Before we begin, let’s talk about what a beta reader is. Beta readers are those that read completed manuscripts before they’re published.
Beta readers are in a class of their own. They aren’t alpha readers, who read your draft while your manuscript is still in the works, nor are they critique partners who look at the manuscript from the mind of a writer. Beta readers are readers. Think of them as a test audience, a type of quality control.
Beta readers are great to have, especially if you plan on hiring an editor. That’s right, beta readers do not replace editors but if you are planning on paying out of your own pocket for an editor, beta readers are nice because they catch those simple mistakes. Take it from me, an editor who charges by the hour.
Whether you only use one beta reader or have a handful at the ready is up to you and your manuscript. The upside to having only one or two is that you won’t be overwhelmed with different ideas but the benefit of having more is getting those different perspectives and being better able to find out what your voice and tone reads like to others.
And while you get a lot of feedback, the choice is ultimately yours to decide whether or not you want to implement them all. I rarely implement all the suggestions I get but getting them helps me see my book from another’s perspective and may cause me to change something later, who knows? But that is why I also suggest keeping a folder or document with all the feedback from your beta readers for a particular manuscript or book project. That way, if later on you decide to change things up, you know where to get ideas.
How Do You Find A Beta Reader?
I’m glad you asked because there a lot of different ways. If you have a group of friends who write, you can ask one of them. There are also various online writing communities that you can turn to. My personal favorite is Scribophile, it is great and it’s free! It’s pretty simple to use and you’re guaranteed some helpful insights because the only way for the writers to post their own work is to have some critiques under their belt. There are also Goodreads groups and Facebook groups. (On an unrelated note, if you are not a Goodreads author, I highly suggest you become one because there are tons of perks!) Obviously, if you would prefer face to face connections you can just do a Google search or ask your local library. Or you can be bold and start your own!
A great benefit to this circle is that there are women who gladly act as beta readers!
Beta readers are great for feedback as they can say if your target audience would engage with your book but they can also give you an idea as to whether others not in your specified target audience would still enjoy your narrative.
Questions To Ask Your Beta Readers
Pacing
- Does the narrative drag at any point?
- Are there parts that could benefit from being slower?
- Do I have any info dumps (parts in the narrative where I give too much info for the reader to process)?
Characters
- Does the dialogue read as realistic?
- Can you clearly tell who’s talking without the use of a dialogue tag?
- Any times where they act out-of-character?
General
- What’s your favorite part? Why?
- What’s your least favorite part? Why?
- If you had to describe this book in 15 seconds what would you say?
Worldbuilding
- Can you clearly see the world I have created?
- Does the story make sense in the world I have created?
- Can you visualize the characters and the action clearly?
Of course, these are general questions and you can tailor them to your manuscript, but I think these will give you a great starting point. Beta readers help you get a better handle on your book project, they offer a bit of market research and, in my experience, they become friends. They are typically the first to buy your book when it is released and once you find a good beta reader, you can count on them project after project.
Do you have a set of beta readers for your book project?
Do you think your work could benefit from having beta readers?
Written by Chyina Powell
Women of Color Writers Circle 