If you’re an author, you likely hear quite a bit about beta readers, and you’ve probably heard you should send your manuscript to them for feedback before you publish. But what, exactly, is a beta reader? How is one different from an editor? Where do you find beta readers? And how do they help? Don’t worry — we’ll unpack all of that here, starting with the most basic question:
What Is a Beta Reader?
A beta reader is someone who reviews your manuscript in (almost final) draft form to help you understand how your readers will receive it. Beta readers put on their “casual reader hats” (as opposed to you and your editors, who wear your “craft of writing” hats) and make note of what they like and what they don’t. They might highlight sagging plot points, confusing character motivations, or gaps in world building that you’ve become blind to in the many, many hours you’ve been buried deep within your story.
Let me be clear here: beta readers do not replace editors. Beta readers are critical because they give authors an opportunity to get feedback from a few members of their target audience — a sneak peek at what your ideal readers will think of the book. But with beta readers, the support ends with the feedback. Implementing it is up to you — and, ideally, your editor(s), who have professional experience bringing authors’ stories to life. Depending on what kind of editor you’re working with, she may be helping you develop the structure and content of your book, improving stylistic and linguistic elements, or finding and correcting all those last-minute grammar, spelling, and punctuation issues. But regardless, the key service an editor provides isn’t just the impression of the book, but concrete help fixing it.
When Should I Bring in Beta Readers?
Beta readers will be most useful when you have a complete manuscript that is, to the best of your knowledge, almost ready to publish. You’ve finished the story and you’re confident the big picture — plot structure, characters, world building, pacing, etc. — is strong. (Maybe you worked with a developmental editor to get to this point, or maybe you’ll reach out to one to help you sort through and incorporate beta readers’ feedback later.) You’ve done a round or two of self-editing to polish your prose and clean up your manuscript, though you haven’t hired a line or copyeditor yet to put on that final shine. At this point, your book is complete enough that you’ll be able to give beta readers the full experience of the story, and their feedback will be related to issues you didn’t already know about.
(Working with beta readers is just one of several things you should consider tackling before hiring a professional editor. Here are some others.)
Where Do I Find Beta Readers? And How Many Do I Need?
Ideally, your beta readers will be a sample of your target audience, meaning they’ll be fans of the genre you’re writing in. Your friends and family can be a good place to start, as long as you’re confident they’ll be honest with you even though they love you. A beta reader whose feedback consists of little more than “That was great!” isn’t as useful as one who’s ready and willing to provide (respectful, friendly) constructive criticism.
If you’re a member of a writing group, you may be able to ask your fellow members to act as beta readers (or to introduce you to potential beta readers in their own networks). There are also plenty of online author forums and communities where authors and beta readers can find one another. Finally, if you’ve built up your own online community through social media, a blog, and/or a newsletter, you can reach out to your followers and ask them to sign up as beta readers. As a thank you, you can offer them a complimentary copy of the finished book, a shout-out in the next newsletter, or even acknowledgment in the book.
As for the number of beta readers you want to seek out, I recommend somewhere between five and eleven. You want at least three so you can get a variety of perspectives. After all, if one person makes a comment, that might just be one person’s opinion; but if several people say they find your supporting character unbelievable, then you know it’s an issue to look at carefully. Of course, too many cooks in the kitchen can be overwhelming, so don’t feel like you have to have dozens and dozens of beta readers. And here’s a protip: try to round up an odd number of readers to avoid ties. The last thing you need is five people telling you to do one thing and the other five telling you to do the opposite.
What’s the Best Way to Work with Beta Readers?
First, set a deadline. Make it reasonable, and be flexible if you need to. (After all, your beta readers are volunteering their time to do you a huge favor.) But by establishing a clear timeframe, you ensure you get your feedback in a timely manner.
Second, ask them specific questions. Don’t just hand them the manuscript and ask them to tell you what they think. If you’re concerned about a particular character or chapter, let them know. Ask them specific questions on your world-building, your pacing and flow (Are there sections that drag? Does it flow smoothly from scene to scene?), your character development, etc. Give them the opportunity to comment on items you didn’t ask about, of course, but the more you can help them focus their feedback, the more valuable it will be for you.
Once you get that feedback, thank them profusely, then read through it all carefully. See which critiques multiple readers share, which ones strike you as particularly useful, and which ones seem to come out of left field. Don’t start editing right away, though. Let the feedback simmer for a few days while you consider which items to incorporate and which to scrap. Once you’re ready to revise, you may tackle it yourself, or you may choose to hire a developmental editor to help.
So, Do You Have to Have Beta Readers?
Beta readers aren’t mandatory, by any means, but they can give authors a powerful opportunity to see what’s landing and what’s not in their manuscripts. After all, when you’ve been so focused on something for so long — and when you’re so emotionally invested — it’s easy to lose perspective. Beta readers can help you get it back.