3 Ways to Help Your Beta Reader

As a career beta reader, over a dozen manuscripts will come across my desk in a month’s time. And from my experience, there are three things writers can do to improve the interaction with the beta readers handling their books.

1) Properly Name Your Manuscript

When I receive a manuscript during a beta reading order, I file it in a folder alongside other manuscripts from authors I’m also beta reading for. To easier navigate which novels belong to which authors, having properly labeled manuscripts helps. Titles like “Version 1.2” or “Danny’s Beta Read” don’t clearly identify what the file is. Labeling the manuscript to match the title of the book or your name as the author would be most helpful.

Don’t: Be lenient when naming your manuscript’s file.

Instead: Name the file to match either the title of the book or the author’s name so beta readers can easily find the file in a list of others.

2) Prepare a Questionnaire Beforehand

Clients are required to list specifics they want me to focus on during the beta read when they submit an order. For some reason, they don’t include questions in this section but love to send me a questionnaire after I deliver the manuscript and my Reader Report to them. The problem with this is that beta readers allocate time for questionnaires when the order is open, so to answer the questionnaire after the order is completed is like your manager asking you to do training videos after you’ve clocked out for the day. Personally, when I complete a beta read, I jump right into the next order in my queue, so to take the time to answer a questionnaire for the previous book cuts into time intended for the new order.

To be clear, follow-up questions are the exception. For instance, if I submit the Reader Report and a client has questions regarding it or the in-line comments in the manuscript, that’s always welcome.

Don’t: Wait until after the beta read order is completed to send a questionnaire to your beta reader.

Instead: Send the questionnaire at the start of the beta reading order so they can set aside time to answer them in addition to reading the novel.

3) Be Flexible

On a few accounts, I’ve had clients who needed a bit more help than I had anticipated. An hour-long video call ended up stretching into a four-hour video call because the writer needed guidance with establishing the foundation of their story. While I’m happy to help, that time cut into time I had set aside for the next beta read. This happened three times in one week back in March, forcing me to push a few scheduled orders from their original due date. I was beyond grateful that the clients whose orders I had to push were understanding and flexible in giving me more time.

Business circumstances vary from book to book and from client to client. Some 150-page books only take a day for me to read, others can take up to four days. Some clients are in-and-out while others linger with follow-up questions for days after the order is complete. This work is subjective, so try to be as flexible as possible with your beta reader.

Also, remember that your beta reader is human with a life outside of beta reading your book. That doesn’t mean that their personal issues may ever be used as an excuse to provide unsatisfactory work or a late delivery, but it does mean that life happens. Kids get sick, family members pass away, cars get into accidents, emergency house repairs pop up… You’ve experienced issues like these, so remember that your beta reader does, too. Showing some grace by kindly extending the delivery date helps.

Don’t: Bash your beta reader for asking for an extension of time on the order.

Instead: Try to understand that beta readers are people with outside lives and other clients.

As a beta reader, it’s my pleasure to serve writers. My priority is to deliver a timely service with thorough, constructive feedback. Having clients whose manuscripts are easy to find, who send the questionnaire with the manuscript, and who are flexible aid me in achieving the best beta reading experience for both buyer and seller.

If you’re a beta reader, let me know any tips I missed that you find helpful!