Resources for Writers: What is a Beta Reader?

After lovingly pouring over pages and pages of your manuscript, it’s easy to overlook certain aspects of your book, objectively; This is where a beta reader comes in handy.

A beta reader is a person who reads an unreleased work of writing to give feedback from the point of view of an average reader to the author. They are unpaid and a great resource for initial notes during the revision and book editing process.

Beta readers are not editors, so you still should have a professional editor reviewing your work before it’s ready for the public. Many authors choose to give their books to beta readers after self-editing and before professional editing. This is ideal because you can take the notes from your beta readers and incorporate them into your final draft before editing is completed.

What is a beta reader evaluating?

A beta reader is looking at your book from the perspective of an average reader, so they are evaluating the flow of your writing, the conciseness of the plot (plot holes), character development, the sequence of events and how easily they are envisioned, the chemistry between characters, genre specificity, and overall effectiveness and readability.

How many beta readers do you need?

It’s always smart to have multiple beta readers to gain different perspectives then compare their individual notes to look for consistencies. It may be best to land on an odd number of beta readers in case there’s a clear split of opinion on an issue. If you’re aiming for a specific number, five, seven, or nine beta readers is a good starting point.

What do you look for in a beta reader?

When you approach looking for a beta reader, you will want to take the genre into account. Genre-specific beta readers will have the best credibility to evaluate your work if they go into it with certain benchmarks for that genre. They will also be able to mentally compare past works they’ve read and how your book measures up.

You also want to evaluate who your target audience is in terms of the age range, interests, gender, etc., so make sure you take this into account.

Beta readers should also be well-read and maybe even writers themselves.

Where can I find beta readers?

It’s easy to ask friends and family to be your beta readers, but then you risk bias. To avoid inherent bias, it’s best to search for beta readers beyond your own backyard.

Join self-publishing groups on Facebook or writing blogs. There’s a huge community of self-publishers out there who are navigating everything just like you. Members of these groups market different services such as beta reading, editing, illustrating, and more. These platforms are perfect for making connections and asking questions.

A simple Google search for “beta reader” or “manuscript critique” will lead you to multiple online resources. Just make sure you do your research!

Ready to self-publish a book? Get started today!