Beta Readers: The top four things to know
Beta readers are a writer’s best friend as they essentially act as a focus group for the target audience the writer intends to reach. They provide valuable feedback from the reader's perspective, assessing such things as engagement, enjoyment, pacing, believability, clarity, and more. While editors provide technical and structural analysis and offer recommendations for revision, beta readers offer subjective feedback about the reader experience and do not provide suggestions for edits.
When do I need a Beta Reader?
There isn’t a golden rule as to when one should hire a beta reader. Some authors prefer to use beta readers as they draft, chapter by chapter, while other writers prefer to use beta readers after completing several drafts and a developmental edit.
I like to have a few drafts completed and a structural edit before using beta readers, so it’s polished enough for a reader to enjoy, but not so polished that I’ll be crushed if I have to make countless changes. My goal is for the beta readers to have a smooth reading experience so they can provide helpful, content-focused feedback, rather than have their reading interrupted by numerous imperfections.
While there isn’t a definitive “right” time to use beta readers, your project, as well as your bank account, will best be served if you use your beta reader feedback for revisions before paying for line edits and proofreading, as those edits come last.
Where do you find Beta Readers?
Several author friends of mine share their work in writer’s groups or with friends and family.
The downside to sharing your work with people you know is, those beta readers begin reviewing your story from a place of unintentional bias. Because they know and like you, they may view your work through “rose colored glasses.” Similarly, their relationship to you may make it difficult for them to be honest about negative feedback.
On the flip side, some writing groups can be competitive, and the feedback may not reflect their best intentions. Since work is often share aloud on a weekly or monthly basis, it’s common for writing group members to become so familiar with others’ stories, they lose the objectivity required for an honest review.
Suppose you aren’t in a writing group and sharing your work with people you know feels frightening - there are alternatives. Beta reading businesses such as The Spun Yarn and Kevin Anderson and Associates (KAA), are a “one-stop-shop” offering beta readers in your genre who provide a full feedback report to the author.
My colleagues highly recommend Spun Yarn, and though I’m not personally familiar with KAA, they have an impressive list of industry experts and offer additional services such as editing, assistance with your pitch package, and more.
While going directly to one source may be convenient compared to sourcing your own beta readers, there is a catch. You won’t get to talk to beta readers about their feedback; you will simply get a report. This might not be a problem for most writers, but if the report doesn’t answer your questions or if you need clarification about something, you’re not guaranteed further follow-up.
One more thing to consider is that these beta readers are independent contractors, and the companies don’t offer transparency about who they are. You won’t know anything more about them other than they read in your genre.
This lack of transparency is prohibitive for me, as I fear that some beta readers may be pulled from other websites like Fiverr or Upwork, and therefore, their qualifications may not be scrutinized. You will have to decide if you want to fork over $5K for twenty unknown beta readers at KAA, or $500 for three unknown beta readers at Spun Yarn.
Reedsy is one of my favorite places to find expert help in the writing field - beta readers included. Reedsy offers transparency so you know who your beta reader is and if they fit your idea of your target reader. You can also negotiate a follow-up meeting to review their feedback to gain the clarity you need about potential story issues.
Lastly, if you have a favorite boutique bookstore, you could always ask about potential beta readers they might know, or even better, they might offer to read your manuscript. Bookstore employees offer a wealth of knowledge as they are on the forefront of knowing what sells. Similarly, your local librarian might offer some insight into available beta readers, or, they too, might be interested in reviewing your work.
Hiring beta readers from a few different sources may be the perfect solution, offering you a wide spectrum of backgrounds and perspectives.
How many beta readers do you need?
Once again, there is no definitive number of beta readers a writer should employ. Still, the general rule is that an average of five beta readers provides a good amount of reader perspective without being overwhelming.
On the other end of the spectrum, if you decide twenty beta readers will give you a better estimate of your work, consider there will be a lot of ideas and feedback to untangle. The plus side to all this feedback is, you will have lots of reassurance about how your book reads, knowing it’s passed twenty pairs of eyes.
Either way, it’s essential to focus on recurring feedback. For example, if more than two people noticed a plot hole, it’s worth reexamining and revising. On the other hand, if only one person mentions that the “best friend” character is annoying, it’s probably not worth much attention.
The quality of your beta readers is far more critical than the quantity. Three wonderful beta readers who offer clear and concise feedback are far superior to ten beta readers who provide vague or limited insight.
What do I ask beta readers?
Most beta readers have a template of questions for reviewing manuscripts in your genre. If you are working directly with your beta reader, you can also provide a list of your own questions. If you are working with companies like Spun Yarn or KAA, you may be able to ask some questions of your own, but the number will be limited.
Here are some things you will want to know from the reader’s perspective.
1. Was the first chapter engaging? Did it interest you enough to pull you in and keep reading?
2. Are there any plot holes?
3. Are there parts that are confusing or don’t make sense?
4. Are the characters believable, likable, interesting, and engaging?
5. Does the dialogue feel authentic?
6. Is the story predictable? If so, is it satisfying, or does there need to be more plot twists?
7. Are the traditional beats for this genre present?
8. How does it read? Is it smooth? Did you find yourself re-reading any passages?
9. What were your favorite parts? Which parts were your least favorite?
10. Where does the pace feel too slow or too fast?
11. Is there something you wished had happened in the story but didn't?
12. Is there a character you would have liked to know more about?
13. Did you always know where you were in time and setting?
14. Was the setting and world-building satisfying, or does it require more creativity or details?
15. What is the takeaway from the story? What is the story's message?
16. Was the ending satisfying, emotional, and memorable?
Wrap up
Working with beta readers is an exciting time as you learn how readers view your story. Seperate from editors feedback, you begin to understand what your target audience might be missing and what will improve your story’s impact.
The ideal beta readers are people who read in your genre and would buy your book in the store, because they can offer insight into whether your story appeals to that general audience and whether it compares to other books they are reading.
It’s always best to allow beta feedback to marinate for a week or more before diving into edits and revisions. It’s normal to feel defensive when faced with negative feedback. Still, if you can tolerate the discomfort for a bit, it’s worth allowing that time to let those protective human emotions dampen. It’s likely that after a week, you will be able to digest the feedback and decipher what fits your story and what doesn’t.
Ultimately, no matter who reads and reviews your work, it’s essential to trust your vision and your voice as an author while also integrating feedback that helps you create your best story for your readers.
