theyâll go through your work and pinpoint errors, or anything that stands out as iffy.Â
The main difference is that a sensitivity reader isnât picking out grammar problems or continuity errors. Instead, they apply their life experience as a person from a particular background, and point out things that the writer might not necessarily fully understand.
This can be as simple and inoffensive as pointing out an error:
âYou mention they added (ingredient) to this traditional dish, but doing that actually turns it into a different dish with another name.â
Or something as complicated and troubling as a whole-story issue:
âMain Character reads like a piece of cardboard with a real-world culture stapled awkwardly on top.â
It also goes without saying that sensitivity readers will also point out anything that sticks out as truly offensive, such as racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, etc.
A single sensitivity reader canât tell you absolutely everything you need to make the perfect representation, and even people within the same group might have a different opinion on what is accurate or acceptable.
This is why it can help to have more than one sensitivity reader for the same aspect of the book â itâs not always feasible, but it can help provide more nuance. Ultimately itâs down to the writer to come to the final decision, but itâs better to be informed than ignorant, so they can navigate the issue with more care and kindness.
As far as Iâm aware, youâd find a sensitivity reader the same way youâd find a beta reader. Check Tumblr and Twitter for people advertising their services and shoot somebody a message, or make a post describing your work and outlining what kind of help you need.
With traditional beta readers, payment is usually an exchange of work - âbeta mine and Iâll beta yoursâ - but when it comes to sensitivity readers, the reader may not be a writer themselves, or may not be seeking a sensitivity read from somebody with your background.
This means that a sensitivity reader is more likely to be paid, with the negotiations surrounding the price and method of payment to take place before work begins. It might be a flat rate or based on word count, full payment up front or a 50% deposit. It all depends on the deal you strike.
However, some people do just trade. A sensitivity reader might have work they just want a beta reader for, and ask the writer to help in exchange for the sensitivity read. Maybe they want art of their characters, and the person seeking the sensitivity read can draw.
If the sensitivity reader is a close friend, they might offer it as a favour, but personally I feel like youâd at least owe them a good meal and a gift card, to show how much you appreciated their insight and effort.
Remember though, donât try to negotiate a trade with somebody who tells you they want to be paid. If their rate is a bit steep for your budget, itâs better to work out a payment plan or thank them for their time and look elsewhere, rather than take money out of the equation entirely.
I hope this helped! Please let me know if you have any follow-up questions, and Iâm happy for other folks to chime in on this post if they wanna add anything!
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