What’s a beta reader? And why you need one!
Once you got your manuscript edited to the best of your ability it is time to have another pair of eyes to read your manuscript. You may be wondering why do I need to have others read it to you already self-edited? In the last chapter you already covered the basic elements of writing such as structure, pacing, characterization, and setting and how to improve on those areas. The real question is not how well you think you did but how others view your manuscript. After all, they are the ones who will be buying the book and reviewing it. If your book is not connecting with readers or the plot just isn’t engaging to readers you want to know before you publish. Skipping this crucial step will end up hurting sales and bad reviews. This is why you need others to read your manuscript before it gets published.
It’s important to learn if others find your manuscript readable and enjoyable. For fiction and even some nonfiction works (e.g. memoirs), you want readers to connect with your book.
Some writers may turn to family and friends to get feedback on their stories. Others may have a writing critique partner. For those looking for a writing critique partner, Critique Match is a good starting point for writers. While those two groups of individuals may sound like easy choices you want to make sure they can give you honest and objective feedback. Be wary of going to people who will merely tell you what you want to hear. You need someone that can give honest and objective feedback. Even if it’s not always what you want to hear, constructive feedback is meant to help you grow as a writer and improve your manuscript so it can be the best that it can be. That’s where beta readers come into play in the publishing process.
What are beta readers? According to NyBookEditors, a beta reader is a person who reads and provides feedback on your manuscript before publishing. They are not the same as editors. While they may catch glaring typos, their focus is on readability. So why are they needed especially if you self-edited? While your book may be technically “perfect” it may be filled with plot holes, POV shifts, or the storyline may be completely implausible. As writers, it’s hard to read our work with complete objectivity since our own bias tends to get in the way. Beta readers can catch the common pitfalls that first-time writers often overlook and can give you constructive feedback to correct it from a reader’s perspective. Their feedback is likely to mirror future readers who may read your book. If they are pointing out something that isn’t working in your manuscript chances are other readers will pick up on the same things.
How can you find a beta reader? Many can be found in online writing communities such as Fictionpress, Wattpad, Goodreads, and Reddit. You can also find them through popular social media platforms. For example, there are Facebook groups that connect writers to beta readers such as Beta Readers and Critique and 10 Minute Novelists Group. If possible, try to get more than one beta reader. It’s good to have a backup just in case one decides to bail on your project. Another important reason is that if a beta reader provides feedback for a change and you are not so convinced you can get a second or third opinion. If you are hearing the same issue echoed from multiple beta readers high chances are it’s a problem!
When choosing a beta reader, you want to do your homework. You want to know what types of genres they will read. On Fictionpress for example, each Beta profile is required to fill out what genres they read, what they prefer not read, preferred language as well as their strengths and weaknesses. Outside of Fictionpress, all of that information may not be readily available so you will need to reach out to the person directly if possible. It is very important to find beta readers that at least read your genre if not specialize in it. For example, if you are writing a Sci-Fi story set in space a beta reader who mostly reads romance may not be able to provide you the in-depth insight you need to convey concepts like aerodynamics and gravity accurately and realistically. It is also advisable to come prepared with questions or notes for the beta to focus on. Don’t be afraid to ask them what aspects of your writing need the most attention. Those early callouts will cue the beta reader on what parts to pay extra attention to. If the person reading your story is already knowledgeable in a specific genre or subject matter, their input will carry that much more weight not to mention they can give you specific advice to apply.
Keep in mind that beta readers do not replace the role of editors. Some of the suggestions may simply be a matter of preference. At the end of the day, you are the one who decides on whether to act on their suggestions or not. This is not encouraging you to be quick to blow off their advice but you do need to use discernment. That’s why it’s important to select beta readers who read your genre in the first place. Keep in mind the limitations of your beta reader. If your story overlaps several genres (e.g. Sci-Fi/Romance) you may need the advice from more than one beta especially if the other subgenre(s) fall outside the scope of their knowledge. This is another instance where having more than one beta will prove to be invaluable. You may also need to do additional research or consult an outside subject matter depending on the content of your book.
The good news is most beta readers don’t charge for their services which is good news for your bank account! So, don’t skip out on getting a beta reader. Even if the changes call for you to go back and make major revisions or do a full rewrite, don’t worry. It may seem like they are creating more work for you but if the changes are valid and make sense it will usually make the manuscript that much stronger. The stronger the manuscript, the less you have to spend on editing.
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Stay tuned on my next chapter where I dish on the types of editing your book will need before getting published.
