6 Tips for Working With Beta Readers

A beta reader is a person—a friend, family member, colleague, or acquaintance—who reads a completed book manuscript prior to its publication with the goal of providing feedback to the author. The beta reader’s role is to deliver constructive criticism from the perspective of a book’s target readership.

The term beta reader has origins in the software industry, in which it’s common practice to engage with individuals called beta testers to pinpoint bugs and comment on the end user’s experience prior to the software’s wider distribution

Beta reading is an important part of the writing process and helps the author in multiple ways:

1. 1. Beta readers can point out errors. An author spends a lot of time writing their first draft and therefore has worked out all of the plot points and logic puzzles in their own head. Sometimes those decisions don’t make it onto the page, however, which causes confusion for the reader. A beta reader looks at the book with fresh eyes and will find those plot holes and point them out to the author so they can correct the mistakes.
2. 2. Beta readers provide opinions about the book. A beta reader is one of the potential purchasers once a book hits store shelves. If they don’t think the book is interesting or otherwise don’t enjoy it, they can give the author this important feedback.
3. 3. Beta readers may be your only opportunity to test your book. If you plan to self-publish your book, then a beta reader could be the first time someone other than you will read it. Their opinions could shape the eventual sales of your book. By taking their considerations into play, you can avoid putting out an unprofessional result.

The purpose of a beta read is to provide you with feedback on your work from the perspective of your desired readership. Here are six tips for working with beta readers so you both get the most out of the experience:

1. 1. Seek out a variety of opinions. A range of opinions is important when it comes to feedback on your book, so ask individuals both inside and outside of your usual social circles to work with you as beta readers.
2. 2. Work with multiple beta readers. It’s a good idea to engage with several more beta readers than you think you will ultimately need just in case one or a few beta readers have to drop out or can’t meet your deadline.
3. 3. Do not think of beta readers as editors. Professional editors, including proofreaders, look through your book for typos and grammatical errors. In contrast, a beta reader does not perform any proofreading or copy editing—their only goal is to provide feedback from their point of view.
4. 4. Prepare follow-up questions. Schedule an interview with beta readers to go over their feedback. Prepare a list of questions to ask—for example, you can ask what worked or didn’t work regarding the book’s tone, plot, beginning, and ending.
5. 5. Respect your beta reader’s time. Be courteous to your beta readers, being sure to thank them and express gratitude throughout the experience. Provide them with a clear deadline and ample time to read your book and organize their thoughts. Beta readers are not usually paid, so avoid hastening them to finish your book—they may have their own time-intensive projects.
6. 6. Respect your beta reader’s opinions. After you receive feedback from all your beta readers, check to see whether any patterns in their opinions emerge. If they have pinpointed a problem area, such as an issue with character development or a plot hole, don’t take the matter personally. Keep in mind you share a common goal of wanting to improve the quality of the work.

Good beta readers provide quality feedback on an unpublished manuscript—one of many important steps in a book’s path toward publication. Avoid conflating beta readers with other roles that involve reading an unpublished draft. These include:

• Alpha readers: An alpha reader enters the feedback process much earlier than a beta reader. While alpha readers provide commentary on an unfinished book manuscript, beta readers provide feedback on a completed manuscript prior to publication.
• Critique partners: A critique partner is another author or writer who reads the book and offers constructive criticism from the point of view of someone who understands the craft of writing. Many authors belong to or form critique groups for the purposes of having fellow writers critique their work.
• Editors: There are many different types of editors, each responsible for troubleshooting a different aspect of a manuscript prior to its publication. For example, a copy editor pinpoints flaws in logic and formatting; a substantive editor identifies plot holes; and a publishing house editor’s responsibilities might include noting any portions of your book that will be problematic from a production standpoint.
• Literary agents: These individuals facilitate getting your book into the hands of a publisher. A literary agent reads books to judge their marketability and to determine their suitability for a target audience.
• Proofreaders: A proofreader identifies grammatical errors and typos in a book as they read.
  
• Sensitivity readers: A sensitivity reader is a particular type of beta reader, one who looks for issues with bias and lack of diversity in a manuscript. Their role is to comment on whether the manuscript is culturally appropriate and note any instances in which the author has turned characters into stereotypes or made off-color comments.
• Writing groups: A writer’s group consists of other writers who encourage one another and offer feedback. Typically, a writing group differs from a critique group in that the former comprises aspiring writers and not published authors, as is usually the case with the latter.

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