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What is a beta reader, and do I need one?

Updated: 5 days ago

You have probably finished writing your manuscript and are wondering whether it's ready to publish or needs another editing round to fill any remaining plot holes. This is where beta readers come in and save the day.


What is a beta reader?


A beta reader reads your manuscript like any reader would read a published manuscript for recreational purposes. The difference is that beta readers make notes of what works and what doesn't work (for them) and perhaps answer a questionnaire (if you asked them to fill one in) so you can go back to your manuscript and fix possible errors they have flagged.


For example, a beta reader may find a plot hole, a character inconsistency, or a paragraph they believe does not belong in your book.


Keep in mind that, as every person is unique, betas will have different opinions about what works and what doesn't in your manuscript. You can't make everyone happy! So if you hire multiple beta readers, it's a good idea to see if what Beta A says coincides with what Beta B and C say to find out if it's an issue that should be fixed to avoid negative feedback after publishing or if it's something that can be ignored because it's not a common complaint.


Benefits of hiring a beta reader


A good beta reader provides feedback on the plot, character development, pacing, and overall readability. The feedback you receive can guide you when you are editing your manuscript as your focus will be on, for example, improving plot structure and character development.


There are two types of beta readers: those who offer beta reading as a paid service and those who do it for free (in their own time).


When you hire a professional beta reader, you will likely get more in-depth feedback than when you send your manuscript to someone you know from Facebook or TikTok.


That is not to say free beta readers will not give good feedback: As long as your betas provide honest feedback of what they've read, that's all you need, as you can use that to better your manuscript.

I've heard some authors complain about the beta reading process because some (free) beta readers may not finish a book in the time frame they laid out; they may read some of the manuscript, but not all chapters; some may not pick up the book at all; and some may read the book, but they won't provide feedback, or they provide too little feedback.


Black woman, wearing a checkered shirt and blue dungarees, is sitting on the floor next to a stack of books, she is holding a notepad and writing something in it with a pen

Do you need a beta reader?


When you are writing your novel, you're often too close to your project to be able to find inconsistencies in your story as, in your head, you know exactly what is happening, where it is happening, when it is happening, and what it will lead to.


When you publish your book, however, your readers will go into your narrative knowing nada, zip, zilch; they start with a clean slate, and your writing needs to lead the way and build up events in such a way that the story and plot make sense.


Now, if your book is available to purchase online, and there are plotholes present that you missed prior to publishing, your readers will pick up on this and get confused. They may leave negative reviews (which leads to fewer sales).


Having a group of beta readers is beneficial for many authors, especially when their feedback is detailed and constructive. They can pick up on errors in logic, consistency, and structure but also flag areas where the story becomes confusing, repetitive, or off-putting.


However, they may not suit every writer’s needs or preferences. Some authors are hesitant to share their drafts with non-professionals.


If you prefer not to share your manuscript with non-professionals, it may be beneficial for you to:


  1. Hire an editor to do a beta read.

  2. Hire an editor for a developmental edit.

  3. Ask a fellow writer for an assessment of your manuscript. You can even partner up and assess each other's work.

  4. Use AI software, such as AutoCrit (part of the AutoCrit software is a "Developmental Story Analyzer – essentially, a beta reader at your fingertips" [Autocrit]). Although, if I were to write a novel, I'd prefer an actual person to review my work as you get a better view of people's emotional responses and thoughts. However, AI may be able to find contradictions in your writing; who knows?


What to expect when working with a beta reader


  • The feedback you get from beta readers is never the same. As you can imagine, betas from different age groups will read your novel and connect with the protagonist(s) and secondary characters in their own way. If you don't yet know who your target audience is, you can use betas of different generations to get a good picture of how people of all ages respond to your novel.

  • Always look for betas who enjoy reading your genre, as they are more likely to notice and flag things that are 'off genre' compared with betas who tend to read other genres.

  • Patience is a virtue: Put plenty of time aside for the beta reading process, depending on whether you're going the paid or free route.


    It will take some time for beta readers to read your book and complete your questionnaire.

    While a paid professional should return your manuscript rather quickly, as they will have time set aside during the day to read your book, a beta reader reading your book at no charge may have a 9–5 job and only 30 minutes or an hour each day to read your novel.


  • It is important to remember that you don't hire beta readers to edit your book. They are not looking for grammar and spelling mistakes; however, if there are glaring errors, they may point them out.


  • Also, please remember you shouldn't get disheartened when you read your beta readers' comments; they are only trying to help you. Their observations will propel your manuscript to new heights!


How to find a beta reader


When it comes to finding a beta reader, the sky is the limit:

  1. You can ask your friends and family if they want to read your book (please remember they may not like it, so be prepared for that) or if they know anyone who enjoys reading books from your genre.

  2. There are writing communities (online and offline) and social media book groups you may want to approach. Think BookTok.

  3. Some libraries have book clubs; the men and women from these book clubs may want to try their hand at beta reading.

  4. Contact freelancers through Upwork, Fiverr, or Freelancer.

  5. Run 'beta reader' through your search engine and see what professional services pop up.


    Wink wink Have a look at my beta reading services.


What is the beta reading process like?


Before getting in touch with a beta reader, write down some questions that are important to you.


For example:

  1. Does the relationship between Characters A and B seem genuine?

  2. Do you feel the reaction of Character A in the scene where Character A experiences Event X is convincing?

  3. Does the motivation of Character B make sense in Chapter 3?


The beta reading process is as follows for most authors:

  1. You ask several people if they want to beta read your book.

  2. You ask the people who said YES some questions to see if they are a good fit.

  3. You send your chosen few a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) to sign (a free template is available at the end of this blog post).

  4. You send your betas your manuscript with questions, either;

    1. A chapter at a time.

    2. A few chapters at a time.

    3. The whole manuscript.

  5. You wait...

  6. When your betas return the chapters/manuscript and questionnaire, you read their commentary and write down everything that you feel is important.

  7. You make edits to your manuscript.

  8. At this point, you may want to do it again with your second or third draft to see if you've addressed everything your first round of betas brought up.



White male, wearing a white t-shirt and a blue smart checkered shirt, is sitting on the sofa in his lounge. He is reading a book.


Software and tools to support you in your beta reading quest


I have added two links to beta reading software I know of and am not affiliated with in any way; BetaReader.io and BetaBooks. Unfortunately, there isn't an awful lot of beta reading software out there (yet)! I hope either option makes the beta reading process easier for you, as keeping track of betas, the documents you sent them, and then going through the comments in each document and report that gets returned can be a tiresome process.


  1. https://betareader.io

  2. https://www.betabooks.co

  3. www.editor.reedsy.com The Reedsy Editor is not just for beta reading (it's also for manuscript plotting, writing, and formatting), but it offers a sharing option where (I believe) the people you share your manuscript with can leave comments. The Reedsy is free to use so it's worth a look.


Of course, there is nothing wrong with sending your beta readers a file with a questionnaire to their email.


Whether you use beta reading software or you keep tabs on your betas and their reports via email, I would strongly advise having every beta sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement. You can find a beta reading NDA template here.


I have made my beta reading report template available for purchase to make the beta reading process easier for authors. You can find a customisable template for fiction and non-fiction in my web shop.

 

I provide beta reading, copyediting, and proofreading services to help authors of all levels perfect their work. Whether you’re seeking early feedback or professional editing, I'm here to assist you at every stage of your writing journey.

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