The Essential Role of Beta Readers

If you’re a writer looking to get feedback on your work, unpaid “beta readers” can provide valuable feedback on your writing prior to hiring a paid editor.

There are no guarantees that beta readers can help you improve your manuscript, but their real job is to give you feedback on their reading experience:

• Does the story make sense?

• Is there structure, continuity, and flow?

• What’s good about the work?

• What’s difficult or confusing?

• What would you add or change, if anything?

• Any other observations or comments?

The specific questions on the list give your readers prompts that may lead to revisions. The more open-ended questions allow your readers to add their own point of view.

Of course, you’ll want to make a short list of betas that will give you honest feedback. Do you want to go to writers you know? Or would they be challenged to be objective readers? Is it better to ask readers (non-writers) to go over your work, in hopes that they would be more representative of your future readers?

Most writers would probably be better off with a variety of beta readers – writers and non-writers. You can look for a variety among people you already know: family members, critique partners, well-read friends. You can also choose betas that might represent your target audience.

Whoever you choose, make sure they know what kind of feedback you want. They will not edit your book, but read it for coherence, flow, subject matter, interest, etc. Let them know the extent and limits of what you are looking for, so you don’t waste time. Make sure they know you are not asking them to line-edit! Ask if they can meet a reasonable deadline to talk with them about their observations and feedback. Just remember to rewrite and revise your work to a high shine before you foist it on your unpaid help. They don’t want to read your experimental draft. Really, they don’t…

You can also leverage your use of free feedback by going out to betas at different phases of your writing. You can try getting responses in early drafts of your work to see how that feels. After revising, go out to new betas for reactions, and then finally offer your finished manuscript to your last readers to wrap up all the comments and critiques. 

Too Many Cooks

Okay, so you’ve compiled all the comments, suggestions and feedback from your helpful beta readers. Now what?

Figuring out how to use this information is much of the battle.

I have a belief that if I hear the same remark two or three times I should look into it. If the same comment comes in more than once, it’s an issue. If a suggestion or criticism resonates strongly with you—or maybe stings a little—look into it. But remember, it’s your book and you want to maintain your own voice and vision, so don’t let the noise distract you. Focus on the essentials and remember your mission: to revise and improve your manuscript for publication.

Target your best beta readers, ask nicely, and value their time. Their help and willingness to read your manuscript will go a long way in improving and complementing the feedback you will pay for from professional editors.

And it may save you a few bucks…

If you’re not sure if your book is a good idea, or you don’t have a clear plan, download my FREE GUIDE. 

If you want guidance and help creating a plan, schedule a FREE DISCOVERY CALL with me to see how I can help. 

Plan for Success!

Lindsay