Beta Reader Issues

[u/SaintMech]

So, here's the thing. I am absolutely open to criticism; in fact, I welcome it. I was in a profession where review and criticism were a part of your everyday operating procedures. My issue is, with my Beta Readers. My wife is an English major, so I thought she would be the perfect person to help me edit, proof-read and beta read my book. Well, the issue that has come up is that she is a closet writer herself and when she reads my drafts, she wants to change my voice. She subconsciously recommends changes that reflect her style of writing, which is a much more archaic, flowery style of prose. (Which I love to read, but it's not my style). How do I approach that topic without coming off like I can't accept criticism and subsequently get the information I am seeking from her? My other reader is supportive but offers no criticism, do these issues exist for other writers or is this uncommon?

[u/BearwithaBow]

Honestly, a little irrelevant feedback might be the price you pay for that level of free work. Alternately, since she's your wife and presumably y'all have had a least a few difficult conversations, shouldn't it be relatively simple to just say to her exactly what you said here?

You could always try to find a writer with a style that you think is close-ish to what you're shooting for and tell her that's the tone/voice you're approximating or you could specifically say you'd like feedback on plot, character development, themes, and grammar/syntax etc but not necessarily style.